Latest news with #Steels
Powys County Times
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Non-League club ready to enjoy promotion after dark times
Stocksbridge Park Steels are ready to enjoy their return to the Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division after pushing through dark times. The Sheffield club have returned to the seventh tier for the first time since 2014, and volunteer Dave Bradley believes they will present a challenge to the established order. Steels won promotion on penalties in the play-off final, beating Dunston, having secured their place in the play-offs on the final day of the regular season. 'I keep watching videos,' Chapeltown resident Bradley said of their dramatic victory, 'I can't really put my finger on it, but it is a bit surreal at the moment, even after this whole time. 'We went through some dark times in 2013-15 and over Covid as well, so to get promoted and all the hard work that the volunteers do, it just rewards it. It is a magical feeling. 'When our former chairman Alan Bethell finished in his role, we had just been relegated, and volunteers had to pull together. 'We all needed to have a reset moment, and it was going so well, then Covid hit, and we almost had to reset again. Now, three or four years after Covid, we are back where we should be. 'There's been a lot of preparation going on behind the scenes at the moment, we are going out there to enjoy it. When you speak to the manager, he has said he wants to enjoy it. 'We are definitely not going to make the numbers up, we are definitely going to be up there. We just go quietly as we do and get on with it.' Bradley, who works as a warehouse manager for Lloyd & Jones, first got involved with Steels in the 2009-10 season. Since then, he has held a myriad number of roles, now serving as the canteen manager on game day. With 15 years of service under his belt, volunteering is something the 49-year-old encourages others to do, with opportunities available on the Pitching In Volunteer Hub. Through entering their postcode, individuals can locate volunteering opportunities at nearby clubs and discover more details about which roles are available. Bradley added: 'It's brilliant, you meet different people, people come and go, but most of them stop. 'But it's nice to see people on a Saturday, you get talking to the players and people, other fans and anybody else that pops along, it is really enjoyable, most of all this year. 'Volunteers will be even more important next season. We've just been talking about the fact that we need a few more volunteers helping and coming along. 'We have managed to get a few more, but we'll still need some more volunteers. It is massively important that we get these volunteers so we can keep the club going. 'It is about going out and going to see people and talk to people. If you have a crappy day at work you can get out and talk to people who are not in your usual friend group and you can talk to them about different things. 'There are a lot of positives in there and something you will only realise when you get further down the line.'
South Wales Argus
8 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Non-League club ready to enjoy promotion after dark times
The Sheffield club have returned to the seventh tier for the first time since 2014, and volunteer Dave Bradley believes they will present a challenge to the established order. Steels won promotion on penalties in the play-off final, beating Dunston, having secured their place in the play-offs on the final day of the regular season. 'I keep watching videos,' Chapeltown resident Bradley said of their dramatic victory, 'I can't really put my finger on it, but it is a bit surreal at the moment, even after this whole time. 'We went through some dark times in 2013-15 and over Covid as well, so to get promoted and all the hard work that the volunteers do, it just rewards it. It is a magical feeling. 'When our former chairman Alan Bethell finished in his role, we had just been relegated, and volunteers had to pull together. 'We all needed to have a reset moment, and it was going so well, then Covid hit, and we almost had to reset again. Now, three or four years after Covid, we are back where we should be. 'There's been a lot of preparation going on behind the scenes at the moment, we are going out there to enjoy it. When you speak to the manager, he has said he wants to enjoy it. 'We are definitely not going to make the numbers up, we are definitely going to be up there. We just go quietly as we do and get on with it.' Bradley, who works as a warehouse manager for Lloyd & Jones, first got involved with Steels in the 2009-10 season. Since then, he has held a myriad number of roles, now serving as the canteen manager on game day. With 15 years of service under his belt, volunteering is something the 49-year-old encourages others to do, with opportunities available on the Pitching In Volunteer Hub. Through entering their postcode, individuals can locate volunteering opportunities at nearby clubs and discover more details about which roles are available. Bradley added: 'It's brilliant, you meet different people, people come and go, but most of them stop. 'But it's nice to see people on a Saturday, you get talking to the players and people, other fans and anybody else that pops along, it is really enjoyable, most of all this year. 'Volunteers will be even more important next season. We've just been talking about the fact that we need a few more volunteers helping and coming along. 'We have managed to get a few more, but we'll still need some more volunteers. It is massively important that we get these volunteers so we can keep the club going. 'It is about going out and going to see people and talk to people. If you have a crappy day at work you can get out and talk to people who are not in your usual friend group and you can talk to them about different things. 'There are a lot of positives in there and something you will only realise when you get further down the line.' Find volunteering opportunities at your local club by visiting
Glasgow Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Non-League club ready to enjoy promotion after dark times
The Sheffield club have returned to the seventh tier for the first time since 2014, and volunteer Dave Bradley believes they will present a challenge to the established order. Steels won promotion on penalties in the play-off final, beating Dunston, having secured their place in the play-offs on the final day of the regular season. 'I keep watching videos,' Chapeltown resident Bradley said of their dramatic victory, 'I can't really put my finger on it, but it is a bit surreal at the moment, even after this whole time. 'We went through some dark times in 2013-15 and over Covid as well, so to get promoted and all the hard work that the volunteers do, it just rewards it. It is a magical feeling. 'When our former chairman Alan Bethell finished in his role, we had just been relegated, and volunteers had to pull together. 'We all needed to have a reset moment, and it was going so well, then Covid hit, and we almost had to reset again. Now, three or four years after Covid, we are back where we should be. 'There's been a lot of preparation going on behind the scenes at the moment, we are going out there to enjoy it. When you speak to the manager, he has said he wants to enjoy it. 'We are definitely not going to make the numbers up, we are definitely going to be up there. We just go quietly as we do and get on with it.' Bradley, who works as a warehouse manager for Lloyd & Jones, first got involved with Steels in the 2009-10 season. Since then, he has held a myriad number of roles, now serving as the canteen manager on game day. With 15 years of service under his belt, volunteering is something the 49-year-old encourages others to do, with opportunities available on the Pitching In Volunteer Hub. Through entering their postcode, individuals can locate volunteering opportunities at nearby clubs and discover more details about which roles are available. Bradley added: 'It's brilliant, you meet different people, people come and go, but most of them stop. 'But it's nice to see people on a Saturday, you get talking to the players and people, other fans and anybody else that pops along, it is really enjoyable, most of all this year. 'Volunteers will be even more important next season. We've just been talking about the fact that we need a few more volunteers helping and coming along. 'We have managed to get a few more, but we'll still need some more volunteers. It is massively important that we get these volunteers so we can keep the club going. 'It is about going out and going to see people and talk to people. If you have a crappy day at work you can get out and talk to people who are not in your usual friend group and you can talk to them about different things. 'There are a lot of positives in there and something you will only realise when you get further down the line.' Find volunteering opportunities at your local club by visiting
South Wales Guardian
9 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Non-League club ready to enjoy promotion after dark times
The Sheffield club have returned to the seventh tier for the first time since 2014, and volunteer Dave Bradley believes they will present a challenge to the established order. Steels won promotion on penalties in the play-off final, beating Dunston, having secured their place in the play-offs on the final day of the regular season. 'I keep watching videos,' Chapeltown resident Bradley said of their dramatic victory, 'I can't really put my finger on it, but it is a bit surreal at the moment, even after this whole time. 'We went through some dark times in 2013-15 and over Covid as well, so to get promoted and all the hard work that the volunteers do, it just rewards it. It is a magical feeling. 'When our former chairman Alan Bethell finished in his role, we had just been relegated, and volunteers had to pull together. 'We all needed to have a reset moment, and it was going so well, then Covid hit, and we almost had to reset again. Now, three or four years after Covid, we are back where we should be. 'There's been a lot of preparation going on behind the scenes at the moment, we are going out there to enjoy it. When you speak to the manager, he has said he wants to enjoy it. 'We are definitely not going to make the numbers up, we are definitely going to be up there. We just go quietly as we do and get on with it.' Bradley, who works as a warehouse manager for Lloyd & Jones, first got involved with Steels in the 2009-10 season. Since then, he has held a myriad number of roles, now serving as the canteen manager on game day. With 15 years of service under his belt, volunteering is something the 49-year-old encourages others to do, with opportunities available on the Pitching In Volunteer Hub. Through entering their postcode, individuals can locate volunteering opportunities at nearby clubs and discover more details about which roles are available. Bradley added: 'It's brilliant, you meet different people, people come and go, but most of them stop. 'But it's nice to see people on a Saturday, you get talking to the players and people, other fans and anybody else that pops along, it is really enjoyable, most of all this year. 'Volunteers will be even more important next season. We've just been talking about the fact that we need a few more volunteers helping and coming along. 'We have managed to get a few more, but we'll still need some more volunteers. It is massively important that we get these volunteers so we can keep the club going. 'It is about going out and going to see people and talk to people. If you have a crappy day at work you can get out and talk to people who are not in your usual friend group and you can talk to them about different things. 'There are a lot of positives in there and something you will only realise when you get further down the line.' Find volunteering opportunities at your local club by visiting
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Lincolnshire voters' views on why Reform swept to victory
A turquoise wave has swept over Lincolnshire, as Reform takes control of the county council and welcomes Dame Andrea Jenkyns to the position of mayor. BBC News visits Louth to discover why this Conservative Party heartland turned a lighter shade of blue. "I need a holiday," laughs Carol Steels, 68, grabbing husband David's arm to stop him outside Louth Travel in the window promote turquoise waves lapping on to the sun-soaked beaches of Kefalonia and Florida. But it is a turquoise wave, closer to home, I am keen to hear their views on this the splash caused by Reform in both the Lincolnshire County Council and mayoral elections."We're Conservative voters," says Mrs Steels. "I think our local, Conservative MPs do a good job, but I can well understand why the county voted as it did." Earlier, Reform UK took overall control of Lincolnshire County Council from the Conservatives. It also saw Dame Andrea Jenkyns elected as the county's first mayor following a resounding Andrea won in every area of the county except one with a total of 104,133 votes. Rob Waltham, for the Conservative Party, came second with 64,585 council leader Martin Hill, who led the authority for 20 years, told the BBC of a "tidal wave of Reform crashing over us".Mr Steels, taking a moment away from the calm waters of Kefalonia, offers further insight on the political sea change."This Labour government is trying to please everybody," he says. "The prime minister should speak his mind more like Nigel [Farage]."The Conservatives have been too busy backstabbing each other. Meanwhile, this election Reform have been telling everyone they will get things done for local communities."They also told people they will deal with issues around immigration." Andrea Jenkyns: Ex-Greggs worker with knack for bouncing backFollow the latest election updatesAT A GLANCE: What happened overnight and what's still to come? Could it be seen as a protest vote, I ask."Yes, I think it was," replies Mrs Steels. "People have just lost faith in politics. They want something different."Inside the travel agency, assistant Jo Pacey, feels the same."People here voted for Reform because they don't like the alternatives," she says. However, owner Terry Robinson, 75, admits he was surprised by the outcome of the elections."The country has been looking for another party to come in for years," he says. "But I thought when it came to people putting their X in the box on voting day they'd back off. But that doesn't seem to have happened. People clearly want change in Lincolnshire."Andrew Dennis, 62, is selling flowers in the market."We need change, it's as simple as that," he says. "I'm here every day and that's what everyone tells me. They tell me they're fed up of Labour and the Conservatives." Mr Dennis thinks Reform made its gains on its stance on immigration."Everyone is saying the same about needing to tackle illegal immigration to be fair," he says."Reform, during the election campaigns, have been saying they will deal with the problem [illegal immigration], and I think people here think Nigel Farage will do that. The other parties have not been able to sort it."But not all are fans. Student Amber Burton, 20, says she is "very, very disappointed" with the election results."I really do not support Reform in any way, shape or form," she says. "I believe they have very dangerous values. I don't like Farage and his immigration and foreign policies."She is not surprised by the outcomes of the elections, however."We're a Tory stronghold here," she says. "We're going further to the right, and I can see us one day having a Reform MP, just as they do in Skegness."Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. LIVE: Follow the latest election updatesPOSTCODE LOOKUP: Check the results in your areaSIMPLE GUIDE: When will we know the rest of the results?FULL COVERAGE: Catch up on all our election stories
