It's Non League day on Saturday and Emley welcome Sheffield FC, the world's oldest football club to the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground for a crucial clash in the Northern Premier League Division One East (3pm).

With just 8 games to go, both sides are needing points for different reasons at both ends of the table, Emley look to consolidate second place while Sheffield look for a fourth win in five games as they battle desperately against relegation.

The sides played out a tough battle back in November in Derbyshire, (despite their name, Sheffield play in Dronfield), a late Luke Parkin thunderbolt settled the issue, that game was the first league meeting since a Yorkshire League game in 1982 all the previous 7 meetings were cup games, this will be the first league meeting of the sides at Emley for 44 years.

Sheffield FC were founded in 1857, becoming the first team to play under "Sheffield rules" and play Hallam in the "rules derby" and are recognised by both the FA and FIFA as the oldest association football club still playing in the entire world, but have played mainly at a low level since the advent of professionalism back in the 1880's and have been members of the NPL since 2008 and are nicknamed "The club".

Previous to that, Sheffield, like Emley were founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982 before their promotion to the higher level, the club were winners of the FA Amateur cup in 1904, their finest hour and runners up in the FA Vase in 1976-77, they play at the "Home of football stadium" formally known as the Coach and Horses ground in Dronfield, just over the South Yorkshire border in Derbyshire.

Interesting fact!- Sheffield are one of only two clubs to have been awarded the FIFA order of merit, the highest award a club can receive, the other?

Real Madrid!

Emley are just about holding on to second place and a play off spot but the race is hotting up, only 11 points separate Emley in 2nd and Carlton in 7th, who we face next week, rock bottom Sheffield meanwhile have hit a bit of form, 10 points from their last 5 games has seen them close the gap to the other teams at the bottom and are now only 8 points away from safety.

Last time out:
Garforth Town 0-0 Emley, NPL D1 E, Att- 503
Sheffield 2-1 Consett, NPL D1 E, Att- 354.

HEAD TO HEAD

Previous meetings: Last 5
16th November 2024, NPL D1 E
SHEF 0-1 EML (L.Parkin) Att- 696

24th November 2010, SHSC2
EML 1-8 SHEF (Townsend) Att- 102

9th March 2003, SHSC3
EML 2-3 SHEF (Thorpe, Kenworthy), Att- 77

10th March 1999, SHSCQF
SHEF 1-3 EML (Calcutt, Sheldon, David) Att- 140

4th March 1991, SHSC SF2
EML 3-1 SHEF (Cooper 2, Pritchard).

CURRENT LEAGUE POSITION:
EML: 2/22
SHEF: 22/22
(ALL COMPETITIONS)
CURRENT FORM: Last 5
EML: L, L, W, L, D
SHEF: D, W, L, W, W
GOALS SCORED:
EML: 65
SHEF: 66
GOALS CONCEDED:
EML: 27
SHEF: 80
TOP SCORER:
EML: Amir Berchil (16)
SHEF: Luke Aldrich (14)
AVERAGE HOME CROWD:
EML: 411 (461 league)
SHEF: 368 (398 league).

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

WHEN? Saturday 22nd March, 3.00pm

WHERE?
The Fantastic Media Welfare Ground
Off Upper Lane, Emley, Huddersfield, HD8 9RE

View the Emley AFC Visitors' guide

Match Day Commentary
If you can't make it to the match, listen to the commentary with Matt Blackburn from 2.45pm - Listen here

OWW MUCH?
£8 Adults
£5 Concessions
£1 ages 5-11
U5's FREE
Programmes £2.

NON LEAGUE DOGS ALLOWED: Yes, on a lead - see visitor's guide for restrictions

Please respect local residents and park safely and responsibly around the village!!