Richard Tracey says Emley AFC are determined to bring silverware winning days back to the club and also honour injured striker Joe Jagger by winning the Sheffield Senior Cup.
The old Emley’s history is enriched with Senior Cup final triumphs.
The new Emley, formed in 2005, is yet to win a cup competition so Wednesday night’s home semi-final against Nostell Miners Welfare is arguably one of the club’s biggest games for years.
“It is massively important for us,” Tracey told Non League Yorkshire.
“We want to get to a final for the club, the lads, as a management team and for Jags.
“It will be a tough game because Nostell will be wanting to do the same as us.
“(It would be a great achievement because) if you look at (the teams who were in the cup at the start) there is Stocksbridge, Sheffield, who are still in it, and Worksop from higher up the pyramid in it and equally there’s teams in our league in it who are strong sides.
“We have had a favourable draw in the nicest sense in two teams from Step 7 and a home tie against Hemsworth which gave us more of an advantage than going to their 3G pitch.
“We now have a home tie in the semi-final so hopefully it is destined to be our year but Nostell will not lie down because there’s a cup final at stake.
“(If we were to get to the final and finish in the top five) it would absolutely rank as a successful season.
“I said to you at the start of the season that we were looking to progress and that’s what we are doing step by step.”
Victory will see another game added to an already congested schedule.
If you want to watch Emley over the next eight weeks then you have plenty of opportunities as there are still four league games in February.
March currently has eight games booked in, including a League Cup quarter-final.
Two matches so far are listed for April.
It could be exciting as Emley are in a race for second place which either secures promotion or a play-off final against another Step 5 from elsewhere in the country.
Tracey concedes leaders North Ferriby won’t be caught but the runners-up spot is available.
“I think so (North Ferriby are uncatchable),” he said.
“They had a wobble (on Saturday) but it is going to be the same as last year when second place went to the wire.
“Whether it is us, Garforth, Silsden, Winterton, who knows.
“We’ll certainly be doing our upmost to be in that mix.
“I think (our chances) have taken a hit losing Wally (James Walshaw) and Jags.
“Our recent form hasn’t helped so (winning at Garforth) is a massive result and one we need to look to kick on from.”
Losing Jagger is a massive blow as he was the top goal-scorer in the league with 31 goals.
Tracey says he is not racing to replace his injured star.
“It is devastating for Joe,” he said.
“He’s not in great shape at the minute.
“He had the operation (on Friday) and he’s recovering in hospital.
“We have spoken to a couple of clubs (about players) and they are quoting silly money for players who are out of contract in ten weeks.
“We’re not in a position where we can be purchasing players.
“That’s crazy.
“We have been enquiring about loans from clubs higher the pyramid and people are saying ‘they are not available for loan but you can buy them’.
“We know we have enough in the squad.
“Elliot Harrison is carrying a knock at the moment. He’s an option.
“Iyrwah (Gooden) is an option. Joe Clegg is another who play up there.
“So there is options in the squad but if the right player comes available then we’d have to consider it.”