Reviewing the spectacular 2023/24 Northern Counties East League Premier Division title winning season, author and Emley supporter Richard Skelton has put together a comprehensive look back at that memorable campaign.

Including interviews from management, players, club officials, volunteers and supporters, the book is more than a review of the season. Over the course of 224 pages Richard has managed to take a deep dive into what really makes the Pewits tick and makes the club so special.

The glossy hardback book is a must-have that anyone with a connection to the club will be proud to own.

On writing the book Richard said: “When it comes to professional football I’ve I’ve always been something of an armchair fan, but as a kid I followed Wycombe Wanderers in the Rothmans Isthmian League, going to home matches throughout more than one title-winning season. I guess I was an Ultra!

“Cards on the table. I haven’t been an Emley fan for very long. The first game I went to was a 1-0 defeat at home to Knaresborough in the 22/23 season. My mate Gary invited me along.

“The wind was really something else that night. I’m not exaggerating when I say most long balls went sideways more than forwards, and it was so freezing cold in the stand we sought refuge in the Shed for the second half.

“Amazingly, it didn’t put me off and I went a few more times, then at some point in November 2023 I got addicted and became a regular. You could say Emley was a slow-acting drug!

“At the same time I found myself following other results around the NCEL, getting more of a general understanding of modern non-league football and Emley’s place in it, and starting to learn a little of the club’s history.

“Then I began going to away games and soon after Christmas I started to go to every match, home and away, and that has continued this season. I haven’t missed a single game this season so far.

“Anyway, at some point in the championship run-in I thought a celebratory yearbook might be a good idea. I’ve had a few books published, mostly about motorcycling, and could visualise how it might turn out.

“So I waited until we’d won the league at Goole then contacted Andrew Painten. He said go ahead and I’ll do the layout and design, so I sat down and wrote it straight away and now it’s being published.

“I didn’t only want to do the book because of winning the league and everything around that. I got the sense there was an interesting backstory, and that Emley’s a special club with great people running it and working behind the scenes.

“So I tried to bring a range of voices into the book to tell the story from different angles. I interviewed quite a lot of people in the club and asked Steve Downes to speak to a few more on my behalf.

“Martin Eastwood’s fantastic match reports are the spine of the book - if you’ll pardon the pun! - cut down a little, with lots of other voices chiming in throughout.

“In many ways it was an editing job more than a piece of writing, per se. Mark Parsons’ fabulous photographs were also a key part of the original idea. Mark was incredibly helpful to me and Krissi Simmons also assisted me enormously by sourcing extra images as well as putting me in touch with most of the interviewees.

“I hope the book brings in some money for the club and that people enjoy reading it and perhaps keep it as a memento for years to come. I was right: there’s definitely something very special about Emley AFC.”

Chairman Andrew Painten commented: “When Richard told us he'd like to write a book about the season we thought it was a fantastic idea. Last season was nothing just special because of what happened on the pitch but off of it too. So many memories were created at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground and beyond during the last campaign. These will always be cherished but it's just amazing to launch our own book to capture those memories forever."

“The book is incredibly good quality and a fantastic read. I urge every Emley fan - near and far - to purchase it. You won't be disappointed. As chairman I'd like to thank Richard for all of his hard work putting the book together but also everyone else who helped in the production of it.”

The book is available to pre-order at a special price of £24.99 from our online club shop and from the Pewit bar on match days.

Proceeds from the sale of every book will benefit the club. Everybody involved has kindly donated their time and effort.