XI questions with | Emley

Across the country, fans are preparing for the new campaign with renewed hope and ambition for the season ahead.

Ahead of the 2026/27 campaign getting underway on Saturday 8 August, we sat down with supporters from the NPL clubs at Step 3 to hear their thoughts on how things are shaping up.

Today, it's the turn of newly-promoted Emley and their supporter, Jake Wood.

A historic win in the play-off final last season secured your second promotion in three years. How do you continue to ride that wave of positive momentum?

I believe the club have already taken the first big step to continuing the momentum from last season by retaining 95% of the promotion-winning squad. 

By doing this, it feels like the team can set foot exactly where they left off last season, building on the positivity of promotion rather than spending weeks trying to find team chemistry and balance.  

What does a successful season look like for Emley? Is survival the priority?

I think survival is definitely the first port of call, and to stay up in our first season at Step 3 would be a magnificent achievement. 

However, as we have done in the last three seasons, we have shown we can punch above our weight, and I fully believe we can defy the odds once again and have a very positive first season at this level.

Richard Tracey has been in charge since 2019, bringing unbelievable success to the club. How happy are you with his leadership ahead of the step up?

There’s no better person and manager for the job than Richard Tracey. 

In the past seven years, we have seen how Richard has been able to adapt to the new leagues and take it in his stride whenever new challenges have arisen. 

With new challenges certain to come in the forthcoming season, I believe he has all the skills and experience needed to make Emley a permanent addition to Step 3. 

Sum up your transfer window so far…

I believe the main hope for us fans was retaining our promotion-winning side and have been delighted to see that 95% of the squad have committed for the season ahead. 

I believe the incomings we have already made have been very good, as we have seen a clear mix of experience at Step 3 whilst also bringing players who are ready to make the step up. 

Diego De Girolamo is a name that sticks out for me straight away - a man with a wealth of experience, having represented Italy at youth level, and looks certain to bring lots of firepower to the squad given his track record as a proven goalscorer. 

Not only Diego, I am also looking forward to seeing exciting attacker Rinor Ejupi, who is making the step up from Garforth. 

Many Garforth fans have sung his praises, so it looks like an exciting coup for the club. 

The likes of Jamie Spencer and Aaron Haswell have joined the club as well. Who are you most looking forward to seeing in an Emley shirt?

I am looking forward to seeing both of them in an Emley shirt. However, if I had to choose between the two, I would say Aaron Haswell. 

I didn't know much about him before joining Emley. However, after researching him a little more, he looks like an exciting player who can score from anywhere, which is maybe something we were missing last season. 

Not only this, but he's another player that will also bring a wealth of NPL Premier Division experience from his time at Whitby Town.

You can purchase any player from the NPL Premier. Who are you buying?

If I could purchase any player from the NPL, it would be Adam Le Fondre from FC United of Manchester. 

Not only an ex-Premier League player, but he is showing he is still an excellent player after featuring in the NPL Premier Division Team of the Season and scoring 17 goals. It would be exciting to see a player with such pedigree play at Emley. 

Obviously, there are plenty of fresh teams in the division. Which away ground are you most relishing visiting?

One ground I am most certainly looking forward to visiting is Gigg Lane, Bury.

With it being an ex-Football League ground, it will be a great atmosphere and a great experience. Another ground I am excited to visit is Hyde United. 

It looks like an excellent ground with some great facilities and from people who have visited before, they have told me good things about it.

One lesser-known Emley player opposition fans should look out for?

One lesser-known player I believe opposition fans should lookout for is Ellis Farrar. He had an excellent first season for us last year and played a massive part in our defence being one of the best in the country.

Ellis plays in central defence but can also play on the left side of the defence. He is a strong defender who also has an eye for goalscoring, having produced some important moments for us last year.

I am certain he will continue his rise up the football pyramid, hopefully with Emley!

Who are the league’s dark horses for 2026/27?

A dark horse I have for this season is Redcar Athletic. 

Coming up with us from the NPL East Division, we have seen how strong they were throughout the season, obliterating most of the league. 

With some excellent additions to their squad joining the likes of Adam Boyes, Louis Johnson and Oscar Fletcher, they're certainly not a team to write off this season.

Who wins the league, and why?

Curzon Ashton. I believe with some good additions they will be looking to bounce back from relegation straight away and I believe they will be successful in doing so. 

Your final message to the team ahead of the new season?

You've already made us Emley fans so proud, so continue to give that Pewit spirit every game that got us to where we are. 

Whatever happens this season, us supporters will back you every single game, and we all have full belief that this can be an excellent season.