United Miss Promotion

By the skin of the teeth, Denaby United have missed promotion to Division One of the Yorkshire league.

At the time of writing isn’t quite clear whether United finished fifth or sixth in Division Two and it matters little. Denaby lost the wrong matches at the wrong time and have now paid the penalty, despite having one of the top three colleges in the division – 84 goals for, 40 against.

Chairman, Mr Eddie Longford, was not downhearted when he commented on Monday:

“Naturally we are very disappointed and a little bit annoyed that we have failed to go up. We lost one or two stupid matches which could have made other difference, but this has not been a totally unsatisfactory season and we are happy to have been so near to promotion.

“It is no good trying to alter what has happened. What is important now is to get into the Midland League. If we do we shall be quite happy and, of course, we shall continue in the Yorkshire league as well.”

There is a great confidence at Tickhill square in the club’s new manager, Harry Lee, and it is planned not only to contests the Midland and Yorkshire Leagues, but also to run an under 18 team in either the Doncaster or Sheffield leagues.

This setup, if it materialises, will be an attractive proposition to any young footballer. You have only to look to Bramall Lane and Millmoor to see the results of the wise policy of shooling young talent in the junior side.

Denaby’s list of retained players is yet to be released but it is understood that among the “definite” for next season are John Dodds, halfback Roy Collins and centre forward Pete Caunt.