Stocksbridge Park Steels

Stocksbridge Park Steels FC

One of Sheffield's traditional non-league clubs, Stocksbridge Park Steels continues to punch above their weight while looking to produce the next Jamie Vardy.

Club History

Early Years

The football club was formed as Stocksbridge Works FC in 1986. They joined the Yorkshire League in 1949-50, were quickly promoted, and then became league champions throughout the decade, including four consecutive triumphs. In the early 60s, the team won a couple more titles.

The rest of the decade saw Stocksbridge yo-yo between the competition's top two divisions before being relegated to Division 3 at the turn of the 1970s. Stocksbridge Works became a founding member of the Northern Counties East League in 1982-83.

In 1986, Stocksbridge Works merged with Oxley Park to become Stocksbridge Park Steels. The team won the Division One title under manager Mick Horne to move up to the Premier Division, where they were crowned league champions in 1993-94.

A runners-up spot a couple of seasons later won promotion to Division One of the Northern Premier League (NPL). Towards the end of the 2000-01 campaign, Horne resigned after eleven years at the helm to be replaced by Wayne Biggins. Peter Rinkcavage succeeded him and took Steel to the playoffs in 2005-26.

My drawing of Bracken Moor, with former team kits.
Click on the image to enlarge it.

Jamie Vardy was in the team playing in Division One South that lost to Sheffield in the 2007-08 play-offs. However, Belper Town were defeated in the play-off final the following season as Stocksbridge were promoted to the Premier Division.

Managers came and went before the team was relegated in 2013-14. Spalding United ended promotion dreams in the playoff semi-finals three seasons later. Chris Hilton, the club's longest-serving manager, resigned in August 2021 to be replaced by former Steels player Ian Richards.

2022-23 saw Stocksbridge lose in the semifinals of the playoffs on penalties to Stockton Town in Division One East after the competition was reorganised. The club launched an appeal to raise money as funds were low during the 2024-25 campaign. They still reached the playoffs, defeating Belper Town and Dunston UTS to win promotion to the Premier Division.

Jordan Lemon was appointed as Stocksbridge manager in December 2025. Steels were relegated to Division One East a few months later.

My visit

Stocksbridge Park Steels 0 Scarborough 0 

FA Trophy Round Three - Saturday 15th January 2000

👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 634 🎟️ £5

Boro were in their first season back as a non-league club following thirteen years in the Football League, and as such were quite a big fish at the time. They’d got a bye to the second round, where they dispatched Ilkeston Town away from home. Steels were a couple of divisions lower in the pecking order.

My pal Steve was keen to make the journey from his Oxford home, so I took the train from St Pancras to meet him. We planned to stay overnight in the city. We had a pint on arrival and decided to take a taxi to Stocksbridge. Not for the last time, a poor driver would be the loser taking the pair of us to a game. Steve had negotiated a fare before we jumped in. 

Our cabbie obviously forgot Sheffield Wednesday were also at home. The journey was painfully slow until we got past Hillsborough. I seem to remember we came to a compromise and left on good terms, just as our old pals rocked up in their minibus. If I remember correctly, admission was just £5. Our hosts were brilliant all day. 

Many other clubs would have been tempted to cash in on a large travelling support. Programmes, refreshments and beer prices were great value for money. Indeed, many Seadogs didn’t even bother leaving the bar. Bracken Moor was a tidy, unique venue, built into a hill. 

The Main Stand was a distinctive seated structure with grass banking and hard standing at the front. Opposite, a fence separated the pitch from the cricket ground. The clubhouse and turnstiles were built in the top corner, with the bar and patio outside offering a great view. 

Boro dominated huge swathes of play without really looking like they would score. There was no real panic as everyone assumed that it would only be a matter of time before they broke the deadlock. The same pattern continued in the second half, only the Steels' side realised that they had a chance of creating an upset. 

The travelling support was getting upset at their side's performance, with manager Colin Addison taking some of the flak. Stocksbridge fully deserved their draw. I recall appealing to the Boro directors to let any visiting fans in at a cut price for the replay, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears. I thought it was the least that they deserved. 

We said goodbye to our pals who headed home while we walked down the hill. We found a pub that we still speak about many years later. We ended up drinking lager as they had run out of bitter, cider and Guinness. It was a really glum place.

After a couple of pints, we caught the bus to Sheffield Interchange, where we were still stuck with the conundrum of where to stay. Steve negotiated at the nearby Travelodge, where I predictably lost the toss and would spend the night on the floor.

We headed up the hill into the city and had beers in the vibrant student area around West Street before grabbing food. It was a long and interesting day. Boro went on to win the replay 5-0 and bagged an away tie at Burnham, which would lead to further shenanigans!