NPL Division One East
Ian Richards is thrilled to see Stocksbridge Park Steels’ fanbase growing.
Attendances have been rising at Bracken Moor, with the abandoned game with Sheffield FC on the 27th December being the club’s biggest gate for some time.
“It is brilliant and we got over 500 against Sheffield FC and I’m hoping we keep getting above 200,” Richards told Non League Yorkshire.
“We’re getting really good support, and really positive support as well.
“There’s hard work going in off-the-pitch as well as on-the-pitch so things are moving in the right direction,
“We’re really pleased, the chairman is really pleased and the Football Club is in a positive position.
“If you look at the bigger picture you can see we are moving in the right direction.
“The aim for the crowds is to have an average of 250 and that would be a really positive step forward.
“Hopefully we’ll build on that next season.
“We have to do our bit on the pitch and play good football that people want to come and watch and get the results that get people excited.”
Stocksbridge are 11th but their play-offs hopes are effectively over as teams such as Stockton Town have pulled away to leave a massive points gap.
“We have an outside chance (of the play-offs),” Richards said.
“We had an outside chance a couple of weeks ago but until it is mathematically impossible we’ll still keep striving for it.
“Teams have pulled away.
“We played Stockton and we were excellent for 70 minutes and they have now beaten Marske.
“They have now hit a real run of form whereas Dunston haven’t.
“Worksop have a bit of catch-up but they look really strong and they have the finances to recruit.”
“We have a really good group with experience and some young players and it is about us working hard to get better.
“But that’s the case if you’re looking up or down the table.
“We’ll keep focussing on the process of getting better and that’ll be the aim (for the rest of the season).
“We have real experience in this squad and we want to keep the squad we have now for next season.”
Stocksbridge visit Shildon tomorrow.