Stocksbridge Park Steels secured their playoff place by finishing third in the final league standings, with an away win at Dunston.

The Park Steels manager, Ian Richards, was over the moon for the players and the fans that they were able to confirm their playoff place.

Richards told the Park Steels media team:

“Some teams have a bigger budget than us, our aim at the start of the season was never the playoffs, but now we are here our aim has now changed and now we want to win promotion.”  

But against the odds Ian’s men have managed to finish the season third in the league and now can look forward to a quick turnaround in the playoffs against Belper Town at Bracken Moor where earlier in the season Stocksbridge comfortably beat Belper 3-0 on home soil.

“This is a one-off game, and the players can go into this without any fear. We can just play our game and see where it takes us, hopefully that will be in the division above.

“I will let the boys enjoy the weekend and come Monday I’ll sit down and sort out the best plan to try and takes us up. I couldn’t have wished for a better group of players to do what we have done is a great achievement and I couldn’t ask for anymore.” Ian explained.

Ian Richards becomes the first Park Steels manager to take Stocksbridge to back-to-back playoffs and now exceeding their expectations they can now look forward to a playoff campaign starting with a home tie against Belper Town, Tuesday April 29.

The club posted a rally cry for all fans to get behind the boys on Tuesday:

“We want Bracken Moor rocking. We need as many people in Bracken Moor as possible to help us get through this match, please share this thread everywhere you can – #FillBrackenMoor.”