STEELS FOR THE FA CUP-POSSIBLY?

From the Watney Cup yesterday, to the FA Cup today, which had its latest outing for the "new" 2022-23 season. This is the 142nd edition of the World's oldest football tournament.

This is the weekend of the Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round weekend and I thought I would visit my nearest club to share the joy. So I a visited local Stocksbridge Park Steels FC at Bracken Moor, (the original site of the local steel works) which is sited in the shadow of the old steel works and many modern pylons. "The Steels" have always played their games at Bracken Moor, the former home of Stocksbridge Works. The ground is now known as the Eco-Power Stadium from the summer of 2020 when Eco Power Environmental became the club's biggest sponsor. The stadium has a maximum capacity of 3,500, with 450 seats.

Visiting for the cup tie were Golcar United FC, a West Yorkshire club, who in 2021-22 finished third in their league, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating AFC Blackpool in the semi-final, they defeated Holker Old Boys in the final to earn promotion to the Premier Division. 

Golcar United, from Huddersfield district, is a club founded in 1904 and their badge above is sporting the Yorkshire Rose. Their first league was the Huddersfield and District, joining the West Riding County Amatuer League in 1993. In 2021 they finished third in the league, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating  AFC Blackpool in the semi-final, they defeated Holker Old Boys in the final to earn promotion to the Premier Division. For the next season they will be playing in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, not a bad status for a "village" from West Yorkshire.

                                    Stocksbridge Park Steels FC, is Jamie Vardy's original club!!!

Stocksbridge Park Steels F.C. was formed in 1986, as the result of the merger of the local steel factory, the works team of British Steels, and another local club, Oxley Park Sports. The new club was immediately admitted to the Northern Premier League, Div One East, the works club having previously played in Division Three of the same league. The Steels won 3-0 which will have thrilled manager, Ian Richards, who is son of Paul, the Penistone Church Walking Football "Manager".

Ian Richards is an English former footballer. He began his career with Blackburn Rovers, but failed to make the first team and moved on to Halifax Town. He first managed Penistone Church before moving on to  the manager's job at Stocksbridge Park Steels in September 2021. He is now Vice Principal at Penistone Grammar School.

and ONLY 5 more QUALIFYING ROUNDS TO GO and then

8 more PROPER rounds to play from November 5th 2022 and including the Cup Final due on 17th May 2023.

732 clubs will have played in this tournament.