Stocksbridge Park Steels (A) - Saturday, 30th November 2024

The Opposition - History
Stocksbridge Park Steels are a relatively new club in comparison to others in the League, having been formed as recently as 1986 following a merger between Stocksbridge Works and Oxley Park Sports.
The new club was granted entry to the NCEL Division Two but this was disbanded five years later and re-organised, with the Steels moving to Division One.
New manager Mick Horne led them to the title at the first time of asking in 1992 and after a tough season first time out in the Premier Division they won the title the following season.
Unfortunately Bracken Moor did not meet the requirements for promotion to the NPL and so they had to remain in the NCEL.
A couple of seasons later in 1996 they finished second on goal difference and were at this time admitted to the NPL - they have remained there since.
After a few seasons of consolidation they reached the Premier Division in 2009, defeating the Nailers in the Playoff Final.
They spent five seasons at Step 3 before being relegated in 2014, ironically being replaced by Belper who won the Division One South Playoffs that season.
They have played at Step 4 for the last decade, finishing in the top six on three occasions including in 5th the season before last which earned them a Playoff place. They were defeated by Stockton Town in the semi-finals.

Manager Ian Richards took over in September 2021. A former Nailer as well as player at Stocksbridge, he previously managed Penistone Church.

A journey of around 50 miles awaits the Nailers today.

The Opposition - This Season
The Steels started the season with victories over Prestwich Heys (Cup) and Bishop Auckland (League) and didn't suffer defeat until Dunston won 3-1 at Bracken Moor on the 24th of August.
They bounced back from this by winning their next four NPL games and also progressed in the FA Trophy twice before Warrington Rylands knocked them out on penalties.
The Sheffield & Hallam Cup has seen them pick up back to back 6-0 wins and recent weeks have seen a bit of inconsistency, with their last six matches seeing two wins, two draws and two defeats.
They currently sit 6th in the table.

The Nailers
Belper started the season well, and their only away defeat in the league remains at Emley back in August.
After defeat at home to Cleethorpes came a run of five successive wins, ended at the Raygar Stadium by Brighouse Town and then four days later Newton Aycliffe won at Belper by the same scoreline of 2-0.
However the 22nd of October saw a return to winning ways, Harry Draper securing a brace as the Nailers won at Carlton Town.
A month ago Belper exited the FA Trophy, losing on penalties at Chasetown after a 1-1 draw but back in the League the following weekend the three points were secured in an incredible 6-4 win over Consett.
A comfortable midweek victory over Pontefract Collieries saw the unbeaten run extended before a nervy one goal penalty win over Ashington.
Last time out saw a 2-0 win at Grimsby Borough.

Draper is clear as leading scorer with 18, while Nat Crofts and Curtis Burrows have five. Luke Rawson sits on four and Keaton August & Jack Broadhead have two.
Belper sit 2nd in both the table and form guide, and are the only side yet to draw a match this season: P 17 W 13 D 0 L 4 F 31 A 18 Pts. 39.

Head to Head
Stocksbridge are one of our most faced opponents in recent years.
The teams have met 44 times, with Stocksbridge leading things 21-15 (despite Belper winning the first three) and eight draws.
Memorable matches include the Presidents Cup Final in 1990/91, a two-legged tie marking the first meetings and Belper emerged victorious 8-1 on aggregate.
In 2002, Belper were 0-3 down and missed a penalty before coming back to win 4-3 at Christchurch Meadow.
A couple of years later Stocksbridge reversed the scoreline at the same ground, Belper being reduced to ten players and Bullimore scoring a hattrick of penalties for The Steels.
The most recent fixture at Bracken Moor last season finished 1-1. Luke Rawson gave the Steels the lead after 65 minutes despite them having been reduced to ten men a few minutes earlier. Rev James salvaged a point for the Nailers with two minutes remaining.
Back at the Raygar Stadium it was a goalless draw.
Belper's record in the fixture reads P 44 W 15 D 8 L 21 F 52 A 55.

The return fixture from today is scheduled for Saturday, 5th April 2025.

Form Guide (all comps)
Stocksbridge: LDLWDW
Belper Town: WDWWWW

Team News
There are no major injury concerns or suspensions.

Permutations
Belper cannot claim top spot without a 16 goal swing and only a win is guaranteed to retain 2nd position with Emley also having a goal difference advantage, they are two points behind.
For Stocksbridge, they can climb into the playoff positions if they better the results of either Dunston or North Ferriby.
They can be caught from behind by Newton Aycliffe and Bradford (Park Avenue).

Match details
Stocksbridge Park Steels vs. Belper Town
Northern Premier League Division One East
Saturday, 30th November 2024 - 3:00pm kick off

Bracken Moor Lane
Stocksbridge
Sheffield
S36 2AN

Admission prices: Adults £8 / Concessions £5 / Under 16s Free

Follow the match
Live audio commentary is available with Tom on Radio Belper Town - https://radiobelpertown.mixlr.com
Full coverage on X and Facebook.
Match reports to follow on the website (all matches) and in the Non-League Paper (Saturday matches only).

NPL East fixtures
(20th) Ashington AFC vs. Liversedge (16th)
(11th) Bishop Auckland vs. Heaton Stannington (15th)
(8th) Bradford (Park Avenue) vs. Sherwood Colliery (18th)
(14th) Bridlington Town vs. Emley AFC (3rd)
(19th) Brighouse Town vs. Carlton Town (13th)
(9th) Garforth Town vs. Dunston (5th)
(10th) Grimsby Borough vs. Consett AFC [/b](17th)
(4th) North Ferriby vs. Newton Aycliffe (7th)
(21st) Ossett United vs. Cleethorpes Town (1st)
(22nd) Sheffield vs. Pontefract Collieries (12th)
(6th) Stocksbridge Park Steels vs. Belper Town (2nd)