The final week of the 2024/25 season was a great one for Craig Parry and his Worksop Town charges as they followed up promotion to the National League North, with a successful defence of the Sheffield & Hallamshire FA County Cup.

A season which began with a 1-0 defeat at home to eventual champions, Macclesfield (they finished on 109pts, some 27 ahead of runners-up Worksop), the loss sparking an unbeaten run of some thirteen matches.

It would be a run that included an 8-0 thrashing of Matlock (Aleksandrs Starcenko with a double), a 5-2 win over Blyth Spartans (Liam Hughes with a hat-trick), at home in August, and a 6-3 win against visitors, Basford United, 6-3 (Vaughan Redford hat-trick), in the FA Cup the following month.

A dip in form during October and November proved costly in the grand scheme, the Tigers losing half of the fourteen games played, the run continuing over the festive period and into the New Year.

Late January though would see Parry’s side turn their season on a six-pence, following a 3-2 success at Hemsworth Miners Welfare in the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup quarter-final as they embarked in a run of eleven straight victories.

Highlights of the run included a 6-0 home thrashing of Mickleover (Vaughan Redford 2, Aaron Martin, Aleksandrs Starcenko, Jordan Burrow and Tyreace Palmer) in early March, and a 4-1 success against visiting Lancaster City (Aleksandrs Starcenko 2, Luke Hall and Liam Hughes), who finished with ten men, at the end of the month.

Back-to-back losses at the start of April, against Stockton Town (3-0) and Bamber Bridge (1-0) respectively, was quickly turned back around with the Tigers finishing the season with six successive victories.

Starcenko doubled up again in the 4-0 home win over Basford United, then Ben Tomlinson did the same away to Blyth Spartans, ahead of that play-off success; a 2-1 win at home to Ashton United at the end of April was achieved following a goal in each half from Liam Hughes and Jordan Burrow, ahead of their date with destiny.

That arrived on the Bank Holiday Monday, at the start of May, and following a farcical situation which had both the FA, and NPL, back-and-forth, before Guiseley were eventually placed as the Tigers’ play-off final opponents.

In front of a crowd of more than 2,000, at the Windsor Foodservice Service, Worksop did the same to Guiseley as they had Ashton, winning 2-1, this time courtesy of a brace from Jordan Burrow, to book their place in the following seasons’ National League North.

Play-Off final line-up vs. Guiseley (Monday 5 May)

Tommy Taylor, Regan Hutchinson, Josh Wilde, Joe Lesley, Hamza Bencherif (capt), Ben Grist, Vaughan Redford, Aleksandrs Starcenko, Jordan Burrow (Aaron Martin, 85), Liam Hughes, Mason O’Malley

Tigers boss Craig Parry told TigersTV after their play-off success that he is: “Full of emotions, what an achievement, really proud of everyone connected to the club, what a day…..

“I know I’ve said it all year but we’ve been at this, this group of players, staff, for three years; we made a promise when we came in to take them back to where this club belongs and that’s at national level.

“So, to be able to do that today is a special, special moment, and an even better, special moment to do it with this lot in there.

“Unbelievable human beings, unbelievable group and so proud we got over the line today to allow them to continue on their journey.”

In addition to the Tigers’ league success, Parry’s side also added the County Cup for a second successive year, a record fifteenth, having beaten Penistone Church 5-0 in 2024; this was followed up this past week with victory over Hallam, at Hillsborough, the home of EFL Championship side, Sheffield Wednesday.

Their third success in four years saw the Tigers begin their defence with a 3-0 home win over Worsbrough Bridge Athletic; that success was followed up by three consecutive away wins against Handsworth (R3, 4-1), Hemsworth Miners Welfare (QF, 3-2), Emley (SF, 2-0).

In the final, against Hallam, it would be an Aleksandrs Starcenko brace, one in each half, that would give the Tigers the cup.

SHFA County Cup final line-up vs. Hallam (Thursday 8 May)

Sebastian Malkowski, Regan Hutchinson, Deegan Atherton, Sam Wedgbury, Hamza Bencherif (capt), Josh Wilde, Luke Hall (Ben Grist, 90), Aleksandrs Starcenko, Aaron Martin (Jordan Burrow, 73), Liam Hughes, Charlie Winfield (Vaughan Redford, 73)

Having won promotion, and successfully defending the County Cup, to set a new record, the Tigers now know who they’ll face in the upcoming, 2025/26 campaign.

The Tigers spent three seasons in the old Conference North, back in 2004-07, promoted following its formation, and which, either side, they’ve spent time in both the Northern Premier League, and Northern Counties Eastern League.

One of five sides to be promoted to the National League North for the new season Craig Parry’s charges will face the following sides – AFC Fylde (relegated), AFC Telford United (promoted), Alfreton Town, Bedford Town (promoted) Buxton, Chorley, Curzon Ashton, Darlington, Hereford United, Kidderminster Harriers, Kings Lynn Town, Leamington, Macclesfield (promoted), Marine, Merthyr Town (promoted), Oxford City, Peterborough

Sports, Radcliffe, Scarborough Athletic, South Shields, Southport, Spennymoor Town, and either of Chester or Scunthorpe United.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @worksoptownfc celebrations during the Tigers playoff win.