YELLOWS’ PROMOTION IS PICTURE PERFECT

THE ENORMITY of promotion to Step 3 still has not hit AFC Sudbury head of media Steve Screech.

A 1-0 win over Heybridge Swifts in last Saturday’s Pitching In Isthmian League Division One North play-off final completed a memorable campaign for the Yellows, Jake Turner netting an extra-time winner.

But while all those around him were able to let their emotions run wild, Screech remains yet to truly revel in the moment after forcing himself to stay focused on the big day.

“It will take a while for it to come out,” he said. “It has still not fully sunk in, probably because I look at the game a lot through the lens of my camera. I had to keep my emotions in check, I was running around catching everyone else’s emotions but I had to remain on an even keel.

“Everyone else is running around shouting and screaming and I just had to maintain a cool head.”

Underpinning Sudbury’s success on the pitch is the hard work by volunteers off it, and fans across the country can discover opportunities at their local club through the Pitching In Volunteer Hub.

Isaac Mennie, 15, and Tom Hearn, 19, have helped Screech boost the Suds’ presence online, with average attendances almost doubling in two years.

“We are under no illusions, it’s a different challenge next season,” Screech added.

“We are going to be playing teams that are a lot further away, so we’ve got to manage that and try and keep the impetus going, keep the feelgood factor and try and play entertaining football.”

Find volunteering opportunities at your local club by visiting https://pitchingin volunteers.co.uk/