‘Never struck one as important’ - Local hero Joe Clegg on firing Emley to promotion

Emley and Bradford (Park Avenue) were the best two sides across the entirety of the Northern Premier League when it came to keeping the ball out of the net during the regular season, so it was no surprise that the two played out a goalless draw through 120 minutes in the play-off final.

And after three perfect penalties each, Bradford were the first team to blink in the shootout, giving Richard Tracey’s side an advantage which they held until the end.

Clegg, who can see the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground from his bedroom window, was the man who netted the decisive penalty. And as the midfielder admits, he likely won’t score a more important goal in his career.

“The coaches put me down as the fifth taker, and I was standing there thinking ‘I hope we can get this wrapped up’, but when the Bradford player missed, I knew it was going to fall to me,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.

“I’ve taken penalties during 90 minutes, but the occasion that it came down to, I’ve never struck one as important as that.

“It only really hit me on Monday about what it means to everyone, and with some of the messages I’ve got. I haven’t taken a more important penalty than that, and I don’t think I will again.”

Not only did the winning penalty mean a lot to Clegg, but also to the packed-out home end and the volunteers at Emley, too, who the striker knows well.

He was glad to be able to create a moment that would live long in the memory of his friends and family.

“I was standing in the clubhouse afterwards thinking, ‘this could have gone two ways - I could’ve been enemy number one of the village or the hero!’ Thankfully, I didn’t think about that at the time,” Clegg added.

“I know a lot of the people in the crowd, I know the chairman very well, all the volunteers I’ve known all my life, 20-plus years.

“It was nice to be able to have things pan out the way they did.”