An insider's view of the High Peak derby

Glossop's Richard Bailey gives a player's angle on the recent FA Vase tie at New Mills

New Mills and Glossop share an intense rivalry, but throw in the fact that they haven’t played against each other at Church Lane for over 30 years and the small matter of a place in the second round of the FA Vase at stake and you have a fairly big game on your hands…

As both sets of players are warming up a full 45 minutes before kick off, chanting begins to erupt over the stadium walls as the descending Glossop fans begin a warm-up of their own as they prepare their voices ready for the 90 minutes ahead.

The New Mills fans hear them too, and not to be outdone on their own patch, they too begin to make their presence known.

For both clubs this is not just the biggest game of the season but the biggest game for years. The two clubs are just eight miles apart, but they haven’t met at Church Lane for over 30 years so you have a recipe for a huge contest. Plus you have the small matter that this game is in the FA Vase with both teams fighting over £1000 prize money.

You get the sense that the game means as much even before a ball is kicked. As fans make their way into the stadium they are greeted by two police officers, something which is rarely seen in the North West Counties League. New Mills have advertised around the town that more than 500 supporters are expected through the turnstiles and duly opened the gates at 1pm a full two hours before kick-off.

Judging by the limited space in the clubhouse, particularly at the bar it seems that many locals have taken them up on the offer. Despite the money at stake both mangers are keeping their emotional cards close to their chest as Glossop boss Steve Young explains: “Just because it is an FA Vase game doesn’t matter to us, we just want to get through to the next round.”

Young’s counterpart Tony Hancock agrees. “It doesn’t make a difference to the lads that this is an FA Vase game. Maybe it does to the club, but we just want to progress in the Vase. There is prize money at stake so at our level of football we need to win cash like what is on offer today.”

“Right now I’m feeling great and really looking forward to the game”, says an excited Glossop Chairman Dave Atkinson. “The last time the two teams met at New Mills was over 30 years ago. We managed to win 3-1 at home a few years back and it was just brilliant, so hopefully we’ll get more of the same today.”

Since then both clubs have gone under some major reconstruction. Current Glossop manager Steve Young was then Assistant Manager of the club while current New Mills boss Tony Hancock was only weeks into his tenure. Of the players who played that day only four will take to the field for Glossop while New Mills boast two players who played in that last derby, both for Glossop.

New Mills manager Tony Hancock explains: “The fact that we have two ex-Glossop players in our ranks adds to the spice. We have Stuart Williams in goal and Gary Kharas upfront. I don’t think Glossop wanted to lose Stuart as he had won two player of the year awards in two years. With Gary it was different as by the time we approached him he had left Glossop and was playing for Ashton United.”

Kharas was the scorer of 73 goals in just three seasons with the Hillmen, a feat which enabled him to secure hero status at Surrey Street. The fact that today he will be wearing the Black and Amber of their rivals only intensifies the derby.

With only one point separating the two teams at the top of the Vodkat Premier League today’s derby is supposed to be the closest match-up in years, but on the face of it the Millers seem to be the more confident sets of fans.

Perhaps their confidence is well placed. New Mills go into today’s game on the back of a 6-0 win against Nelson while their rivals succumbed 2-0 away to Ashton Athletic leaving the travelling Glossop fans wondering what the up and coming 90 minutes have in store.

Last season saw New Mills promoted to the top flight after capturing the VodKat First Division title. Expectations remain high and many believe that a second title in two years is a certainty rather than a possibility come the end of the current campaign.

New Mills boss Hancock believes his side have come a long way since the two sides last met. “I believe we definitely have the experience to win and for the lads it will just be another game. In training we have just been doing shadow play and set pieces. There is a lot of rivalry between the two clubs and I’d like to think that we have overtaken Glossop with our attendances and such like.

“It’s a great day out for the two sets of fans and Steve and Terry (Hinks, Asst Manager) are doing a great job at Glossop.”

Young reiterates the comments made by Hancock. “I am really looking forward to the match and I am confident that we will progress through. We are treating it like a normal match, this is a cup tie so we are just looking to get through to the next round.”

With both managers seemingly playing down the importance and size of the match it is interesting to hear Glossop chairman Dave Atkinson’s views on the game ahead. “This is a massive game for the club, everybody has to be up for it.

“Derby games are always big and this is our biggest game for years. I can see us taking at least 200 supporters down with us.” By the noise the Glossop faithful are drumming up as kick off approaches you would think there are twice as many fans packed into the Church Lane ground.

Atkinson reveals that the derby doesn’t just affect those present at the game. “Everybody has connections with the game, it affects everybody in the area. For instance my sister works with the New Mills secretary Alan Jones, so she has to go into work with her head held high come Monday morning. It makes it a must win match.”

With both sets of players taking to the field and participating in the pre-match handshake in the middle of the pitch there is a buzz of anticipation around the ground. Pre-match predictions of 500 are not far off the mark as 496 fans cram in to witness the spectacle.

The away side look to stamp their authority on the game early on as they force a corner within the first minute but soon the game takes the shape of a typical derby, a tight and somewhat cagey affair. All that changes when a Dave Young’s diagonal pass from the right puts David Hodges through on the left hand side where his low cross is met by North End striker Darren Hamilton.

This seems to trigger the home side into action and a deflected free kick finds its way to the path of Millers midfielder Josh Howard who duly taps home to send the home fans delirious. The home side finish the half the stronger and another tight second half is expected.

The second period sees Glossop re-assert themselves on the game as New Mills momentum from the equaliser seems to have disappeared. The Glossop fans sense an opening as they slowly start to get louder and finally the pressure tells. North End midfielder Nick Allen slips in Hamilton whose cross-shot is tapped in by strike partner Tom Bailey.

A quick glance across to the linesman whose flag has stayed firmly by his side confirms the away side have retaken the lead. But this time there is no reaction from the Millers. Instead Glossop go for the kill as a quick breakaway sees Nick Allen claim his first goal for the Hillmen as he slots past Williams. The away fans are in party mood and just to send them into dreamland substitute Sam Hind slots home number four.

As the Glossop faithful slip away to celebrate into the night, the New Mills contingent are left hoping for some revenge come Boxing Day when the two sides go through it all over again.