Club captain Leon Henry scored the goal which propelled Brighouse Town into the Evo
As with previous years, 2014 has its memorable moments and many of them for the right and wrong reasons.
Non League Yorkshire, as a website, has grown throughout the year by covering more and more of the region’s action. You can follow the site on Twitter and Facebook.
But, lets take a look at the past 12 months.
Non League Yorkshire’s top six teams of 2014
Hemsworth Miners Welfare
Harrogate Railway
Brighouse Town
Tadcaster Albion
Shaw Lane Aquaforce
AFC Emley
January
Controversy was the name of the game in the first month of the year.
From handshake snubs to out of control club captains, January had it all.
The game between the Evo Stik Division One North top fair play league sides finished with seven cautions and one red card.
That was between Farsley AFC and Ossett Town and the match ended with referee David Benton refusing to shake then-Ossett boss Craig Elliott’s hand.
The following week Goole AFC captain Karl Colley ran into the crowd to confront some Coalville Town supporters after being sent off.
The incident, captured on video, earned the defender an eight month ban.
Goole manager David Holdsworth quit the club two days later which led to Curtis Woodhouse’s promotion.
On the same afternoon, AFC Emley pulled off their famous ‘earth, wind and fire’ victory over Shaw Lane Aquaforce at the Welfare Ground.
Emley had trailed 2-0 at half-time, but the weather changed suddenly and in awful conditions, the home side staged a remarkable comeback to win 3-2 in the last 20 minutes.
February
Tadcaster were given the shock of their lives when they were hammered 8-1 at promotion rivals Brighouse.
A second consecutive defeat – this time to Dinnington, who had their striker in goal – cost Simon Houghton his job at Shaw Lane.
Two weeks passed and excitement gripped Non League football when Craig Elliott dropped two divisions to take control at Aquaforce.
Ossett gave left-back Steve Jeff the reins for two games and he rewarded them with a draw and a memorable win at Cammell Laird.
John Reed was handed the permanent post with Clive Freeman as his assistant.
Nostell Miners Welfare finally got lift off under Darren Holmes with a win over Garforth Town – a result that would help lift them to safety.
Craig Elliott was appointed as Shaw Lane manager in February
Steve Jeff then went onto take charge of two Ossett Town matches – winning one and drawing one
March
Pontefract Collieries’ promotion hopes were briefly lifted with a 4-0 thrashing of Cleethorpes, but Shaw Lane put pay to them with a 1-0 win at Beechnut Lane.
Chris Ovington kept Ossett Town’s play-offs hopes alive with a spectacular goal in John Reed’s first home game in charge.
Rob Hunter departed from Glasshoughton Welfare to leave reserve team boss Jon Miles in caretaker charge.
Farsley’s promotion hopes took a dent after a home defeat to Curzon, while Tadcaster’s expectations went through the roof following the 5-0 derby day demolition of Pickering Town.
The month finished with the bad news that Wakefield FC would be demoted after failing to secure a suitable ground for the 2014-15 season.
Hemsworth couldn’t believe it when they conceded in the 98th minute to Shaw Lane. Picture: White Rose Photos
Talisman Danny Frost leaps through the air after scoring the goal to earn Shaw Lane promotion. Photo: White Rose Photos
April
Marcus Edwards placed himself firmly in Eccleshill United folklore after scoring the last minute penalty in their shock West Riding County Cup final victory over giants Harrogate Town at Valley Parade.
Farsley’s play-offs ambitions fizzled out with two games to go, but nearby Brighouse Town were celebrating winning the Premier Division title.
Tadcaster’s loss to Glasshoughton all but finished off their chances and Barton’s defeat to Albion Sports did the same so Brighouse had the chance to win it with three games to spare.
A straightforward 2-0 win over Retford propelled Paul Quinn’s men into the Evo Stik with captain Leon Henry scoring the decisive goal.
Hemsworth’s 3-3 draw at Shaw Lane Aquaforce in the penultimate game of the season brought their early year progress to the fore.
Hemsworth should have beaten won that day and only a 98th minute own goal from Andrew Hart saved Shaw Lane’s promotion hopes.
Hemsworth have never looked back since under Wayne Benn.
Two days later, Shaw Lane finally won promotion with a nail-biting 2-2 draw with Knaresborough.
Aquaforce only needed a point and two goals from talisman Danny Frost ensured their meteoric rise continued.
Brighouse Town won the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division title
Knaresborough lifted the NCEL League Cup
Chris Hilton was made Stocksbridge Park Steels manager in May
May
Champagne continued to flow as Knaresborough Town won the NCEL League Cup on penalties against Eccleshill United.
But, the month belonged to Athersley Rec because of their sensational Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup final victory at Hillsborough.
Rec defied the odds to beat Evo Stik outfit Frickley Athletic and win the cup for the first ever time.
The managerial merry-go-round soon got going. Jon Miles was named as Glasshoughton’s permanent manager.
Rob Hunter was given the job as Brian Davey’s assistant at Knaresborough, while Chris Hilton got fixed up at Stocksbridge after leaving Worsborough.
Selby chose former Beverley Town manager Dave Ricardo as their tenth manager in four years.
Ossett Albion were also celebrating after a reprieve from relegation was granted.
June
This year’s NCEL AGM in Scarborough went without a hitch for a change, but there was sad news as Wakefield folded.
NCEL managers were also told to be on their best behaviour during the season as dismissed coaches would have to sit out the rest of matches in the changing room or social club.
Dominic Riordan was appointed as the new chairman of Ossett Albion and still registered himself as a player.
Rob Bordman shrugs his shoulders after scoring an unbelievable 45-yard free kick
July
Pre-season games can be boring affairs, but Rob Bordman lit Ossett Town’s friendly with Bradford City.
Bordman, who now plays for Nostell, struck home a free kick from 45 yards.
Farsley AFC had to re-jig their team plans after Paddy Miller and Tom Morgan departed for Bradford (Park Avenue).
That presented new opportunities for now contracted goalkeeper Tom Taylor and Neil Parsley had to look for a new centre-half.
Shaw Lane remained the team with the most high profile signings with the captures of Matt Thornhill, Lee Morris and Jimmy Eyles, among others.
The FA Cup visited Tadcaster Albion in August
Liam Tuck got the winner for Knaresborough against his old club Glasshoughton in the FA Cup
August
Hemsworth were one of four teams to fly straight out of the blocks and were top of the table within five games.
Heanor, Handsworth and Shaw Lane were the early pace-setters in the Premier Division. Tadcaster still lurked at the August, but the opening day defeat to Aquaforce set them back.
The FA Cup brought glory for Knaresborough with Liam Tuck scoring the winner at Glasshoughton against his old side.
Tadcaster even had a visit from the famous trophy at the end of the month.
Harrogate Railway, who were bottom of the Division One North after four games, got the lift-off they needed with a late FA Cup at Garforth Town.
There was sad news on the opening day of the season after Ossett Albion star player Ryan Harrison suffered a serious knee injury after 40 minutes at Prescot Cables.
Brothers in arms: Jonathan Greening, Taddy bear and Josh Greening after Tadcaster’s 6-0 win over Maltby Main
Shaw Lane Aquaforce chairman Craig Wood brings the Sheffield Wednesday game to a fitting end by scoring a penalty with the last kick of the game
September
FA Cup hopes ended for the Evo Stik and NCEL sides during September.
Harrogate Railway and Farsley AFC both bowed out at the second qualifying round stage with Rail pushing Conference North outfit Colwyn Bay all the way in Wales.
Tadcaster managed to attract the national media’s full attention with the signing of former Premier League star Jonathan Greening.
Greening made his debut in a 6-0 win over Maltby Main at i2i Stadium.
Shaw Lane chairman Craig Wood scored a last minute penalty in a friendly with Sheffield Wednesday.
The match was organised to raise money for Weston Park Hospital after Wood won his battle with testicular Cancer earlier in the year.
Shaw Lane ended the month thrashing crisis club Thackley 9-0 which led to a third manager departure of the season at Dennyfield.
Chris Reape was quickly drafted in.
Ossett Town’s West Riding County Cup campaign ended in farcical circumstances after their game at Liversedge was abandoned because of a local power cut with 11 minutes to go.
Ossett were trailing 4-1 at the time and the County FA decided that the result should stand.
Nathan Cartman, scoring at Colwyn Bay for Harrogate Railway, signed a contract in November. Cartman has scored 35 goals in 2014-15. Photo: Caught Light Photography
October
Steve Toyne departs from Hallam after a terrible start to the campaign and the club turn to former player Ryan Hindley as his replacement.
Nostell finally return to Crofton after major maintenance work meant that they had to play the first two months of the campaign away from home.
Nathan Cartman signed a contract at Harrogate Railway after a series of clubs show interest in him.
Russ Eagle was a surprise managerial departure at Handsworth Parramore a few hours before their 4-0 victory over Garforth Town.
Handsworth reacted quickly to appoint Peter Duffield a few days later.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare celebrate Nick Guest’s opening goal in the 3-1 win at Pontefract Collieries
Ossett Town players slump to their knees after Harrogate Railway go 4-0 up. Photo: Caught Light Photography
Final act: Rudy Funk hugs Harrogate Railway manager Billy Miller – literally seconds before announcing his resignation as manager of Scarborough. Photo: Caught Light Photography
November
Hemsworth put themselves firmly into promotion reckoning in Division One with a deserved 3-1 win at Pontefract Collieries.
Leading light Nick Guest got the first goal and then Jack Steers and Nash Connolly sealed the win.
Two days later and Scarborough parted company with Rudy Funk after Harrogate Railway stormed to a 3-0 win at Station View.
Funk was appointed as the new AFC Mansfield boss within a week and Scarborough went with Bryan Hughes and Paul Foot.
Struggling Nostell received a huge lift after local businessman Simon Turfrey was appointed as their new chairman and Paul Lines was given the manager’s job.
Tadcaster took over 200 fans to see their 10-0 victory at Armthorpe Welfare.
Nathan Cartman’s form again comes to the fore after a hat-trick helps Harrogate Railway down ambitious Salford City.
Stefan Holt celebrates putting Shaw Lane in front against Shildon. Photo: White Rose Photos
Ryan Hindley has transformed Hallam’s fortunes
December
Bad weather disrupts a large majority of the Evo Stik and NCEL action, but a number of teams position themselves well for the New Year.
Hallam’s revival continued with 5-0 wins at Teversal and Grimsby Borough along with a 2-1 victory at Clipstone.
Tadcaster Albion and Shaw Lane Aquaforce remain in contention for FA Vase glory after wins over St Helens Town and tournament favourites Shildon.
Shaw Lane’s victory was made even more memorable by the fact it was played at Oakwell.
Harrogate Railway completed the double over Salford and propelled themselves into fifth place to finish the year.