RUFC - Next Up Emley

Rotherham United travel to West Yorkshire on Tuesday night for their final pre-season friendly of the season to take on AFC Emley who are managed by ex Millers player, Ian Banks.

AFC Emley were formed in 2005 after the old Emley merged with Wakefield and became Wakefield-Emley in 2000, although they have now dropped Emley from their name and are just known as Wakefield.

Emley`s history goes back just over one hundred years to 1903 when they were a successful Yorkshire football club in non-league. They are perhaps best remembered for a famous FA Cup run in the 1998 which saw them knock out Lincoln City to get them a big tie with West Ham at Upton Park. Putting up a good fight they finally lost 2-1 to the Premiership club.

The original Emley moved to Wakefield in 2000 when the Northern Premier League announced new ground regulations. It is thought that Emley, unable to improve their ground moved to Wakefield to avoid being thrown out of the league. Not long after the Northern Counties East League stopped their reserve league which was a bit of a blow as the Emley reserves had still played at the old Welfare Ground in the village.

In 2005 several officials formed the new Emley and the club is now in the Northern Counties East Football League Division One. This season Emley will have a reserve team playing in the West Riding League.

The Millers travelled to Emley this time last year and Mark Robins` young side lost 2-1.

The game is a 7.00pm kick off.

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