Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division
Karl Rose says the historic and unmissable first ever Wombwell derby between Wombwell Main and Wombwell Town is a great occasion for the local community.
The local rivals will do battle at Terry Simon’s Main in front of an expected huge crowd for a Saturday County Senior League game.
“It has been in the pipeline for three years since we set up in 2018,” Town chief Rose told Non League Yorkshire.
“We have played their reserves and now this is the big show.
“We’re looking forward to it. These are the games you want to be involved in.
“Wombwell Main have been well-established at this level for a number of years and we’re the new kids on the block and we have now reached that level.
“We’ll approach it like any other game so the occasion doesn’t become too big.
“It is exciting for the people of Wombwell.
“I think it will be a fantastic spectacle for the people of Wombwell and hopefully it will be played in the right spirit on-and-off-the-pitch.
“Hopefully it can be an entertaining and enjoyable day.
“Yes everybody knows each other and there will be rivalry for 90 minutes, but once as the game is done everyone should be able to have a pint together and go back to being friends.”
Both clubs have many similarities, particularly on the community front.
If the league clash goes well, Rose says both clubs hope to set-up an annual summer contest which will be a force for good.
“We have already had discussions about making it a regular occurrence in pre-season to try and raise some money for charity,” he said.
“That’s what football should be about.
“We’re both trying to do good for the community.
“Both clubs are well-supported and proud of what they do on-the-pitch.
“Both clubs have kids teams and the blueprint that Wombwell (Main) have had for a few years is credit to them.
“The centre to that is the clubhouse and the way they reinvest into the facilities.
“They have a blueprint we have picked ideas from and followed.
“We want to get ourselves established so there is two clubs (in Wombwell) who compete against each other right from kids through to the adult sides.”
Town go into derby day top of the table after a positive start which has seen beat fancied Dodworth Miners Welfare and Ecclesfield Red Rose 1915.
“We had the taster with the cups and we realised how tough the league was going to be when we played a strong Gawber side and Stocksbridge who are established at this level,” Rose added.
“We knew then we could compete.
“We had a very tough game in probably the league favourites Dodworth but that’s gone now.
“Ecclesfield struggled on the day getting a side out but they’ll improve and get better.
“It sets us up.
“It has been a great start for us and we couldn’t have asked for anymore than six points out of six and we’re looking forward to carrying that on into Saturday’s game.”