A PLATFORM IN WHICH TO GRO
IF GOOD things do come to those who wait, then Leek Town captain Marc Grocott could be forgiven for wondering if his moment had passed.
The same can be said for supporters of the Staffordshire club who have seen their favourites repeatedly fall short of a return to the Northern Premier League’s top flight since they were relegated in 2008.
That is until last Monday, when a 2-1 victory at Newcastle Town sealed promotion from the West Division.
“We intend to savour the moment,” the Blues’ skipper told The NLP. “Of course, I’m happy. But the primary emotion is relief.”
The midfielder signed for Leek from neighbours Kidsgrove seven years ago, and has been part of a side that has contested the play-offs three times – reaching the final in 2019.
The past two attempts ended after home defeats against Runcorn Linnets at the semi-finals stage.
Leek also occupied top spot in the then NPL South East Division, winning 23 of the 28 games they played, when the FA decided to curtail, then declare null and void, the 2019-20 term because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Teammates Olly Harrison, Rob Stevenson, Dan Trickett-Smith and Tim Grice were there with him at Harrison Park through it all.
Disappointments
Indeed Grice, the club’s record goal scorer, has been on the pitch during five play-offs defeats since his arrival in 2011.
Perhaps fittingly, his strike put Leek in front at Newcastle.
“When you’ve lived that heartache, then you do appreciate it that bit more,” said Grocott.
“We’ve got to where we think we deserve to be, but there was never a guarantee that would happen.
“To get over the line, after experiencing those disappointments in the past, means the sense of achievement is perhaps amplified for that core of lads who’ve been here a while.”
Leek have reached their longterm objective in style, becoming champions with four games to spare.
Impact
Since a five-goal thrashing at Runcorn in November, they haven’t lost a league game – winning 17 of the next 20 before kick-off at Avro yesterday. Manager Josh Brehaut, appointed as successor to long-serving Neil Baker in August after he resigned following six seasons in the dugout, told The NLP in February that the pain felt after the final whistle in Cheshire would only be numbed when top spot was secured. Grocott said: “That defeat was a blessing in disguise. We were embarrassed, but Josh wanted it to be a formative experience.
“If the elation I felt at Newcastle is the pinnacle of my career, then losing like we did [at Runcorn] was among the lowest points.
“Every player looked in the mirror and asked himself if he wanted to be defined by that performance. I think our response since provided the answer.”
Brehaut’s impact cannot be understated, nor too can that of goalkeeper Dino Visser who had a dozen shutouts to his name in 20 appearances before this weekend.
Newcomers Liam Buckley, Julius Ndene, Tom Reilly and Tom Scully – all recruited by Baker last summer – have injected youthful energy to the group.
An attack led by Stevenson, who has reached the twin milestone of 100 goals and 300 appearances in Leek’s colours this season, and Trickett-Smith has proven hard to stop.
The latter has scored 16 times in the league, an impressive figure given he didn’t start a game in 2024 until midMarch because of injury.
Grocott added: “This isn’t an instant success. Hard work has got us to this point – much of it done on dark nights at training after long days at work.
“But to see what promotion means to everybody attached to the club makes it all worthwhile.”