Look Local Newspaper 1419 Thursday 02 April 2026

CONDEMNED

A training tower at Stocksbridge Fire Station is set to be demolished after being declared unsafe, it has been confirmed.

The structure was condemned following a routine inspection carried out by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, with concerns raised over its condition. Demolition has been rumoured to take place in the near future, and no plans are currently in place to rebuild the tower.

The decision has sparked concern among firefighters, who say the loss of the facility will impact their ability to train locally. Crews will now be

required to travel to other stations across the region to carry out essential exercises.

One firefighter told Look Local: “It’s a local fire station and we’re seeing it pulled apart. It’s going to affect our ability to train. With proper maintenance, maybe it could have been saved and used in the future, but now it’s come to this.”

Continued on page 2...

LEISURE CENTRE ASSAULT

Police investigating a reported sexual assault in Hillsborough Leisure Centre have released an efit image of a man they would like to identify.

The incident is said to have taken place at the leisure centre in Hillsborough at around 5.15pm on Saturday, November 15, 2025, when a teenage girl was reportedly assaulted.

Officers say they have carried out extensive enquiries and are now appealing to the public for help in identifying a man who may have information that could assist the investigation.

The man police would like to speak to is described as Black, in his thirties, of a stocky build, approximately 5ft 9ins tall, with short black hair and stubble.

Detectives are urging anyone who recognises the man, or who may have information about the incident, to come forward.

If you can help, please read more on www.southyorkshire.police.uk

Anyone with information is asked to contact police as soon as possible.

Fire Station Tower landmark Set for Demolition

...continued from front page However, questions have been raised around funding, with reports that local council tax contributions towards fire services are set to rise. Some have expressed frustration, suggesting the tower’s deterioration may have been linked to a lack of maintenance over time.

Greg Mattocks-Evans, of South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue,

confirmed the situation, stating: “We can confirm the training tower at Stocksbridge station has been condemned after concerns were raised during a routine safety inspection.

“We are working towards awarding a contract for further inspections to decide our next steps. In the meantime, firefighters at Stocksbridge will be able to carry out tower training at other SYFR locations.”

LIFE-CHANGING

Impact of parkrun revealed as Sheffield runner credits initiative for transforming his life

A Sheffield runner has credited parkrun for transforming his life as new figures reveal how much the initiative is saving the UK economy.

Scott Storey, a regular at Hillsborough parkrun, was prescribed parkrun by his GP and a health worker on an NHS prediabetes course.

Having taken antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication for over 20 years, as well as managing Ulcerative Colitis and prediabetes, Scott was at one point taking around 16 tablets a day.

However, now his antidepressants have started to be reduced and he is down to just one tablet. He is hoping to be off them completely by the summer.

Highlighting the power of social prescribing, Scott said: “I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis about 4 years ago and was prediabetic. With all of that, I was on about 16 tablets a day. I’d joke that when I ran you could hear me rattle!”

“parkrun has given me something to focus on mentally, either through running or volunteering, which has given me an overall uplift in my mood. The running has helped me physically, too, with the aches and pains you get as you start to get older melting away.

“The parkrun volunteers are a second family for us. It’s there for me every Saturday. It’s now a constant in my life, and I wouldn’t have gone along had it not been for a mixture of my GP and the health worker on the NHS pre-diabetes course suggesting it to me.”

New data on Social Prescribing Day has revealed parkrun is saving the UK economy over £600 million a year, with the biggest NHS savings coming from preventative treatment of depression (£13.8m) and Type 2 diabetes (£13.5m).

Over 2,000 GP practices (a third in the UK) are part of the programme which sees them partner with local parkrun events to enable GPs and social prescrib-

ing link workers to prescribe parkrun to patients with a range of physical and mental health conditions.

Social prescribing, which connects people to activities, groups, and services in their local community to support their health and wellbeing, is regarded as an essential part of preventative health and parkrun is urging the NHS and local authorities to include parkrun as part of any social prescribing offer for the new Neighbourhood Health Centres.

Lil Duggan, parkrun CEO, added: “Over the last 20 years parkrun has grown from a weekly community running event into a major public health intervention, helping reduce the burden on the NHS but, we can and want to do more to support the government’s ambitions for a more preventive and community-based health care system.”

To find out more about parkrun and where your nearest event to run, walk or volunteer is, visit parkrun.org.uk.

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ENVIRONMENT AGENCY CRACKS DOWN ON YORKSHIRE WATER

e Environment Agency (EA) has signicantly ramped up its e orts to tackle environmental breaches by Yorkshire Water, carrying out a record 1,201 inspections of the company’s wastewater assets in the region over the past year. is concerted action saw inspection numbers soar by 110% from the previous year and resulted in the EA demanding 213 corrective actions from Yorkshire Water to improve operations and ensure compliance with environmental permits.

e inspections, which were successful in uncovering breaches in permit conditions, are part of the EA’s e ort to prevent pollution and protect local rivers and seas. While 88% of the sites investigated were found to be compliant, the main issues identi ed by teams involved problems with storm tanks, screens, and poor maintenance.

Jacqui Tootill, Local Water Company Regulation Manager, stressed the agency’s commitment, noting that Yorkshire Water was previously classi ed as a “2-star performing company”.

“Our new water industry regulation teams have been working tirelessly with existing teams, completing a record number of inspections, to identify where they need to improve and hold them to account,” Tootill said. “We want to see a culture where issues are identi ed and recti ed before they cause damage to our rivers and seas”.

Helen Wakeham, the Environment Agency’s Director for Water, added that inspections are a “vital preventative measure,” noting that the agency is changing how it operates with “better data, our largest ever enforcement workforce and greater powers”.

Moving forward, the intelligence gathered will be used to better inform regulatory approaches, including a new initiative for Yorkshire Water to focus on improving performance at smaller rural sewage treatment works. To upgrade infrastructure and meet tighter environmental standards, Yorkshire Water is slated to invest £8.3bn over the next ve years, as part of a £22.1bn national investment commitment secured by the Environment Agency and Natural England.

NEW LAW SET TO PROTECT VULNERABLE PEOPLE FROM FIRE

Helping vulnerable people escape from a re is the aim of new re safety regulations coming into force on 6 April 2026.

e Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 introduce a new process called Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (RPEEPs). ese apply to certain multi-occupied residential buildings in England and place new legal duties on Responsible Persons - usually building owners, landlords or managers.

Under the regulations, Responsible Persons will be required to use reasonable endeavours to identify residents who may have di culty evacuating without assistance because of a physical or cognitive impairment, o er them a person-centred re risk assessment, andwhere the resident wishes - agree an emergency evacuation statement. ey must also develop and maintain a building wide emergency evacuation plan.

With the resident’s explicit consent, building owners will share a small amount of essential information with the re and rescue service, including their at number, oor number and a basic indication of the assistance they may need. No medical or personal information will be shared.

Amy Jenkinson, Business Fire Safety Manager at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: “ ese changes are an important step towards

making sure everyone feels safe in their own home, especially those who might need extra support in an emergency.

ey give much clearer expectations for building owners and managers, and we welcome that. While the responsibility for putting these arrangements in place sits with the Responsible Person, we’re ready to receive the information they share with residents’ consent, and to use it to help us respond as e ectively as possible in the event of a re.

If any resident think they may bene t from these new arrangements, we’d encourage them to speak to their building owner or managing agent. Our role is to use the limited information we’re given to support our crews on the ground and to continue working with our partners to help keep our communities safe.”

Participation in the RPEEP process is voluntary, and residents can withdraw consent at any time. Fire and rescue services are not responsible for conducting assessments, creating evacuation statements, or deciding on mitigation measures - these remain the responsibility of building owners and managers.

e new Regulations apply to residential buildings in England that are 18 metres or 7 storeys or higher, or over 11 metres where a simultaneous evacuation strategy is in place.

MAJOR BUS DEPOTS ENTER PUBLIC OWNERSHIP

South Yorkshire has marked a pivotal moment in its journey towards publicly run bus services, with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) completing the purchase of five key bus depots from private operators on Thursday, 26 March. This crucial move brings every major depot in the region into public ownership, well ahead of the launch of the first franchised services in September 2027.

The acquired sites—Olive Grove, Ecclesfield, and Holbrook in Sheffield; Rawmarsh in Rotherham; and Wakefield Road in Barnsley—join the existing Leger Way depot in Doncaster, forming the operational backbone of the local bus network. This acquisition is part of a wider £350 million bus franchising programme, covering upgrades, electrification, and the purchase of a new fleet. The investment aims to deliver a cleaner, more reliable, and more efficient bus service for local residents.

A key focus is the shift to zero-emission transport. All depots will receive upgraded power infrastructure and new dynamic charging equipment to support electric vehicles. Staff

welfare areas will be refurbished, and new office buildings will be constructed at Ecclesfield and Rawmarsh. Early fleet plans project over 220 new zero-emission buses for Olive Grove and around 110 for Leger Way. SYMCA aims for at least 70 per cent of new buses entering service across Doncaster and Sheffield from 2027 to be zero emission, building on £33.4 million in government funding already secured for Sheffield.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard called the acquisition a “significant moment for South Yorkshire,” stating that bringing every depot into public ownership “means we’re putting real foundations in place for a network that is reliable, affordable and works for all of us”. He emphasised that this is “exactly what taking back control of our public transport looks like”. Under the new system, SYMCA will set routes, timetables, and fares, with revenue reinvested into service improvements. While the transition begins in 2027, current operators First Bus and Stagecoach will lease the depots back until then.

A HOMELESSNESS CHARITY IS PLANNING TO OFFER ACCOMMODATION FOR MORE PEOPLE

Emmaus She eld, which provides adults with employment training as well as somewhere to stay, said it would increase provision from 18 spaces to 25, Tom MacDougall for BBC Yorkshire.

Rough sleeping has actually fallen by 34% in She eld in the past year, but 38 rough sleepers were still identi ed during a government study in the October and November period in 2025.

Emmaus chair of trustees Carl Dray said: “While the positive direction in She eld is welcomed, this is not a time to rest on our laurels but rather to double down and keep pressing on.”

He said the actual number of people who were homeless could be higher due to people who are “hidden homeless” - such as those staying with family and friends or in temporary accommodation.

He added that although rough sleeping was falling in She eld, it was rising amongst certain demographics - such as refugees.

Nationally, an estimated 4,793 people were estimated to be sleeping rough on

a single autumn night - a record high and the fourth annual increase in a row.

ere has been a ve-fold increase in the number of refugee households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the last four years, the BBC has found.

Data has also revealed the number of people leaving prison with no home to go to has risen by almost 70% in the past year.

Emmaus She eld provides employment to its residents, known as companions, at its retail store in the city, based in the former Sipelia Works cutlery factory.

It has also just opened a new stall at the Kelham Flea Market.

Individuals must be drug-free to receive support from the charity, which also o ers counselling to those with mental health needs.

Dray said it provided “real-life work experience and a place where people feel supported through true companionship with others who have a shared experience”.

PLAY ROUNDERS IS COMING…

Exciting news alert! Get ready to swing into action because Play Rounders is heading your way! Rounders England is thrilled to announce the arrival of our community-based sports programme, known as “Play Rounders”. Join us in the thrilling game of rounders, where fun meets competition and friendships are forged on the eld. Our mission? To unite communities through the joy of sport and reignite the passion for play in everyone! Let’s hit that target of 1 million players by 2032 together!

Play Rounders Manager Nick Jackson stated “Play Rounders provides a great opportunity for community organisations, Active Partnerships and other sporting networks to come together and o er a very accessible sport to their audience. e format of Play Rounders is designed to give every player the best

opportunity to play to their abilities and get that sought a er physical and mental release.”

Development Director at Rounders England Karen Harvey said:

“Play Rounders is targeted at anyone who loves sport or has thought about engaging in some form of physical activity. e inclusive nature of Rounders means anyone is welcome.”

Play Rounders She eld commences Wednesday 1st April and will run weekly at 6.30pm at Hillsborough Park in the city.

To connect to your Play Rounders network please visit https://www.roundersengland. co.uk/rounders-near-me/play-rounders/ or for more information please contact Nick Jackson via nick.jackson@roundersengland. co.uk or 07506296463.

Woman in 60s Hospitalised After Carpark Collision

A woman in her 60s remains in hospital a er a road tra c collision involving a pedestrian and a car in Stocksbridge.

Police received a call at 4:21 pm on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, reporting the incident in a supermarket car park on Manchester Road. It is understood that a grey Audi A5 collided with the pedestrian.

e woman was taken to hospital with injuries, where she currently remains. e driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene and has continued to co-operate with o cers and their enquiries.

O cers are appealing for anyone with information to contact them, either online, via live chat, or by calling 101. Callers should quote incident number 721 of 18 March 2026.

RARE BIRDS SPOTTED

Residents across the area were left stunned this week after reports that a flock of rare pink pigeons had taken up resi-

dence in local parks.

Early risers claimed to have spotted the unusual birds perched on rooftops and strutting along pavements, with some even attempting to feed them before realising something wasn’t quite right.

Local wildlife “experts” suggested the birds may have escaped from a secret breeding programme, while others joked they were simply enjoying the spring sunshine.

Look Local is waiting to hear back from avian expert April Fool, for confirmation.

APRIL

WEDNESDAY

1 Stocksbridge and District WI are meeting at Christchurch Community Hall, Manchester Road, Stocksbridge, 7:15 for 7:30pm start. Annual membership renewal is due this evening and we will also be doing some Easter crafts. Visitors and new members are welcome. Further details 07917021268

THURSDAY

2 The Easter Cross will shine again over the hillsides of Stocksbridge and Green Moor on Maundy Thursday following a short service at Green Moor Chapel at 8.00pm. After walking up to the Cross there with be a short prayer and back at the Chapel there will be refreshments. On 3rd April the Good Friday witness will be in Fox Valley at the Bandstand from 11.45 to 1.00pm. Please join us - Churches Together in Stocksbridge and District.

FRIDAY

Road South Oughtibridge 10 to 11.30 am Refreshments Cakes Raffle Everyone welcome

SUNDAY

5 WELCOME IN EASTER - the service at Bullhouse Chapel on Easter Sunday Morning will be a DAWN Service at 6.30AM held outside to hopefully watch the rising of the sun. This will be followed by tea/coffee and hotcross buns and simnel cake. ALL are welcome to this short service.

WEDNESDAY

8 Chapeltown and District Probus Club meet every second Wednesday of the month at Grenoside Community Centre on Main Street for a 10am start. We have a friendly informal club environment for retired men to build and maintain companionship and social contacts.

Village Hall on Helliwell Lane, Deepcar at 8pm residents and users welcome.

9 For their April meeting Chapeltown WI will welcome Dennis Ashton MBE to talk about Amazing Space. The competition is for a Star. The meeting will be held at 7.30pm in Chapeltown Methodist Church. New members and visitors will always be made welcome.

9 Stocksbridge & District History Society meeting 7PM. Christ Church hall. Speaker - Janet Ridler on Sheffield Blitz. An insight to those fateful days in 1940 and 1941.

MONDAY

13 at 2.30pm Stocksbridge and Deepcar Townswomen’s Guild meeting at Christ Church, Manchester Road, S36 1DY. The speaker is Simon Utting, his subject is acupuncture. Visitors welcome.

WEDNESDAY

TO HOLD AN OPEN DAY. SUNDAY 12TH APRIL

On Sunday 12th April Thorncliffe Bowling Club will be opening its gates to anyone who wishes to try their hand at crown green bowling. The club welcomes both those who have never played before, and those who have played and want to come back to the sport. A selection of bowls will be available, and coaching will be given. All you need to do is to turn up in flat bottomed shoes.

We will be next meeting on Wednesday the 8th of April when Tim Foreman will be presenting’ Anecdotes from an Extraordinary Life’. After the meeting some members go to Wortley Hall for lunch. Please contact our website for further details.

3 High Green Methodist Church Good Friday 3C’S, coffee, cake and companionship. All welcome. Fully accessible building.

The club has been established for over seventy years at the end of Mortomley Close, High Green, and has car parking facilities. It boasts two greens which are maintained by a professional greenkeeper.

THURSDAY

SATURDAY

4 Coffee Morning Zion Church Hall Langsett

9 Deepcar Village Communtiy Association will be holding its AGM at the

15 Don Valley Probus will meet at 10.00AM in Christ Church Community Hall, Manchester Road, Stocksbridge, with a presentation by Roy Gunson titled “The Bandit King of Brazil”. Our relaxed meetings take place on alternate Wednesday mornings, for more information about our group and activities, please visit our website at www.donvalleyprobus.

Members play in league matches all over Sheffield on many days and evenings of the week. The leagues cater for all bowling abilities from top players to those just starting out, there is a place for everybody. Alternatively, the club encourages organised social bowling with other members on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons.

So why not join us on Sunday 12th April at any time between 10am and 3pm at the end of Mortomley Close, S35 3HZ. We are a friendly club and you will receive a warm welcome.

Go on, give it a go, you might enjoy it!

For more information contact John on 0790 310 1942

On LISTINGS

co.uk

FRIDAY

17 Chapeltown Silver Prize Band Patrons’ Concert To be held at the Newton Hall Chapeltown on Friday 17th April 2026 at 7.30 pm Tickets from Margaret and Peter on 0114 2460983 or 07812425387 or Julie and Paul 07876472246 or 07926377410

17 Concert with in aid of Weston Park Hospital with Penistone Folk Ensemble and harpist, Alejandro Barnet 7.30pm on Friday, 17th April at Penistone Grammar School. Free entrance with opportunity to make a cash/ physical donation on the evening. For any further information, contact martincoyne46@gmail.com

MONDAY

20 Wadsley and Loxley

Commoners – ‘Sheffield Castle’ a talk by Martin Gorman, Chair, Friends of Sheffield Castle. The history, archaeological investigations and future plans for Sheffield’s Castle. Wadsley Church, Worrall Road, 7.30pm. members£3.50, non members - £4. Free homemade refreshments. www.walc.epizy. com

SUNDAY

26 Cawthorne Brass Band - Concert of popu-

lar music & live screening of Wallace & Gromit - A Grand Day Out. Bluebell Suite, Dodworth S75 4LS

3.00 pm

MAY

Saturday

2 Wadsley and Loxley Commoners - Insect Safari ... Bee edition. Here is our contribution to the first day of this year’s Sheffield Environment Weeks. A general insect safari with a slight emphasis on looking for bees. There are well over 30 bee species on the Common. They love the bilberry and dandelion flowers at this time of year, but so do many other insects. We will bring a few nets and jars and will release everything we find! FREE - meet in the Long Lane Car Park at 10am, finish around 12 noon. www. walc.epizy.com

SATURDAY

16 Wadsley and Loxley

Commoners – Dawn Chorus Walk with John and Anne Robinson. It’s John Robinson’s legendary early morning bird walk. Their singing will greet a brand new day and we will welcome numerous migrant species to our neighbourhood. No dogs please, meet at 5am (a very early start) at Rural Lane Car Park, off Worrall Road. FREE.

www.walc.epizy.com

ONGOING

MONDAYS

Men’s Activity and Games Session Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre Monday afternoons 1-30pm to 3-30pm Cost £1 (includes free refreshments) Activities will include a range from Badminton, Table Tennis, Indoor Curling, Dominoes, Card and Board Games, Quiz Contact Andy Walker 07723 506423 for further information.

Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir practise on Monday evenings (7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.) at Millhouse Green Institute, Manchester Road, Millhouse Green. If you want to join us, come on Monday to meet us and see if you like us. Bass voices are needed so have a go at singing in the Bath first! Contact 01226 764642 for more information

Baby and Toddler group at the Christian Centre, Cedar Road S36 1AS. Mondays during termtime 9.30 - 11.30 am. Drop in anytime. Sponsored by T.A.R.A.

HEADTEACHERS JOIN MP TO TACKLE SEND REFORM AND YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Headteachers from across the Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency met recently with their local MP, Marie Tidball, for a vital roundtable discussion at Penistone Grammar School. The meeting focused on key issues affecting young people, including the Government’s proposed Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms and strategies for getting more young people into local work.

Eight headteachers from both Barnsley and Sheffield local authority schools were in attendance. They shared valuable insights on the recently published SEND White Paper, ‘Every child achieving and thriving’. Ms Tidball confirmed she will be feeding this feedback directly to the Government, and will also use the collected information as part of her written submission to the Department for Education’s open consultation on SEND reform.

Discussion also centred on combating the rising number of young people classified as NEETs (Not in Employment, Education, or Training). Headteachers voiced strong support for a collaborative approach involving primary and secondary

schools, alongside local employers.

The MP, who recently met with former Health Secretary Alan Milburn regarding his independent review into youth unemployment, announced plans to focus on career pathways following the event.

Ms Tidball will build a network linking schools, local further education colleges, and employers while children are still at primary school to raise awareness of the variety of local job and employment opportunities.

Speaking after the productive evening, Marie Tidball MP said: “I’m passionate about ensuring

people growing up and growing old in our constituency can fulfil their potential. I’m keen to make sure that the years of experience, from educators in our constituency, are fed back to national decision-makers so that we can do the best for our young people across the Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency”.

She added that she is “particularly excited to work with our headteachers and local employers on building up this network to highlight the range of opportunities for young people in our constituency, so that they can stay near and go far in their careers”.

In April, Ms Tidball will be holding an online consultation event for parents and carers across the constituency to share their views on the Government’s proposed SEND reforms. Parents and carers who wish to find out more information, or share their views, should get in touch with Marie at marie.tidball.casework@parliament.uk. The MP also stated that headteachers who were unable to attend the recent discussion will have “more opportunities to take part in this Headteachers Network over the next year”.

Joan CULF

Aged 70

Passed away peacefully at home with her Sister & Son by her side.

Devoted Mum of Paul, much loved Grandma to Lilly & Luke, loving Sister to Carol, good friend to many.

Funeral service to be held on Thursday 9th April, 1pm at Grenoside Crematorium, North Chapel.

Family flowers only.

All enquiries to TW Birks and Son, 100 Manchester Road, S36 2RE. Tel 0114 288 5555

SHEFFIELD MEMORIALS

MP visits free school breakfast club

Marie Tidball MP, Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, recently visited High Green Primary School’s free breakfast club. The club offers pupils breakfast—including toast and fruit—alongside playtime and physical activity to ensure a strong start to the day. High Green is one of two schools in Sheffield selected for the government’s free breakfast club pilot, which began last April. This initiative is part of the Labour Government's 'Best Start in Life' offer, which includes a commitment to roll out free breakfast clubs in every UK primary school, as well as 30 hours of free childcare.

During her visit, Marie Tidball toured various facilities, observing classes like violin lessons and speaking to the children about her role. She was shown the school’s new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) space, called 'The Nest'. Headteacher Lucy

Harding called "The Nest" a source of pride, representing the school's vision of helping every child by transforming a former computer suite into a "calm, nurturing environment" to support children’s wellbeing. Marie also visited the outdoor areas, including a Forest School woodland space and a new allotment with raised beds, brought to life by fourteen community members. The allotment will be used by a new Gardening Club launching after the Easter break. Marie Tidball praised the effort, saying she was "so impressed by the wonderful outdoor spaces" and the work to bring the allotment to life.

“The positive impact has already been felt across the school community. We are now excited to extend this provision into the outdoor space next term, creating an in and out learning environment that will further support children to regulate, engage and thrive.”

Local Opinion

Can you identify anyone?

I conduct research into the stories behind Stocksbridge and wider area soldiers who served in the two World Wars, in an effort to record as much detail as possible for posterity

On Jan 2nd 1915, the “Penistone Express” newspaper printed a very poor-quality photograph entitled “A Group of Stocksbridge Soldiers” with no further details. Recently, a relative of mine has employed AI enhancement techniques to produce much clearer images; one of which I attach for reference.

It would be great if any reader(s) can provide information as to the identity of one or all of the men concerned, together with info concerning what unit they were serving with and where the photo was taken. If someone has a copy of the original photograph they are willing to share, then that would be icing on the proverbial cake.

Any information can be submitted via Look Local, the Stocksbridge and District Local History Museum (old Stocksbridge Town Hall building Tues and Thurs each week) or to: Email: stocbridge704@gmail.com

Yours faithfully Michael Parker

STEEL JOBS

Every spring for the last 26 years our bedroom window is open and we wake slowly to birds singing.

That used to also mean catching the noise and smell of steel being made.

As I mentioned once to the owner of the car park and shops below us, when politely requesting that he turned down the outdoor canned music several notches (which i think he did although my hearing is possibly not so good now ) - at least the noise from the steel works was the sound of people making decent money.

All the millions being paid by us to the steel industry will be well spent if they save jobs that can pay for a reasonable standard of living. All those millions should not ultimately line the pockets of the ‘new buyer’ mentioned in your front page article last week.

As we have seen from the disasters unleashed by private interests in water and the Post Office, publicly funded should be public owned.

If we had a say, through the democratic process, on steel production then we might have a chance to influence what the steel was being used for. If steel production is revived I’ll be happy to wake up to the sound and smell of good jobs but only if our steel is not being sold by billionaire owners for making weapons used in genocide and illegal war or for the fossil fuel extraction industry behind it.

Happy Easter Peter Morton Hunshelf Park

In Reply to Dennis Pindar

Rather than representing the last word in local history, works by past local historians should be seen as only a starting point. They are accounts of history, not history itself, reflecting the knowledge and context of their time, inevitably contain errors, and leave gaps or whole areas open to first study or

reinterpretation.

Today, a wider range of sources and approaches are available and much more accessible, that allow revisiting with more assurance and in greater depth. This underpins the Local History Unearthed feature, which aims to explore aspects and topics of local history that have received limited if any fresh attention in recent years, and in some cases have been ignored.

While actually there is broad agreement on findings – Dennis recently told me “you know your stuff” -- there are differences between us, particularly as regards origins of place-names, given lots of newly uncovered evidence revolutionising their study. These debates are a natural and healthy part of enquiry into history.

As Dennis says, we know each other well enough, and there is no personal disagreement. Indeed, I regard him as almost a genial uncle, as he used to work with my dad.

The column from the outset has been entirely independent of any history group, and I’ve not even mentioned any, let alone expressed closeness (or distance). There was never any endorsement that could be withdrawn as none was ever provided or sought.

Steve Moxon

Larger Blue Bins

The rollout of larger blue bins for paper and cardboard recycling across Sheffield marks a longawaited improvement to our city’s waste system, one that residents have been asking for over many years. With more of us ordering online and receiving deliveries in bulky cardboard packaging, the amount of paper waste households produce has ballooned. The small blue bins simply haven’t kept up. You can see the problem on bin collection day, with boxes filled to the brim or overflowing onto the pavement.

These larger blue bins are a practical and environmentally responsible step in the right direction. They’ll help keep paper and card out of our black bins, reduce the amount that ends up being burnt, and stop lightweight pieces blowing away on windy days. Above all, they make it much easier for residents to recycle properly.

This progress did not come out of nowhere. The Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield City Council have been calling for better recycling, specifically larger blue bins, for several years. Earlier proposals were blocked by both Labour and the Green Party, delaying a change that could have benefitted residents sooner. It was the determination of the Liberal Democrat Chair of the Environmental Services and Regulation Policy Committee that got it done!

This practical, resident focused leadership is exactly what the city needs.

As these new bins arrive across Sheffield, we hope the Council continues prioritising straightforward, environmentally friendly improvements like this one. Let us hope that the next step is food waste recycling, successfully piloted in Burncross and Chapeltown in 2022, another Lib Dem idea not supported by Labour and the Green Party.

Councillor Mike Levery

LOCAL HISTORY UNEARTHED

All Fools' Day … and Bloodshed?

Exposing people’s gullibility on April 1st is alive and kicking, never mind today’s ‘you couldn’t make it up’ reality. Rife on t’internet, recent local ruses include a Henderson’s Relish unisex fragrance, a Mam Tor horse & bike lift, and Edale Mountain Rescue summoned to bung the Ladybower plughole.

A mention in the late 1600s of Foole’s Holy Day implies an already long-established custom. For many centuries, apparently, we’ve been trying to April fool each other. Why, takes some fathoming. The theories of post-medieval origin are unconvincing, so I won’t outline. A clue is the interestingly odd aspect that if you miss the noon deadline you are the fool instead of your target. A short, sharply defined interlude for acting the goat, followed by instant return to normal.

Is there owt else in the ritual calendar it might be related to, that illuminates? Yes. The fool character in seasonal folk plays, as recorded locally a century or two past – like the St George’s Play at Penistone and places thereabouts (see LL December 11) – and who still reigns in pantomime. There may be separate traditions, but it’s thought this is a remnant of the formerly widespread mock-religious Feast of Fools, entailing role reversal to turn the usual social order on its head. To what end, though?

Did it stem from crossed wires? A millennium ago, fool meant ‘humble’, and that has resonance with this time of year. For Christians, from March 25 God descended to earth to become a mere mortal, and a pointedly humble one at that – a carpenter. It reflects that to connect with worshippers deities can’t just be supremely elevated. They also should be in touch with human life. God and mortal, heaven and earth, had gone topsy-turvey, as it were. This too could be said of the other Christian event of this period: The Resurrection of Easter is a strange turnabout, to say the least.

The naming easter is a further mystery, until discovering it appears ultimately to derive from the Gaelic word with the very meaning ‘resurrection’ (or ‘resurgence, re-

vival’): aiseirigh, literally ‘back’ + ‘rise’. [In pronunciation, in the middle it has almost a hard consonant sound, so it would contract to something similar to “easter”.]

Of course, The Resurrection is the Christian take on the deep-seated tradition of the god who embodies the wheel of the year: the perpetual cycle of the seasons. The ‘Celtic’ Goddess Brigid changing from her winter hag form into the spring nymph essentially is an earlier version of Jesus rising from the dead.

The tale of Jesus and the crucifixion as a sacrifice to God on humanity’s behalf is quite close to the near universal cross-cultural ancient bleeding god mythology This is the separation of a god as such from a half-god half-mortal king figure who bleeds to death. A sort of go-between. Again, bridging the earthly and the spiritual – the need for which I’ve already pointed out. This king sacrifices himself in the name of the god, spilling his blood onto the land in a piece of ‘sympathetic magic’ to renew its fertility.

Now, ‘bloodshed’ in Gaelic is fuil, and foladair means ‘one who sheds blood’. This really does look to be from where fool initially arose, and if so it solves the puzzle. Yes, it’s one thing for jesting to convey the world turned inside-out; rather another for it to represent the mythology. The absurd forced fit is the window here. Well, albeit only a rough sketch, involving a mix-up on the way, in the end some sense can be made.

As previously explained, this kind of enigmatic confusion is a hallmark of mythology as it develops. Layer upon layer of successive re-interpretation, as what went before fades or is lost. The superimposition of religions invites demoting or belittling what’s been replaced. So associated customs are eschewed by adults to be handed on to children, or they have the mickey taken out of them. In the case of All Fools’ Day, this compounds the fooling, and the whole shebang has simply run away with itself, leaving foolery there for its own sake.

GET GARDENING

April is one of the busiest and most rewarding months in the gardening calendar, as longer days, milder temperatures and bursts of spring growth bring gardens back to life across the UK.

With the soil beginning to warm up, now is the perfect time to get sowing. Hardy vegetables such as carrots, beetroot, spinach and onions can be sown directly outdoors, while tender crops like tomatoes, courgettes and sweetcorn are best started indoors or in a greenhouse. Regular sowing in small batches will ensure a steady supply of fresh produce into summer.

Flower borders also bene t from attention in April. Hardy annuals including corn owers, calendula and nigella can be sown straight into prepared beds for a colourful display later in the season. Perennials can be divided and replanted to improve their vigour, while summer- owering bulbs such as lilies can still be planted.

Lawns will start to grow more quickly now, so regular mowing can resume—just be sure not to cut too short early in the season. April is also a good time to repair patches with grass seed and apply a spring feed to encourage healthy growth.

Weeding becomes an essential task as temperatures rise. Tackling weeds early prevents them from establishing and competing with your plants for nutrients and moisture.

Mulching borders with compost or well-rotted manure will help suppress weeds while improving soil quality.

Gardeners should also keep an eye out for pests. Slugs and snails become more active in damp conditions, while aphids can quickly colonise new growth. Early action, whether by hand removal or environmentally friendly controls, can prevent problems from escalating.

Shrubs and roses will bene t from feeding this month, using a balanced fertiliser to promote strong growth and abundant owering. Climbing plants such as clematis should be tied in to supports as they begin to grow.

Finally, don’t forget to make time to enjoy your garden. Whether it’s watching spring bulbs in full bloom or planning new planting schemes, April o ers a real sense of renewal and possibility for gardeners of all abilities.

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F E A T U R E

HEPPENSTALL LEADS CHARGE AT SHEFFIELD HALF

Penistone Footpath Runners produced an outstanding set of performances at the Run

For All Sheffield Half Marathon, with Richard Heppenstall leading the way with a superb 1-20-10 to finish 55th overall and secure second place in the men’s over50 category.

Ashley Firth followed with a strong 1-2450, while Martin Ball continued his consistent form with 1-25-42 to place eighth in the men’s over50 category.

Jade Crosby led the Penistone women with an excellent 1-31-04, finishing 24th female overall on the testing, undulating course.

There was further depth from Gareth Irvine (1-38-10), while Michael Nicholson ran 1-42-31 in the men’s over50 category. Emily Duckett impressed with 1-45-53, with Rachael Winterbottom (1-49-43), Pete Beever (1-57-41) and Seuranie Johnstone (2-10-03) completing the Penistone line-up in a strong club turnout.

Earlier in the week, Penistone runners produced some sharp performances at the DonFaster 5K in Doncaster, which incorporated the YVAA 5K Championship.

Nichola McNally led the way with an excellent 20-39 to finish 100th overall and secure first place in the ladies over55 category, while Gareth Irvine also dipped under 20 minutes with 19-52.

On the fells, Jill Scrivens and Mandy Mallinder took on the Alan Kirk Lads Leap Memorial Fell Race in cold, wet and windy conditions. Scrivens produced a strong run to finish 41st overall in 1-33-57, securing first place in the ladies over55 category, while Mallinder completed the course in 1-55-10.

At the Commondale Clart Fell Race, Damian Kilpin recorded an excellent performance to finish 14th overall in 42-54, taking second place in the men’s over45 category.

Further afield, Stefan Butler-Gillen represented the club at the Berlin Half Marathon,

finishing in 2-09-21, while at the Vale of York 10 Mile Shaun Swallow ran 1-13-22 to place seventh in the men’s over55 category.

Saturday’s parkruns saw 64 Penistone Footpath Runners in action across 22 venues, with standout performances across the country. Richard Heppenstall took first place at Penistone, while Oliver France also secured an impressive overall victory at Penrith with a personal best 18-25.

There were second-place finishes for Hannah Shaw at Penistone, Flynn Rogers at Hillsborough with a superb 17-06, and Joe Mann at Aviemore, while James Fryers claimed third place at Eglinton.

Milestones were also to the fore, with Hannah Shaw completing her 100th parkrun and Shaun Braddock his 50th, both at Penistone, while Martyn Goodwin reached his 300th parkrun at Barnsley.

Category winners included Ian Neville (men’s over60), Alan Knox (men’s over70) and Sue Hall (ladies over65) at Barnsley, while at Penistone Shaun Braddock (men’s over60), Heather Simpson (ladies over50), Jen Holley (ladies over40), Barbara Haigh (ladies over75) and Danny Batty (men’s over80) all topped their respective age groups. Elsewhere, Rob Lees (men’s over45) was first at Bowling Park, Matt Coldwell (men’s over50) at Thonock Lane Farm, Dawn Godley (ladies over65) at Fell Foot, Jill Scrivens (ladies over55) at Scunthorpe and Dan Rushforth (men’s over40) at Mole Valley. The highest age-graded performances of the weekend came from Barbara Haigh (83.09%), Dawn Godley (81.25%), Flynn Rogers (80.12%), Dawn Broom (78.99%) and Richard Heppenstall (77.26%).

Results

Run For All Sheffield Half Marathon

55, Richard Heppenstall 1-20-10; 157, Ashley Firth 1-24-50; 166, Martin Ball 1-25-42;

SHEFFIELD HALFMARATHON: PB FOR HUTCHINSON

387, Jade Crosby 1-31-04; 761, Gareth Irvine 1-38-10; 1194, Michael Nicholson 1-42-31; 1519, Emily Duckett 1-45-53; 2392, Rachael Winterbottom 1-49-43; 3235, Pete Beever 1-57-41; 4807, Seuranie Johnstone 2-10-03.

DonFaster 5K, Doncaster 88, Gareth Irvine 19-52; 100, Nichola McNally 20-39.

Alan Kirk Lads Leap Memorial Fell Race 41, Jill Scrivens 1-33-57; 45, Mandy Mallinder 1-55-10.

Commondale Clart Fell Race 14, Damian Kilpin 42-54.

Berlin Half Marathon 24289, Stefan Butler-Gillen 2-09-21.

Vale of York 10 Mile

121, Shaun Swallow 1-13-22. Penistone Parkrun

1, Richard Heppenstall 19-34; 9, Edward Holley 20-55; 17, Martin Ball 22-04; 23, Hannah Shaw 22-54; 27, Russ Lynam 23-14; 28, Simon Pike 23-17; 29, Ashley Howlett 23-23; 32, Oliver Found 23-28; 41, Shaun Braddock 24-36; 43, Chris Baldwin 24-41; 55, Heather Simpson 25-32; 91, Andrea Henson 27-03; 95, Lee Hopkins 27-10; 105, Jen Holley 2745; 116, Andrew Taylor 28-28; 125, Heath Ramsden 29-08; 134, Rebecca Parr 30-07; 158, Angela Rollinson 31-07; 161, Barbara Haigh 31-26; 182, Danny Batty 34-08; 184, Steve Dommett 34-17; 200, Dianne McGuinness 39-19.

Barnsley Parkrun

11, Ian Neville 21-15; 33, Robin Clough 2434; 42, Greg Slack 25-09; 48, Martyn Goodwin 25-19; 68, Alan Knox 26-34; 83, Sarah Bradley 27-38; 117, Sue Hall 29-11.

The 2026 Sheffield Half Marathon delivered its trademark combination of city centre buzz and breathtaking Peak District scenery, drawing thousands of runners and an even larger crowd of enthusiastic supporters. With the start and finish line set against the backdrop of Sheffield’s vibrant heart, participants were spurred on by cheers as they tackled the famously hilly route, including the dramatic climb to Ringinglow and the thrilling ‘triple test’ that defines this event.

Among the standout Stocksbridge athletes, Amy Hutchinson produced a remarkable performance, crossing the line in 1:45:29. This time marked a new personal best for Hutchinson—no mean feat on Sheffield’s notoriously undulating course, and a testament to her hard work and determination throughout the season.

Cathy Steel also impressed, finish-

ing in 2:08:11 and achieving a season’s best. Notably, Steel shaved a superb 7 minutes and 41 seconds off her time from last year, further underlining her continued progress and resilience in the face of the course’s tough climbs and fast sprints.

Rachel Vernon rounded out the trio’s achievements with a strong 1:57:28 finish, her fastest halfmarathon time of the year. Vernon’s result demonstrates her improving form and ability to rise to the occasion when faced with Sheffield’s demanding terrain and the pressure of competition, especially in the context of a lastminute entry and rebuilding from major injury.

All three athletes not only conquered the ‘triple test’—with its timed hill climb, rapid 10K downhill sprint, and competitive finish—but also exemplified the spirit of local running and flying the flag proudly for SRC.

Local Sport

STOCKSBRIDGE EDGE DERBY TO SEAL RUNNERS-UP SPOT

STOCKSBRIDGE 29-19 WORTLEY

Globe Holidays-sponsored Stocksbridge Rugby claimed local bragging rights with a hard-fought 29–19 victory over near neighbours Wortley RUFC in Round 15 of Counties 4 Yorkshire South.

The win all but secures second place in the league table for Stocksbridge, who produced a determined display in blustery conditions at Coal Pit Lane.

With player-coach Aaron Kaye sidelined through injury, the hosts fielded a reshuffled front row, with Mikey “Vegas” Hartley switching to tighthead, Jack Martin stepping in at hooker and George Watts packing down at loosehead. There was also a recall for Joe Jones and a rare outing for Ben Westby in the backs.

Stocksbridge started strongly, opening the scoring when Reece Aspin powered over from close range after good work from the pack. The wind made conditions difficult for the kickers, and the conversion drifted wide.

The home side continued to dominate possession, and Sam Whitaker extended the lead with a powerful try from the base of the scrum. This time the conversion was successful, giving Stocksbridge a 12–0 advantage before Wortley hit back with a converted try to make it 12–7 at the break.

RUFC

The second half proved more scrappy, but Stocksbridge made their pressure count.

Discipline became an issue for both sides, with each reduced to 14 men at different stages, but Stocksbridge took control when Westby produced a moment of quality, stepping through the defence for the bonus-point try.

Wortley refused to go away and narrowed the gap once more, but Adam Frith crossed late on to seal the victory and end the visitors’ resistance.

There was late tension between the sides as tempers briefly flared, but Stocksbridge held firm to secure a deserved win.

Captain Andy Beal was named Man of the Match for a commanding performance in the second row, leading from the front throughout.

Kaye praised his side’s resilience, saying they had “found a way to win against a tough opponent,” while noting there is still room for improvement.

Stocksbridge now take a short Easter break before returning to action away at Hessle RUFC on April 18, followed by their final home fixture against league leaders Maltby RUFC on April 25 (3pm kick-off).

RESILIENCE SECURES DESERVED WIN

Pomona FC secured an impressive victory over Division One leaders Wickersley Old Village at the Jubilee on Saturday, coming from behind to claim all three points.

The visitors started strongly and underlined their status at the top of the table during the opening 30 minutes. Wickersley dominated second balls, applied pressure with a direct style of play, and limited Pomona’s ability to penetrate their defensive line. Their early control was rewarded in the 20th minute, when a well-worked set-piece exposed the Pomona defence. A free-kick found an unmarked attacker, who had the time and composure to finish past Brad Swift and give the visitors a deserved lead.

Conceding against a side in such strong form might have unsettled the hosts, but Pomona responded positively. Growing into the game, they began to build sustained attacks—particularly down the right flank, where Simon Yeadon consistently caused problems for the Wickersley full-back.

The equaliser came through Yeadon’s persistence and quality. After beating his man on the byline, he delivered an accurate cross to the far post, where Simon Bonnett rose above his marker to head the ball down and beyond the goalkeeper, registering his 12th goal of the season and bringing the score level at 1–1. Pomona finished the first half on the front

foot and were unfortunate not to take the lead into the interval, with Pete Hoult’s long-range effort striking the crossbar.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Pomona continuing to apply pressure. Wickersley’s task became significantly more difficult when one of their defenders was shown a red card for an elbow on Pomona winger Stephen Logan.

While Swift was required to make a sharp save to tip a Wickersley effort over the bar, the momentum remained with the home side. The decisive moment arrived when Bonnett and Yeadon combined once again—this time with roles reversed. Bonnett pressed effectively to win a loose ball on the right before squaring it to Yeadon, who capped an outstanding individual performance with a composed finish from outside the area. His strike clipped the underside of the crossbar before finding the net, giving Pomona a deserved 2–1 lead.

Despite late pressure from Wickersley in the closing minutes, Pomona remained organised and resilient to see out the victory and secure a well-earned three points.

Pomona will now look to build on this result when Yorkshire Main visit the Jubilee next weekend.

TIGERS READY FOR HOME MEET

SHEFFIELD boss Simon Stead says there are positives his side can take from their opening night defeat at Belle Vue.

The Tigers were beaten 48-42 in a last heat decider in the first contest of their Premiership Knockout Cup, Northern Section.

But with such a narrow gap between the two, Stead reckons his side are well placed to take the aggregate point when they meet again at Owlerton this Thursday (April 2, 7.30pm).

Said Stead: “For an opening night display, overall I think there are reasons to be encouraged and there are definitely positives we can take moving forward.

“I think the performances of the lower end of the team was the most pleasing aspect for sure.

“And when you consider a few of the teething problems a few of our other lads had, on most other nights we’d have been walking away with a win in the bag.

“But that’s the first meeting out of the way, we’ve put ourselves in with a real shout of getting the aggregate point on Thursday and the lads are really looking forward to getting back out on home shale competitively.”

Leon Flint topped the Tigers charts as he was unbeaten by an opponent in three of his four rides including when he got the better of World No.2 Brady Kurtz around his own home circuit in Heat 10.

Jye Etheridge demonstrated some sharp reactions away from the tapes and finished with three second places from five outings.

BELLE VUE 48 -42 SHEFFIELD TIGERS

Anders Rowe’s scorechart was up and down, but overall had a solid night with the highlight coming in Heat Eight when he led a 5-1 with debutant Luke Killeen who also showed some early promise.

Josh Pickering lacked speed early on but looked much more like his usual pacey self in his final couple of outings whilst after opening with a win, Chris Holder found conditions much different to when he finished runner-up in the Peter Craven Memorial at the venue a fortnight previous.

Younger brother Jack experienced an eventful night which started with an exclusion when he collected home man Norick Blodorn out of bend four on lap two of the very first race. He then responded with back-to-back wins before suffering a blown motor as Heat 13 was about to commence.

The Tigers now turn their attentions to their first home meeting on Thursday.

Racenight+ tickets are available via sheffieldspeedway.com/ticketoffice whilst standard admission can be purchased by cash or card at the turnstiles on racenight only.

BELLE VUE 48: Brady Kurtz 12, Dan Bewley 11+1, Tate Zischke 10+2, Peter Kildemand 7+1, Zach Cook 7+1, Norick Blodorn 1 (withdrawn), William Cairns 0.

SHEFFIELD 42: Leon Flint 8+1, Josh Pickering 7+1, Chris Holder 6+1, Jack Holder 6, Anders Rowe 6, Jye Etheridge 6, Luke Killeen 3+2.

VITAL THREE POINTS FOR STEELS

STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS 2 - 0 ASHTON UNITED

By Andrew McMath

Stocksbridge Park Steels

hosted mid-table Ashton United in desperate need of three points with every point dropped and gained from here on out crucial to their survival chances.

The Steels came close to opening the scoring early on with some good passing moves down the left. Then came pressure from Ashton including a sighter of a free-kick from distance.

Stocksbridge’s opener came down the right with Tommy Marshall’s cross finding new signing Romario Dunne who turned with his back to goal to finish past Ashton’s keeper.

The goal was followed up by a number of chances for Steels to extend their lead with Ashton preventing a couple of shots after a corner.

The second half saw the Steels become more comfortable. Kasper Williams scoring into the bottom

corner of the goal after a brilliant delivery from the corner. Perhaps, aided by the noticeably strong weekend winds.

Ashton had a chance from a long throw but the resulting shot flew over the bar.

From there, the Steels saw out the victory, a crucial three points made even better by keeping a clean sheet.

Manager Jordan Lemon spoke after the win: “If we had come in after the first-half. Three or four-nil up, their gaffer wouldn’t have had anything to say we were so good first half.”

The result takes the Steels to exactly a point per game for the season with 35 points from 35 league games and a point from safety.

Next game: Cleethorpes Town (A) Saturday April 4. Kick off: 15:00.

Next home game: Leek Town (H) Monday April 6. Kick off: 15:00.

CHURCH STAY UP WITH BATTLING POINT

PICKERING TOWN 1-1 PENISTONE CHURCH FC

Last Saturday, after a midweek two-nil win at home to Handsworth Reserves, Church Reserves continued their good form when a first half Will Heath penalty secured all three points for them in a one-nil victory at home to AFC Dronfield

Manager Tom Wright

“We really should have scored more goals in the first half but their keeper made some fabulous saves. It’s been a great week for the lads, we played three games in seven days, scored four goals, conceded zero and got nine points.

“The spirit about our group has been amazing.

“The Church first team ventured down the A64 to play Pickering in what was the last away game for the current season. In a windaffected game Church took the lead with a Mackenzie Stocks header late on in the game but the joy was short lived when Pickering striker Souleymane Coulibaly equalised in added time.”

Co-manager Brett Lovell

It wasn’t good for my “ticker” today but the point we won today preserves our league status and we’ll be in the North East Counties Premier Division next season. The lads worked hard there wasn’t an awful lot in the game at all, it was a game of very few chances and unfortunately for us our Achilles heel

came back to bite us as we conceded a late equaliser.

That’s the disappointing thing, we’ve draw too many games this year, that’s the sixth time we’ve conceded in the ninetieth plus when leading games.

That equates to twelve lost points that would have kept us in this division without looking over our shoulders in the second-to-last game. We roll on to next week against Sheffield FC in a really tough game. There are a couple of thank yous to do today:

First a thank you from me and Jubby (John Whitehead) to Ryan Johnson who came back from retirement to be a part of our squad for the last third of the season, we needed some stability, organisation and leadership in defence, he’s been excellent and we picked up as a result of that so we thank Johnno for his efforts and endeavour, he’s a top man and he’ll be fondly remembered by everyone who has watched him play for our football club.

The second thanks for the day is to our magnificent supporters, volunteers, everyone who is involved in our football club and a special mention to the forty who have travelled from Penistone with us on the bus. We have the Sheffield game next week, hopefully that will be a good spectacle for all and then we can start planning for the 2026/27 season. It comes round quickly, mark my words.

Gemma treble seals win

KIVETON PARK FC 1–3 STOCKSBRIDGE PS LADIES

Stocksbridge Park Steels Ladies battled the wet and windy conditions to claim a 3–1 victory away at Kiveton Park, although the scoreline did not reflect just how many chances they created throughout the game.

The visitors started brightly and almost took an early lead when Gemma struck the post. Stocksbridge continued to press and soon found the breakthrough. Beth won the ball in midfield from a goal kick and showed great composure to knock it into Jen, who produced a clever flick around the corner. Gemma took over from there and calmly slotted home to make it 1–0.

Stocksbridge looked the more dangerous side and came close to adding a second before the break, with Gemma rattling the crossbar. But just before half-time, Kiveton were handed a route back into the game. A mix-up in defence allowed their winger to run through and square the ball for a simple finish. Sam worked hard to recover and track back, but could not prevent the ball from crossing the line, sending the sides into the break level at 1–1.

The second half was one-way traffic as Stocksbridge piled on the pressure in search of a winner. Anna came close with a fierce

strike from outside the box that crashed against the bar, while neat play between Jenna and Sam also created an opening that ended with the effort flying over. Gemma was again denied by the woodwork after working space for herself, and Sam also forced an excellent save from a goalkeeper who kept Kiveton in the contest with a standout display.

With 10 minutes remaining, Stocksbridge finally got the goal their dominance deserved. Sam delivered a dangerous corner into the box, Woody met it first time, and although the effort was cleared off the line, Gemma was quickest to react and turned home the rebound to make it 2–1.

Just two minutes later, Gemma completed her hat-trick in style. Anna drove down the wing, cut inside, and found Sam, who then fed Gemma on the edge of the box. She needed no second invitation, striking first time into the top corner to seal the win.

It was a deserved victory for Stocksbridge, even if they made hard work of it at times, with Gemma’s clinical hat-trick and a relentless second-half display ensuring all three points came home.