Hillsborough AFC become Development Team

The football club are delighted to announce that Hillsborough AFC who last season played across the road on our training pitches in the Sheffield & District Fair Play League on a Saturday morning has agreed to come under the Stocksbridge Park Steels Banner for 2023/24 as our new development team and will continue to play in the same league for the upcoming season.

This continues the clubs long term goal to have a clear development pathway from our Junior section right through to the first team. You can already see this working with Mark Fretwell stepping up from our U18’s double winning manager to take over our reserve team in 23/24 and those successful U18’s players already training and playing with the first team during pre season. This is also alongside the new academy link up with NEFA.

Here is what both sides had to say on the link up.

Stocksbridge Park Steels FC are pleased to announce that Hillsborough AFC have become part of the Senior section of the club .Hillsborough play in the Sheffield Fair Play League and use the training pitches at Bracken Moor and from next season will be known as Stocksbridge Park Steels FC Development . Chris Hagues side finished in the top six of their division last season and they are a great set of lads who will represent the cub well, this addition also gives the club another option for some of their younger players to progress on their football pathway along with the the recent addition of their academy side. Graham, Chairman

I am both thrilled and proud to announce the transition of Hillsborough AFC into Stocksbridge Park Steels (Development) team. It is an honour to be asked to join such a respected club. Growing up in the area SPS was part of my football landscape. We will give everything to represent the standards of the club both on and off the pitch and I am personally totally committed to supporting a successful future for SPS generally. Chris Hague, Manager (joint) SPS (Development)

Chris, John & I started the journey as we were formerly known Hillsborough AFC 18 months ago with no players, no finances, kit or even a league to play in, who thought we’d be here. We had a vision for our club to become a community for our players & their families to be part of. We are now joining a much larger football family with a great history & we couldn’t be prouder. It’s a fantastic opportunity for our players & staff to become part of this great club. We are extremely grateful to everyone at the club for making this a reality. Looking forward to getting started as Stocksbridge Park Steels Development & hopefully some of you can come out to support us throughout the upcoming season. Dane Hurst, Manager (joint), SPS (Development)

Stay tuned over the coming days as we add the Development section to our website and share with you their social media handles.

Development Path