Darren Hepworth, celebrates after the sensational FA Cup win over Wigan Robin Park, says promotion is the aim for AFC Emley next season
Darren Hepworth has described AFC Emley’s season as one of “progression”, but admits winning promotion is a must for next year.
Emley fell well short of their original aim of finishing in the Toolstation NCEL Division One top two and ended the campaign in eighth-place.
However, there are plenty of positives to take out of the season as Emley’s well-publicised infrastructure bore the fruits of its labour.
Five players from the under 19s and others from the Development Squad appeared for the first team – contributing to a brilliant run of form towards the season’s conclusion.
That is one positive for Hepworth, who has high aims for 2015.
“Overall I look at this season as one of real progression for the football club as a whole,” he said.
“The victory for the under 19s on Sunday has been the fitting end to the season. We have seen the product of a successful under 19s and Development squad and ultimately the transition into the first team come to bear in the second half of the season.
“If we look at the last 21 games, we have lost twice and here’s a fact. Taking a point off Shirebrook on Saturday meant that we have taken a point off every single team in the Division.
“No team did the double over us and that’s an important fact. We had a shocking run in November which ultimately cost us that promotion hope we had.
“But, we have set ourselves up really well for next year and the results speak for themselves. Keeping the squad together is a priority, but we are set for a really good season next year.
“Promotion is most definitely the target and I’ll tell you what, if we keep this squad together we stand a very good chance.”
Emley’s season began well with the stunning FA Cup victory over Wigan Robin Park coming early on – a game that Hepworth ranks as his highlight of the season.
Hepworth was then famously sacked then reinstated 48 hours later at the end of September with the club riding high in the top five.
That bizarre period of instability failed to de-rail their promotion bid which ultimately fell apart much later as injuries and suspensions struck.
Emley did do the double over promotion winners Shaw Lane Aquaforce – another highlight of the campaign.
Aquaforce have Ash Flynn in their squad – a player who scored 42 goals for Emley in the 2012-13 campaign and Hepworth admits his departure was a huge blow.
“One thing we have missed this year is a goal-scorer and replacing Flynn and his 42 goals is always going to be a big ask,” he said.
“The fact Paul Sykes is our top-goalscorer as a centre-half says it all. Our style of play is to get the ball on the grass and move it, but for someone to finish our chances that we create is something we need to fix over the summer.
“I’ve got one or two targets in the striking department.”