TEN YEARS on from finishing bottom of NCEL Division One in front of a crowd of 23, Worsbrough Bridge capped a record-breaking season with a glorious play-off final win which was watched by 1,617.
They won 2-0 home to Wakefield AFC in front of a club record crowd and it is the first time they have been promoted after 44 years in the same division.
Bridge then lost 2-1 at Worksop Town on Tuesday at Doncaster Rovers’ ground in the Sheffield Senior Cup final.
Chairman Mark Booth said: “What an incredible season. It was completely unthinkable ten years ago when the club finished bottom of the NCEL and were reprieved when we played our last game in front of 23 people.
“This record-breaking team will join the ‘hall of fame’ as the best in the club’s modern day era. Lee Morris, Rhys Meynell and Luke Smith have created history.
“I can’t emphasise enough how hard this league is and this is something that will last in the memories of the players, management team and fans for the rest of their lives.”
Manager Lee Morris added: “Saturday was a very special day to get promoted for the first time after so many years.
“It wasn’t so long ago there was talk about relegation so the club chairman and committee deserve it because they have worked tirelessly then the players have been outstanding all season.
“We asked for the people of Barnsley and Worsbrough to support us and they definitely did.”
Morris is hoping to consolidate in the Premier Division next season.
“You look at the teams who went up last year Wombwell Town and Horbury – both with much bigger finances than us – and they struggled.
“But they had a big turnover of players. We will look to keep the nucleus of our team. I’d like to be pushing for mid-table but if we stay up that’s a good achievement.
“Our lads are talented and will have money thrown at them by other clubs but we’ll look to keep our Barnsley tribe together. Most of the players are local and they love the club.”
On Saturday, Keelan Grist and Akram Lasalire netted against Wakefield.
Morris said: “I don’t understand what Wakefield tried to do. We never change our approach for anybody and they changed for us.
“We controlled the whole game and everyone has said that.
“We could have scored more but I won’t be greedy.”
On Tuesday, against semi-professional Worksop who play four divisions above them, Bridge went 2-0 down before Grist netted a penalty.
