Fairytale Yeltz are kings of the cups

WHILE some National Game Awards are tough to call, others just seem to fall into place.

- Neil Harvey

In a season where Step 4 clubs ruled the cups – who can forget the achievements of Chichester City and Maldon & Tiptree in the FA Cup? – it was Southern League Division One Central high-flier Halesowen Town who ruled supreme this time around after embarking on a stunning FA Trophy run to within just one round of a dream date at Wembley.

No fewer than nine rounds and 13 ties took the Yeltz all the way from the Preliminary Round to a two-legged semi-final before the coronavirus outbreak struck.

And they didn’t have an easy time of it either, toppling three full-time National League outfits – Maidenhead United, FC Halifax Town, and Barnet – along the way, all on their own patch!

“It came as much of a surprise to us as anyone,” said manager Paul Smith, who arrived at The Grove last summer following the club’s relegation from Step 3.