Fantastic Media Welfare Ground, home of Emley AFC based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and compete in Step 6 of the non league pyramid in the Northern Counties East Football League Division One. The club has been rebranded over the years going from Emley FC to a club share with Wakefield to AFC Emley to the current Emley AFC and are nicknamed the “Pewits.” I have come across this club plenty of times in the past at Langwith Road in my Shirebrook Town days, but never here so hopefully today won’t disappoint!
The magic of the FA Cup is back and around this part of the country, they know that all too well! In 1998, this club went on a Cup run and drew West Ham away at Upton Park! Goals from Frank Lampard and John Hartson saw Emley lose 2-1 but what a story!! Today, they face Congleton Town in the Extra Preliminary Round.
Train to Wakefield Westgate and a bus towards Huddersfield and here I am! £6 to watch this FA Cup tie! Glorious! A few familiar faces here for me today! Hoyland John who I met at Bessacarr back in May being one of them!! Great to meet the founder of one of Facebook’s greatest football fan pages: “Your Football Page” here today, John McClure!
Into the clubhouse and what a clubhouse!! You see Gents and Ladies on every toilet sign, but not here!!! Lads and Wags!! Fantastic! A few new drinks for me to try today! Here’s the first one!
Kick Off! And another new face!! Oldham George or better known as the Oldham Groundhopper! “GROUNDHOPPERS ARMY!!” 5 minutes in and Emley come forward down the left, it’s crossed in low, Congleton deal with it but it comes straight to George Doyle in the box and he’s brought down there… Penalty! Referee has pointed to the spot! Definite penalty for me! It’s Matt Sykes to take… And he smashes it home!! 1-0!! Emley fans loving it and banging on the stand!! “da da dadada dadadada! EMLEY!”
10 minutes in and Congleton play forward, it comes to Jordan Johnson on the edge of the box, he’s tripped and it’s going to be a free kick on the edge of the box for Congleton. Gary Roberts steps up for Congleton, he goes for power… Deflected… OFF THE POST!! Would have been a cracker that!! Great to bump into Ian on the way around the ground! Everyone is here today!!
It’s an even game at the moment with Congleton coming into the game a lot more than they were before conceding. 21st minute and Congleton play a long ball into the box from the left, the keeper comes for it… Oh dear! The Emley defender has headed it back towards goal and it’s come straight to Congleton’s Jonathan Beaumont who’s got the goal at his mercy… He puts it away!! And it’s 1-1!! The keeper is to blame there for me… If he shouts keeper’s for the long ball, that goal is avoided!
23 minutes on the clock and Congleton come forward again, it goes to the left wing, it’s crossed in, it’s Jonathan Beaumont AGAIN!! HE’S SCORED AGAIN!! 1-2! Just like that! Unmarked and he heads home from the cross! And now the travelling Congleton fans celebrate!
The game has fizzled out and both teams are showing little in the final third and you have to say that the next goal is crucial!! And now I have bumped into Bill from Armthorpe and Staveley!! I repeat! Everyone’s here… Apart from the Merry Miller and Match Days Joe… Oh and Ben…
39 minutes on the watch and Emley have a corner, in it comes… It’s George Doyle! He heads wide… The Referee has given another corner… Didn’t look like it for me! In comes the corner again… Dominic Riordan tries to get to it but he’s held and he goes down… No penalty given! And the ball goes straight out for a goal kick. Very clumsy I have to say!
Right on half time now and Congleton have the ball in midfield, a chipped through ball to Tom Pope, he’s onside and he chases it, he bares down on goal from the left and shoots… It’s wide… You certainly would expect the former Port Vale striker to do better there! That would be the last action of the half with the score at 1-2.
Back into the bar for the next drink!! Which one was better?
FT: Saltaire Blonde 1-1 Wainwright – Both as good as each other for me!
Second half, Emley straight out of the blocks and they are 1 on 1 with the keeper… The keeper gets there first and clears the danger. 52 minutes now and Emley have a corner, it’s played short, played back and crossed in, Oliver Jepson wins the header… OH NO!!! It’s an Own Goal… It’s the day of the mistakes!! He heads it over his own keeper and we are level again!! Communication anyone?
57th minute and Emley come forward down the right wing, it’s crossed in low, here’s George Doyle… GOAL!! Great finish first time there! Keeper gets a hand to it but he can’t keep it out and it’s the day of the errors and turnarounds!! From 2-1 down, Emley lead 3-2!! Emley fans are loving it!!!
Emley looking the better of the 2 teams now. 74 minutes now and Emley play forward, Jack Bennett runs onto a through ball, he gets into the box and he shoots… It’s wide. 83rd minute now and Emley play a long ball into the box, it’s headed down and it falls to Alex Metcalfe to strike!! He’s hit it over!!
“COME ON EMLEY!” The fans in the stand behind the goal cheering their team home!! 86 minutes now and Emley come down the left wing, it’s crossed in towards George Doyle who’s got plenty of time… He’s gone for the header first time and it rolls wide… Should have chested it and finished that!
Into the 90th minute and still no answer from Congleton as Emley play a long ball forward again, the keeper comes for it as Jimmy Eyles chases it down, keeper gets there first… But he’s struck the clearance straight at Eyles and Eyles runs for it… But it rolls out for a goal kick.
Into Stoppage time now and Emley trying to run down the clock as you do, it’s hit out for an Emley throw in… The assistant referee has given it to Congleton to the dismay of the Emley players and fans! Tensions are high and the players square off with each other… This could get ugly!! Emley do get the throw in and play it in but Congleton clear. Emley play it forward into the Congleton half again and the Referee blows for full time!! A roar of delight from the Emley fans to highlight a great day for them! And a great day for us neutrals here today!!
FT: Emley 3-2 Congleton Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 4/10 – A decent amount of noise behind the goal from the Emley fans and a little bit from them around the ground! A very good fanbase for this level they have here!!
- The Ground: 7.5/10 – It’s a great ground for this level! I love the big stand and the stand behind the goal!! The clubhouse is phenomenal with great personality! A great view of Emley Moor from one side too! The only thing letting it down is the inaccessibility of the one side but that is for the cricket club which sadly for Emley has cost them a few extra points I have to say but they definitely do put the “Fantastic” back in Fantastic Media Welfare Ground!!
- Expense: 10/10 – £6 is good for this level and for games like that today! Good for any level!!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – Great to see so many familiar faces here today!! And a fantastic game to add to it!! The magic of the FA Cup is alive once again!!!!
31.5/40
Great write up and thanks for visiting Emley, just a point about the cricket field, there is a large fence that gets erected after the conclusion of the cricket season which does make the ground 4 sided for most of the football season.
Aso we are in the Premier division of the NCEL after promotion last year.
Please find time to visit again, Cheers
Thank you for your comment mate! Good luck for the season!