AFC Emley manager Darren Hepworth is determined to reward his club’s volunteers and supporters
Upbeat Darren Hepworth says he is being driven by a determination to reward AFC Emley’s loyal volunteers and supporters with promotion this season.
Emley are top of the Toolstation NCEL Division One tree at Christmas – six months after the club’s plea for financial help.
The club are now on a “sound footing” and have the best chance of promotion to the Premier Division since their reformation in 2005.
“Everyone is excited about how we are doing and for the supporters it about giving them something back, that’s the thing what is motivating us,” Hepworth told Non League Yorkshire.
“Their loyalty on the road and at home is outstanding. We probably have the best fans in the league.
“They have been extremely patient and people do sometimes compare us with the old Emley so that puts a little bit of pressure on it.
“It is nice to be associated with the old Emley and the supporters have waited a long time and hopefully this year will be the start of the club paying them back.
“If you were to ask me for a highlight of the year then it is probably where we are now.
“It is a culmination of a lot of work off-the-pitch. The club itself, financially, before the season began was facing some real challenges.
“The work off-the-pitch to put the club on a sound footing and the volunteers who help this club for nothing have turned this club around.
“Hopefully by getting the results on-the-pitch is paying them back too.”
As Hepworth has always said, Emley are also building for the future and he says as a club, they are well-positioned.
“We don’t have a big budget at all,” he said.
“We are very constrained with our finances so the emphasis has always been to try and build.
“We have an under 19s which is flying under Howard Cartledge and then Joe Howson is doing a great job with the Development Squad.
“The infrastructure of the club is great. It is set for the next 20 years.
“What it needs is success and it is important we get out (of Division One this year.”
Emley now face two big matches with fellow promotion-hopefuls Louth Town over Christmas and the New Year and Hepworth added: “It is brilliant (to be top at Christmas).
“It is a very tough league because everyone is capable of beating each other.
“To be top of the Division at Christmas or halfway through the season is exactly on plan for us.
“We’re delighted with that. There is a lot of football to be played in the second half, but we have a great chance of going up this year.
“We’ve never had a better chance and we’ve never been in a better position. We are enjoying it.
“Football has its ups and down and we’re looking for response at Louth. Louth are flying and doing great.
“I would imagine back-to-back we’ll have two cracking games.”