Preview | NPL play-off finals

The end of the road is in sight across the Northern Premier League, and the upcoming bank holiday weekend will be one of jubilation for four victorious sides.

But who will be celebrating promotion?

Below, we take a look at the sides battling for play-off glory across all four NPL divisions.

NPL Premier Division

Play-off final - Monday 4 May

• Hednesford Town vs Warrington Rylands

Hednesford Town started this season as one of the promotion favourites, and while the title was a step too far, a second successive play-off final at Keys Park will set the scene for what they hope will be back-to-back promotions.

The Pitmen swept aside Stockton Town on Tuesday night, winning 2-0 to set up a battle with Warrington Rylands, who upset FC United of Manchester in the other semi-final by claiming a 3-2 victory at Broadhurst Park.

Neil Reynolds’ side came from behind twice against FC United, and will likely need to show that battle and desire again on Monday against a Hednesford side that have lost just once at home in league and play-off action this season.

However, Rylands are one of three NPL sides this season that the Pitmen have failed to beat. Both regular season games ended in draws, but interestingly, both of them took place before Kelvin Davis took over in the dugout at Keys Park.

With a place in the National League North up for grabs, who will take it on Bank Holiday Monday?

NPL East Division

Play-off final - Saturday 2 May

• Emley vs Bradford (Park Avenue)

Separated by just 17 miles, this all-West Yorkshire play-off final in the East Division will have a bit of flavour to it.

Emley righted the wrongs of their semi-final exit against Dunston last season, beating Jon McDonald’s side on Tuesday to reach the final.

The 1-0 victory was a trademark gritty performance that we’ve been used to seeing from Richard Tracey’s side over the past couple of years, and one that showed that the recent seven-game winless run they went on towards the end of the regular season is well behind them.

However, Bradford (Park Avenue) has also shown that they can win ugly when needed this season, and come into Saturday’s clash with some momentum.

Indeed, not many gave Craig Elliott’s side much of a chance at Matlock Town on Tuesday night, as the Gladiators had seemingly gotten back to their best, ending the campaign on a six-game winning run.

But a 2-1 win for Park Avenue upset the apple cart and has sent the former National League North regulars within 90 minutes of a return to Step 3.

During the regular season, the meetings between the two sides were low-scoring and saw Emley take four points from their next opponents, including a 1-0 win at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground in December.

A similar result would see Richard Tracey’s side back in the Premier Division for the first time since Emley AFC returned in 2019.

NPL Midlands Division

Play-off final - Saturday 2 May

• Belper Town vs Racing Club Warwick

Both Belper Town and Racing Club Warwick went through a gruelling 120 minutes of semi-final football on Tuesday to move to within 90 minutes of reaching Step 3.

Racing Club Warwick produced arguably the shock of the entire play-offs, as they travelled to Carlton Town, who finished 25 points ahead of them during the regular season, and forced them to the lottery of penalties after a goalless stalemate.

In the end, Warwick held their nerve, scoring all four of their spot-kicks, while Carlton missed a couple. 

Meanwhile, Belper refused to give up at Basford United by coming from behind twice, with their second equaliser coming in the 87th minute, to take the semi-final tie to extra-time.

And, after suffering semi-final heartbreak last season at Stocksbridge Park Steels in extra-time, the Nailers held out to take the game to penalties. After six perfect penalties, Basford blinked, and Belper held out to reach the final.

It’s a strange situation in which a side that didn’t have home advantage in the semi-final has it in the final, but the Raygar Stadium will be ready to roar on Lee Attenborough’s side against a Warwick outfit who really have nothing to lose.

Both have recent Step 3 history - Warwick’s is a little more dated, having not tasted that level since 2003, while Belper played in the NPL’s Premier Division in the 2022/23 campaign, but we’ll see who can make their return on Saturday.

NPL West Division

Play-off final - Saturday 2 May

• Avro vs Stalybridge Celtic

And if Emley and Bradford (Park Avenue)’s derby match-up was one to look forward to, Avro and Stalybridge Celtic, separated by just five-and-a-half miles, will be even tastier.

Additionally, these two sides have easily been the best of the rest out West, and it’s rather apt that this is the only one out of the four divisions where the sides finishing second and third make up the play-off final.

Stalybridge held out after scoring inside eight minutes to beat Runcorn Linnets 1-0 at Bower Fold in their semi-final, while Avro survived a tough Lower Breck test in a match-up which went back and forth numerous times.

Grant Shenton’s side looked to have their final place wrapped up in normal time, before Breck equalised in the 93rd minute. 

And the away side would then strike first in extra-time, taking a 2-1 lead until the late stages, when it was Avro’s turn to equalise in the final few minutes, resulting in a penalty shootout to decide Stalybridge’s opponents.

Despite missing their first penalty, Avro stuck in the shootout, and when Breck missed consecutive spot-kicks towards the end, the Ro pulled through and won 4-3.

Games between these two sides in the regular season were tightly contested, with wins going the way of the home team on both occasions.

These two sides are more than deserving of a place in Step 3 next season, but who will come out on top when it matters most?