Emley welcome Stocksbridge Park Steels to the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground for a Boxing Day Yorkshire derby (3pm) in what will only be the third ever league meeting between the sides and the first since the 1969-70 season.

In all, it's only the 10th competitive meeting between the teams, 6 of those have been in the Sheffield and Hallamshire cup, including a Hillsborough cup final in 1999.

As well as a derby clash, it's also a clash of two of the surprise packages in the mix for a play off spot with both teams' expected to be around the other end of the table when the season kicked off.

Park Steels were formed in 1986 through a merger of two local sides, Stocksbridge Works and Oxley Park Steels and were admitted to NCEL D2, after re-organisation, Steels were then placed in D1 for 1991-92 which they duly won, earning promotion to the Premier Division, they then won the Premier 2 years later but failed to gain promotion due to ground grading issues.

They eventually did win promotion to the NPL in 1996-97 where they have played since, including a spell in the NPL Premier between 2009-14, they are probably best known for giving Jamie Vardy a chance in the semi pro game after Vardy was released by Sheffield Wednesday.

In 2002, they set a new club record score, beating Oldham Town 17-1 in the FA Cup qualifiers with Paul Jackson netting ten of those!

Emley's last game saw them end a 5 game home league stretch without a win, defeating Grimsby Borough, in a match dominated by the bad weather, the same bad weather put paid to Steels' game v Bishop Auckland being called off, and so their last two games have been drawn which has seen them slip out of the play off places to 7th.

The last competitive meeting between us was over a decade ago when Steels won a Sheffield cup quarter final tie at the Welfare Ground.

Last time out:
Emley 2-1 Grimsby Borough (Baldwin, Parkin) Att- 357, NPL D1 East
Heaton Stannington 1-1 Stocksbridge (Morris) Att- 149, NPL D1 East

HEAD TO HEAD

(Previous meetings: last 5)
19th March 2013, SHSC QF
EML 1-2 SPS (L.Schofield) Att- 151

8th November 2011, SHSC 2
EML 2-5 SPS ( D.Wharam 2) Att- 126

4th December 2000, SHSC 2
EML 5-1 SPS (W.Nazha 2, S.Bambrook, A.Wilson

4th May 1999, SHSC F
EML 0-1 SPS (at Hillsborough) Att- 700

21st January 1998, NPL PC1
EML 2-0 SPS (G.Hurst, OG) Att- 238

(ALL COMPETITIONS)
CURRENT FORM: Last 5
EML:W, W, D, L, W
SPS: D, W, W, D, D
CURRENT LEAGUE POSITION:
EML: 2/22
SPS: 7/22
GOALS SCORED:
EML: 51
SPS: 60
GOALS CONCEDED:
EML:20
SPS: 30
TOP SCORER:
EML:- Amir Berchil (12)
SPS:- Alexander Hardwick (11)
AVERAGE HOME CROWD:
EML:391 (447 league)
SPS: 190 (211 league)

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

WHEN?Thursday 26th December 3.00pm
Gates open 1.30pm

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

View the Emley AFC Visitors' guide

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 park responsibly around the village and respect local residents!