Evo Stik Division One South
Stocksbridge head into the new season more prepared than they have been for a few years. Chris Hilton has retained more-or-less everyone and added a touch of quality. The play-offs are the goal.
Manager
Chris Hilton
Stocksbridge manager Chris Hilton
So far into his reign at Bracken Moor, Hilton fulfilled his promise to deliver progression for Stocksbridge. The Steels struggled in his first term, but last season his side stunned many by reaching the FA Trophy first round – a run which included the incredible win at holders North Ferriby. The Steels then narrowly missed out on the play-offs.
Opening Five Fixtures
Market Drayton Town (A), Gresley FC (H), Handsworth Parramore (A) – Emirates FA Cup, Bedworth United (A), Sheffield FC (H).
Player Movement
New Stocksbridge midfielder Sam Fewkes
In: Sam Fewkes (Lincoln City), Connor Griffin, Ashley Burbeary.
Out: Rory Coleman (Ilkeston FC).
One to Watch
Harrison Biggins (Midfield)
Stocksbridge Park Steels midfielder Harrison Biggins
Prediction
Play-offs contenders
Interview
Chris Hilton
Stocksbridge Park Steels manager Chris Hilton
Continuity is going to be key for Stocksbridge Park Steels, Chris Hilton has said on the eve of the new season.
The Steels have only lost unlikely top goal-scorer Rory Coleman from last season and Hilton believes the retention of all but one player is a major thing as the Steels bid to claim a top five place in a competitive league.
“I think there are some teams spending big money, like there always is,” Hilton told Non League Yorkshire.
“Kidsgrove are signing some big name players and Shaw Lane have signed some good players so they’ll both be up there.
“Then you have the teams who are always up there. Belper have signed a few players so have Spalding so it is going to be interesting and just as hard.
“For us, it is massive that we go into the season with continuity. Last summer we had a big turnover of players, whereas we have made few changes this year.
“People are asking ‘why haven’t we signed three or four players’? We wanted to keep this side together. We’re now able to get the squad together and work on extra things in training that previously we couldn’t before because we were working on basic shape.
“We can now work on the extra bits which will win us the points we need to get in the play-offs.”
Stocksbridge Park Steels midfielder Corey Gregory
Missing from the opening three games is key midfielder Corey Gregory who serves a suspension for his bizarre mud throwing red card at Spalding at the end of last season.
“We miss him for the first three games which is unfortunate and it means he misses the Handsworth FA Cup game,” Hilton added.
“It is a big miss because he’s calming influence for us and he brings a lot to the team. We showed how much we rate him by offering him a contract.”