It's the culmination of months of graft and determination to achieve something special; it doesn't happen very often in most players' careers and it's usually followed by a good party afterwards too.
And five ex-scholars of Doncaster Rovers have been spraying the champagne in celebration in recent weeks.
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| Jack McKay (top left) and Lewis Cunningham (top right) celebrate promotion. (Photo: York City FC). |
Although neither featured, both Jack McKay and Lewis Cunningham (pictured above) received promotion winners medals and got their hands on a trophy which looks remarkably similar to The FA Cup after York City overcame Boston United in the National League North Play-Off Final.
Elsewhere, Alex Peterson was celebrating as Belper Town sealed promotion to Step 3 with a 1-0 victory at Chasetown and at NCEL level, it was party time too for Liam Nelthorpe who was in North Ferriby's line-up as they overcame Harrogate Railway in the Division One Play-Off Final to achieve promotion to Step 5.
Max Jemson (who was at Wembley at the weekend just gone to watch Nottingham Forest return to the Premier League) also made a terrific impact at Newark Town in the latter stages of the season. Having only joined the club in February, the 6ft4 centre-back put in multiple assured and commanding displays as Newark gazumped Retford United, Clay Cross Town and long-time league leaders Thorne Colliery to lift the Central Midlands Premier Division trophy.
Five former scholars with promotion medals may yet become six and that's because Danny Amos is preparing for the National League Play-Off Final with Grimsby Town.
The 22-year-old has established himself as first choice left-back since his arrival at Blundell Park in January, having racked up 20 appearances to date. He's also been involved in both matches of a rollercoaster Play-Off campaign so far as Grimsby dramatically overcame Notts County and Wrexham to book their place in the National League showpiece where they'll face Solihull Moors at the London Stadium.
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| Max Jemson made a positive impact at Newark Town (Photo: Newark Town FC). |
Of course, whilst gaining promotion through the Play-Offs is a superb feeling, losing out in that way can be one of the hardest things to take in football.
Just ask Jonny Maxted. A beaten finalist during his spell at Exeter City (who've just ironically achieved automatic promotion), the 'keeper is nowadays at Northampton Town and kept goal at the Sixfields Stadium as the Cobblers' season came to an abrupt end with a Semi-Final Second Leg defeat to Mansfield Town.
Liam Mandeville, who made his England 'C' team debut since the last update on ex-scholars, also endured Play-Off despair as Chesterfield were consigned to a fifth season of non-league football when they were beaten at Solihull Moors last weekend. His 49 appearances have been enough to earn him an offer of a new contract at the Technique Stadium though.
Billy Whitehouse (at Chorley) lost out when they were beaten by York City in the National League North Play-Offs, Harry Middleton missed out with Cleethorpes Town at Step 4, whilst Brad Grayson was red carded as Rossington Main's hopes of a brilliant finish to their best ever season at Step 6 ended with a tough to take Semi-Final defeat to North Ferriby. Rosso might have lost by a much greater scoreline than just 2-0 had it not been for some excellent saves from Kian Johnson to further enhance his reputation.
I'll always maintain that Will McGowan was probably the most technically gifted player to pull on a DRFC shirt at youth team level and having won the 'Young Player Of The Year Award' at South Shields (where Kevin Phillips is manager), it's brilliant that he's making a positive impact in a first team setting. Even he couldn't crack the Play-Offs though as South Shields lost on penalties to Warrington Town in their NPL (Premier) Semi-Final meeting.
And despite a string of good individual displays and being in a top five position for much of the season, Aron Gordon never even got to compete in them as Grays Athletic somehow contrived to drop out of the top five in the Isthmian (Division One North) during the latter weeks of the season.
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| Will McGowan won the 'Young Player Of The Year Award' (Photo: South Shields FC). |
Elsewhere, two former DRFC youngsters have performed well enough to earn themselves moves up the pyramid ahead of next season.
Michael Carberry put in some phenomenal displays for Bootle FC at Step 4 which resulted in him joining Southport on loan towards the end of the season. At Haig Avenue, some more impressive displays - including one which saw him earn a place in the divisional 'Team Of The Day' he's now made that move across Merseyside a permanent arrangement.
There's also a very good chance Declan Howe will be stepping up in 2022/23. Although nothing has been announced yet, you don't need to be a brain surgeon to work out he'll have multiple offers considering he was the second highest scorer in the NCEL (Premier); bagging 30 goals (including pre-season) for Staveley Miners Welfare who've had their request for relegation to the NCEL (Division One) accepted.
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| Michael Carberry earned a place in the NLN Team Of The Day in April. |
In other news:
- Liam Ravenhill bagged his first goal in senior football as Mickleover drew 3-3 against Buxton in April; he'll now be hoping to break into the first team at DRFC next season.
- Ethan Bojang has left Peterborough United in search of first team football after a season in which he primarily featured for Posh's U23s.
- Lewis Cunningham was released by York City following the Minstermen's promotion to the National League. He ended the campaign on loan at Glossop North End.
- Andrew Boyce, whose story should offer inspiration to any young players currently looking for a club, has left Eastleigh after five years and over 200 appearances. Now 32, he's expected to move back north in the coming weeks.
- Craig Nelthorpe, who'll soon be 35, joined Ossett United from Belper Town shortly before the transfer window slammed shut in March.
- Josh Clemitson is going from strength to strength in America and recently joined Midwest United Men's USL-2 team after an impressive first year at Aquinas College.
- Joe Pugh was recently unveiled in a new player-coach role at Armthorpe Welfare following Lee Morris' takeover as chairman-manager at the club.
- Morgan James graced the Eco-Power Stadium pitch once again as Maltby Main were beaten by Worksop Town in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup Final on 30th April.
- Reece Fielding has chosen to leave Stocksbridge Park Steels (who play at Step 4) following a couple of seasons at the 'other' Eco-Power Stadium in Yorkshire.
- Jack Muldoon has been offered a new contract at Harrogate Town. The striker scored 13 goals in 50 outings for the League Two club last term.
- Tom Chambers gained his first experience of men's football when he made a handful of appearances on loan at Armthorpe Welfare in March/April.
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| Josh Clemitson playing for Aquinas College (Photo: AQMensSoccer). |
Finally, there's no better place (or worse... as some might say) to end this piece than the Eco-Power Stadium and 12 players who began their careers in the youth team are moving on to pastures new.
Branden Horton is departing after making 41 first team appearances across four years whilst Lirak Hasani and AJ Greaves were also confirmed as being on the released list. Hasani ended the season on loan at Basford United (who earned a reprieve from relegation at Step 3) whereas Greaves was making a positive impression at York City until injury put an end to his season in March but he should be back fit for the upcoming pre-season.
Ben Blythe's move to Swansea City, where he'll be part of their U23s team, has now officially been rubber-stamped and he'll head to South Wales later this summer.
New deals were offered to Louis Jones, Ben Bottomley and Bobby Faulkner.
Eight scholars were also released. Perhaps the most surprising to depart was Tom Henson as he was the best amongst his peers over the past two years and actually scored in his game at the LFE Exit Trials last week. In no particular order, the others to depart were Will Hollings, Michael Nesbitt, Corie Cole, Dan Wilds, Tavonga Kuleya, Luke Chadwick and Alex Wolny.
Good luck to all the lads!
That (I think) just about covers everything for another month but as always if I've missed anything, let me know and I'll include it in the end of season update.
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