The incredible rise of SJR Worksop, from relegation battlers to title winners, to holding their own in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Premier Division, is one that, in effect, is only five years in the making.

Residing at the Rockware Stadium, Worksop, the club, under the guidance for the past couple of years now by Lee Scott (he also helps coach the men’s team) have not only gone from strength-to-strength but, this season alone, they’re progressing the furthest they ever have in cup competitions.

As the season inches towards its conclusion, Scott’s charges are finding themselves still in the thick of things; with their noses just about the relegation line in the Premier – it’s been a good season considering their position, they’ve also enjoyed progression in the cups.

That progression is so much that, with only four league games to play, there’s also, in their next two matches no less, an EMWRFL League Plate semi-final, at home to the Premier Division’s bottom club, Nottingham Trent University (9 March), and an even tougher contest a week later when they travel to FA Women’s National League Division North outfit, Huddersfield Town (joint-fourth) in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Women’s Senior Cup Third Round.

“We’ve already two tough league games against NTU,” began the SJR Head Coach, talking of a side that won 6-1 at NTU back in September (Millee Clarke with four, Lauren Cundy and Emily Myatt netting), before losing the return, 4-1, two months later (Clarke again netting).

“So, with different sides now, we need to go out there and fight on the front foot in a game which I feel will all be about be about fine margins.

“We’re going into the game wanting to not only win on Sunday, but we’ve also got a great opportunity to win the trophy as well.

“Against Huddersfield, they’re the holders, and it’ll be an enjoyable day, but we’ll have to be on our mettle.

“There’s been no let-up this season, and we’re constantly having to raise our standards.

“Preparation for now though, will be NTU, then we can look at Huddersfield.”

Having been promoted last season, as champions of Division One North, the current campaign began with back-to-back victories, before suffering seven losses on the spin (in all competitions).

However, a run of seven consecutive wins has put a more positive spin on their season, results which saw them rack up high-scoring home wins against Belper Town (Leaguer Plate, 11-1; Millee Clarke 4, Laura Ferguson 3, Emily Myatt 2) and Handsworth (County Cup, 7-1; Emily Murphy 5), on successive weekends, as well as historical, 3-2 win at Chesterfield, meant that Sunday’s late loss to Rotherham, was a painful one to take.

“The girls have done really well this season, I just feel the step-up, it caught us off-guard a little,” continued Scott.

“It was a baptism of fire for them, playing those sides that we have.

“The girls though, they adapted well to a system which works for us.

“We’re making ourselves difficult to play against and the loss to Rotherham, that was an honest, hardworking match of two teams where perhaps both deserved to win.”

When Lee Scott stepped in to help out as Women’s boss his initial remit was to, understandably, take the club forward, however, they had to hit the re-set button first-and-foremost.

That was three years ago and, with Women’s FA Cup adventures, facing the likes of Lye Town and Spennymoor Town, as well as last season’s title-winning, promotion campaign, the re-establishing continues apace.

“We’ve over-excelled this season so just taking it all one game at a time,” Scott explained.

“That’s been the case since November and now, we’re already the furthest we’ve got in cup competitions, and this, it’s an exciting month for the club.

“Every game in this league, it really counts, and is a relentless merry-go-round; you can’t take your foot off or it’ll come back and bite you, that’s for sure.

“And, if results go how they could, then three of our last five games could be interesting battles with Mansfield Town.”

With those two cup games pending, SJR then have their last four league games of the season, when they face a six-pointer with Anstey Nomads (away, 23 March), followed by Mansfield (home, 30 March), Sheffield (home, 6 April), and Mansfield (away, 13 April).

Now, should semi-final results go the way of SJR, against NTU, and Mansfield, in the other semi-final at Chesterfield, a third meeting between the two Notts-based clubs could well be on the cards.

However, before all that, SJRs focus is on NTU first, then Huddersfield, with a key component to their success, on-and-off the field this season, being the welcome addition of captain Charlotte Finch.

“We brought Charlotte in at the start of the season,” concluded the SJR boss.

“She took on-board the principles and ethics of the club and really gets herself involved behind the scenes.

“She certainly adds to the good characters that we have here at the club, has rose to the challenge, and is great promoting the Ladies section of the club.”

SJR Worksop welcome Nottingham Trent University to the Rockware Glass S&S Club this coming Sunday (9 March) in the semi-finals of the EMWRFL League Plate, keep up-to-date via the SJR Worksop socials, on Facebook and X/Twitter.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @SJRWorksopFC SJR Worksop have had a rise of fortunes in recent weeks.