Emley

Emley AFC is a non-league football club from the village of Emley, which is located in the moors of West Yorkshire between Wakefield and Huddersfield. The current club was formed in 2005 as AFC Emley to correct a serious misjudgement of the management of the previous incarnation.

The original Emley club was formed in 1903; initially as Emley Clarence FC joining the Huddersfield League. Emley continued to play in local junior leagues around Huddersfield where they began to excel.

The committee decided to enter the club into the FA Amateur Cup in 1968-69; with the team going out at home in the last sixteen to Barking, after defeating established clubs Dulwich Hamlet and Evenwood Town along the way.

The Barking game had been replayed after the initial tie was abandoned in front of a record crowd at the Welfare Ground of 5,134. The successful run led to a successful application to join the Yorkshire League for the 1969-70 season.

Harry Fearnley was appointed as manager as Emley finished as runners-up of Division Two at the first attempt, as well as making another last-sixteen appearance in the Amateur Cup before Dagenham ended any dreams of Wembley.

Denied promotion owing to a league reshuffle, Emley were not to be denied in 1970-71. The team finished as Division One runners-up in 1972-73 and 1973-74 before being crowned as Yorkshire League champions in 1975-76 under manager Kevin McHale.

A second league title arrived in 1977-78 before record club goal scorer Michael Pamment took over as manager. The new man took his side to a runners-up berth in 1978-79 before Emley lifted their third Yorkshire League title in 1979-80.

Emley ended runners-up in their quest to defend the championship but were crowned champions once again in 1981-82 before becoming founder members of the Northern Counties East League.

Gerry Quinn replaced Pamment in 1985, with his side ending runners-up in his first league season at the helm. In 1986-87 a fine FA Vase run saw Emley reach the semi-finals before going out to St Helens Town on aggregate.

In the 1987-88 campaign ‘Pewets’ went one step further. Bashley were defeated at the last four stage thanks to a goal from future Football League star John Francis, to set up a Wembley Stadium appearance against Colne Dynamoes; in which the cash-laden East Lancashire side won 1-0.

Emley won the Northern Counties East League in the same season but were denied promotion to the Northern Premier League as the Welfare Ground did not comply with the grading requirements. A similar tale would later cause even greater problems.

A new seated stand and changing rooms were built as Emley retained their league title in 1988-89 to secure promotion to Division One of the Northern Premier League. The 1990-91 campaign was a fine one for the club as they won promotion after ending as division runners-up.

In the FA Trophy, a tremendous run saw Emley put out Southport, Ferryhill Athletic, Morecambe, Telford United, Hyde United and Kettering Town before losing to Kidderminster Harriers in the last eight.

In the 1991-92 season, a replay win against Chorley was enough to secure a debut FA Cup first-round appearance, which was switched to Huddersfield Town’s Leeds Road home for the game against Bolton Wanderers; which the League side won 3-0.

Former skipper Steve Codd took over from Quinn as the side broke up and struggled for the following three seasons. Ronnie Glavin replaced Codd and gradually rebuilt the side, which finished in fourth place in 1996-97.

The 1997-98 season saw Emley rise to national attention. Nuneaton Borough were defeated away from home to secure a first-round FA Cup appearance, in which Morecambe were beaten after a replay on penalties with keeper Chris Marples the hero.

Emley drew away 2-2 to Lincoln City in round two and were 2-0 down in the replay at the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield before an amazing late comeback saw the game go to extra time and penalties. Again, Marples came up trumps as his side went through.

Emley’s reward was a third-round tie away to West Ham United. The Hammers were dragged back to 1-1 by a Paul David goal before a late John Hartson winner put Pewits out. The following season Rotherham United defeated Emley after a replay in round one of the Cup.

Winger Michael Reynolds was sold to Ayr United for £60,000 as the team reached the last eight of the FA Trophy before going down to Cheltenham Town. Star veteran midfielder Ian Banks retired at the end of the campaign with Emley ending in fifth place in 1999-00.

A stormy AGM between ambitious club officials and long-standing members ended with a vote in favour of the club moving to play all home games in 2000-01 at Belle Vue, the home of Wakefield Wildcats Rugby League club.

After a decent start in Wakefield, the club changed titles to Wakefield & Emley FC, Wakefield-Emley and then Wakefield FC before being wound up after the 2013-14 season. Click here to read about that era in fuller detail.

Meanwhile, Wakefield-Emley reserve team continued to play their games at the Welfare Ground until the NCEL decided to disband their reserve division. Some former officials disenfranchised by the move to Wakefield formed AFC Emley in the summer of 2015.

In their debut season the new club joined Division One of the West Yorkshire League; finishing in third place. This was enough to gain promotion to Division One of the Northern Counties East League.

The club continued in the second tier of the competition for the next decade mainly finishing in mid-table, before a fourth place ending in 2015-16 thanks to the goals of Ashley Flynn. Penistone Church were defeated in the play-offs before Pewits lost to Bottesford Town on penalties in the final.

This was backed up the following campaign as AFC Emley came third before more lay-off agony as Penistone Church exacted revenge at the Welfare Ground. Two twelfth-place finishes ensued in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

In the summer of 2019, the club reclaimed their old title of Emley AFC. New joint managers, Mark Wilson and Richard Tracey were appointed, and the club was moved sideways owing to geographical reasons to the North West Counties League. Two seasons were abandoned owing to the worldwide pandemic.

When things resumed fully Emley became an NCEL club once again. Tracey was in sole charge as Emley lifted the Premier Division title in 2023-24 to win promotion to Division One East of the Northern Premier League as well as reaching the last eight in the FA Vase.

Emley AFC will play in the Northern Premier League Division One East in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

AFC Emley 2 Scarborough Athletic 3 (Saturday 15th September 2007) Northern Counties East League Division One (att: 331)

I travelled up on the train from London to Wakefield for the visit of Scarborough Athletic. I was collected by my mate Chewy at the station and after a pleasant twenty-minute car journey we were outside The Welfare Ground, although it took us a bit longer to find the narrow lane to gain access to the ground.

The welcoming steward gave us information that we should drink in the Wentworth Arms as that was currently doubled up as the clubhouse. We had a pleasant hour before we entered the impressive ground.

I had to wonder how the FA ground graders had ever found it not up to scratch for the Northern Premier League? The far side admittedly did not have any spectator access and had a fence separating it from the adjoining cricket ground. Apart from that, all seemed good. 

The Clubhouse End has a tiered room over a few steps of terracing. The Emley Moor TV Transmitter stands dominantly in the background. A Main stand sits alongside the other touchline with terracing and changing rooms on either side of it. The far end consists of flat standing. Everything looked neat and tidy and obviously cared for.

The game itself was good for a Boro fan as they ran out 3-2 winners, with the score flattering the home side. Sean Hazelden had given the hosts an early lead before goals from Craig Hogg and Gary Hepples turned the game around.

Fullback Dave Kemp scored an absolute beauty in the closing stages. The goal has been replayed in conversation many times since as Kempy became a mate. Allan Laud scored a late consolation from the penalty spot.

Despite the lack of a clubhouse, a small bar was set up underneath the stand selling cans of beer. The catering at the ground was outstanding with the corn beef hash with bread and butter being the pick. The visit was awarded "The Best Away Day of the Season" by the Boro fanzine, Abandon Chip.

On the train home, I was in the same carriage as some Exeter City fans whose side had won at Farsley Celtic in the Conference. They inquired as to which shirt I was wearing. It was my 1973 Boro Wembley top. 

As soon as I told them we ended up having a beer and consoling each other. They, like Boro fans, had been victims of the "Chairmanship" of John Russell. As a Chairman he was useless. He managed to take both clubs to relegation from the Football League. his business actions were even worse. 

Both clubs were left virtually bankrupt after his reign. Nobody can prove any illegal actions at Scarborough but he served a jail sentence for his wrongdoings at Exeter City.

AFC Emley 1 Scarborough Athletic 6 (Saturday 29th November 2008) Northern Counties East League Division One (att: 461)

The following season Boro played at Emley in late November. I travelled up to stay with my brother Nick and Rachel and to see my nephew and niece, Stanley and Sally, in York on Friday evening. 

I travelled by train with a couple of York Seadogs to Wakefield to try some fabulous real ale (which was replicated after the game). Chewy again provided his carriage to the ground where we saw Boro blow away 'Pewits' 6-1 with a quality performance in wintry conditions.

Emley were in second place behind Boro going into the game but had no answer on the day. There was a big away following which created a great atmosphere as two goals from Ryan Blott along with others from Graham Botham, Danny Gray and penalties from Scott Phillips and Mark Griffin did the damage.

Once again the Emley officials were top-drawer. A new clubhouse had opened inside the ground and the away following were putting it through its paces. The bloke on the PA was of top comedy value. 

The home fans were grumbling about the ref all day and at full time the man on the tannoy announced that a pair of glasses had been found and asked the owner to please let himself be known, to which loud cries of "They're the refs" echoed around! Another belting visit saw Emley retain the Abandon Chip award.

I got back to Kings Cross still with a big smile on my face while next to me on the tube was a Sunderland fan who congratulated me on our club's progress while mortified at their own 4-1 defeat at home to Bolton Wanderers. It was a nice touch but it confirmed to me who was getting the better value for my money!