CHRIS HILTON and the FA Cup have an acrimonious relationship. On the other hand, he’s best of pals with the FA Trophy after several memorable flings.
Stocksbridge Park Steels have enjoyed long and profitable runs in the Trophy under the exceptional stewardship of Hilton since the former Worsbrough Bridge manager took charge in 2014.
Top of the pile is the run of 2016 which saw go all the way to the First Round and cause an epic upset by beating National North promotion-chasers and Trophy holders North Ferriby United, who had beaten Wrexham at Wembley six months earlier, in the third qualifying round.
The defeat of his former Frickley Athletic boss Billy Heath’s seemingly unstoppable and full-strength Ferriby remains Hilton’s greatest result as Steels boss.
Scott Ruthven was the hero as his two goals overturned a half-time deficit and secured Steels an unforgettable victory – one which sowed the seeds for the success over the following 18 months.
The defeat of the giants of Ferriby marked a coming of age for stars such as David Reay, Joe Lumsden and of course future Fleetwood Town midfielder Harrison Biggins who was sold at the end of the following season.
Hilton explains how his heroic troops pulled off the miracle victory in the last ‘My Greatest Game’.
North Ferriby United: Nicholson, Middleton (Bruce 65), Wilde, King, Palmer, Gray, Clarke (Ryan Kendall 75), Bolder (Fry 81), Denton, Brooksby, Bateson. Subs unused: Hotte, Emerton.
Stocksbridge Park Steels: Reay, Meade, Brown, Patterson, McFadyen, Reay, Rhodes (Hinchliffe 65), Biggins, Ruthven (Garside 87), Lumsden (Laight 87), Gregory. Subs unused: Fox, Shaw.
Attendance: 252
“I’d probably say out of all the games I have managed the North Ferriby win is the number one game. Not because it was the FA Trophy, but because Ferriby had won it at Wembley the season before and they had just missed out of promotion. At the time they were in the top two or three of that league at the time we played them and they were at home. They did go on and win promotion so they were a very good side and we were two leagues lower.
“We got lucky on the day, but we got our tactics right and we took our chances when they came. Nobody had given us a chance of winning and it was the same in the previous two rounds at Northwich and Ilkeston. The players thought that they’d give it their best shot and maybe nick something, but I don’t think anyone in their right mind thought we’d win.
“The game for us was about keeping it tight and seeing where it takes us. Before the game, a replay was seen as a good result. It was not just a big result on the day because it galvanised us for the next 18 months and showed us what we could do if you stick to a game-plan. It was a fantastic achievement.
“Harrison Biggins was massive for us over his last two seasons with us and what he did for the team while he was with us was unbelievable. He was by far the best midfielder in the league. Helping to get him into Football League is one of my proudest achievements. He needed time to grow and develop with us, but you could tell he had the ability straightaway. Loads of times during his final season I’d have opposition managers on the touchline say to me ‘how many clubs are watching your number eight’. Four or five league clubs were watching him every game. They were coming in droves. I wouldn’t say I go purposely onto Youtube to watch his back-catalogue from Stocksbridge, but if someone puts his goals on Twitter I gladly take the time to watch them. He scored some fantastic goals. He got something like 20 goals in his final season with us.
“But the Ferriby win wasn’t about one person, it was about the team because everybody stuck to the game-plan, even when there was wave-after-wave of attack against us. They stood firm and held their ground.
“Fads (Liam McFadyen), Corey Gregory, Josh Meade, Matt Reay, Ben Rhodes and Joe (Lumsden) and Scott (Ruthven), everyone was important.
“Richard Patterson played a massive part as he sat in front of Tom Denton who was their centre-forward and he tried to cut the service to him by stopping balls getting to him.
“Alex Brown also played his first game for us after we took him on loan from Sheffield United. That side was good and they all played their part.
“Ferriby had a full-strength side out and the big part of the plan was to stop as much service into Denton as possible so he couldn’t do his flick-ons and cause us problems. The first half was about keeping things nice and solid and counter-attack when we can. We knew we would be under pressure for most of the game, but we didn’t need to go there and win it because the replay would have been at home.
“Playing under Billy Heath at Frickley did help a little bit. I knew how Bill sets his teams up and likes to do things. He’s slightly changed, but you get a gist of what he’s like – like at half-time. I knew Ferriby would be getting a rocket just to jee them up because that’s what Bill does. He’s a man-motivator.
“Ferriby had some great players like (Liam King) Kingy in midfield and the flying wingers who were whizzing balls into the box. I was just happy that when we did go 1-0 down after a few minutes that we stuck to our task and we didn’t cave in. Their goal was fairly ridiculous because it was a goal-mouth and you thought ‘this isn’t go to be our day’. The game-plan could go out of the window so it was about getting the message out there to tell them to stick to it. Whilst it was 1-0 we were always in it.
“We knew in the first half that Joe (Lumsden) had caused them the odd issue and we felt we needed to get at the centre-halves. Not because they were poor, but because Joe is someone who can get you something out of nothing. He has gone onto prove that and Scott Ruthven who got both goals doesn’t get the plaudits he should do because he scores 15 every season.
“I think Ferriby thought they had done the job and there was complacency. They were 1-0 up and they had a lot of the ball in the first half and if I remember rightly they had the conditions in the first half. We had a belief about us when we were counter-attacking so we started to ask more questions and as the game went on we opened up a bit more because you can’t just sit and hope. When we equalised, I thought ‘what do we do? Do we shut up shop or carry on’. And I thought ‘no, let’s carry on and keep doing what we’re doing’ because we were causing problems.
“To get the equaliser was great, but to get a second almost straightaway was incredible. The first one was a sucker-punch for them and it rocked Ferriby. I think they were like ‘hold on, why have these scored’? We got the second one and that was it. The second goal was set-up by Joe as his shot was saved and Scott got the rebound.
“It was a case of shut up shop. They laid siege to our goal, but we stood strong. We went 5-4-1 and put fresh legs upfront and hit the ball into channel areas. Ryan Laight went into the back four and Lee Garside upfront as a target man in the last few minutes.
It was an extremely nerve-wracking 15 minutes, but it is what dreams are made of. We even thought we may even get a third on the counter-attack because we knew they would have to come at us. We had nothing to lose because we were 2-1 up at North Ferriby who had just won the Trophy at Wembley. Even it had finished 2-2 it would have been a fantastic result for us.
“There put us under extreme pressure because there were balls flying all over the place into the box. There were some balls which flew across which have gone in on other days so we got lucky. I don’t think they had clear-cut chances, but loads of balls flashed across the box.
“It was a huge relief when the final whistle and it was fantastic for the players and for the club who got a windfall out of it. Allen Bethel was certainly happy.
“That was my second season with Stocksbridge and as far as I’m aware I’m carrying on when we come back. My contract is up now, but I’ve not spoken to the chairman regarding next season yet. There’s far bigger priorities in the world right now. I’m just waiting to speak to him on the phone. I’m happy at Stocksbridge, I enjoy managing the club.”
Chris Hilton was interviewed by James Grayson