Glossop North End AFC's board has vowed to "do everything in our power" to secure an immediate return to the Northern Premier League after a difficult season ended in the worst possible manner.

The Hillmen will play in the North West Counties Football League next season following Saturday's 3-0 home defeat by Ashington AFC in the Step 4/5 relegation play-off.

There was a bumper crowd of 1,052 spectators at the Asgard Engineering Stadium but it was the vocal travelling support from Northumberland celebrating in the rain as referee Ashley Royston's final whistle sounded.

Captain Ben Harmison took his tally to 24 goals for the season with a brace and Craig Spooner was also on target for the visitors. Glossop's main threat came from set-pieces, from which Ashington keeper Karl Dryden was called into action on a couple of occasions.   

But ultimately it proved to be another chastening afternoon for Stuart Mellish's men - who finished 18th in the 20-team NPL West division having lost half of their 38 league games, winning 10 and drawing nine.

Glossop mainly threatened to score against Ashington after going 3-0 behind. Image credit: Steve Dyson. 

'We must now face the reality of what lies ahead'

Just minutes after relegation was confirmed, a near 400-word statement was released on the club's social media channels, in which the board pledged to "address issues in the short and long term" and hopes the "great disappointment" can prove to be "a turning point for the revival of our club".

In full, it read: "It's the message we hoped we'd never have to write. However the world hasn't stopped turning, even though at times today we all had a feeling of despair.

"We have always said we are here for the long-term and we will not allow this one moment of great disappointment to stop the continued development of this club over the coming years and beyond. That being said, we have to be scrupulously honest with ourselves regarding the season.

"There will be lessons learned and, from today, we move forward, we have to accept a different challenge. We will face the challenges that lie ahead and rekindle the passion that has always been a hallmark of this great club.

"We must pick ourselves up from the floor and move forward in a positive way. We have had plans for both scenarios and now our immediate future is clear, we can start to put those plans into place. We can pledge that, as a board, we will give everything we can and offer as much support as possible to everyone as we try and achieve promotion at the first attempt. There are issues we must address in the short and long term and these things will not happen overnight."

Ashington's players celebrate their team's third goal in front of some of their buoyant supporters. Image credit: Steve Dyson. 

The statement continued: "In sport, you will always face moments of great disappointment but it's how you react that defines you. Rest assured, we will do everything in our power to take Glossop North End back to the Northern Premier League - something we all believe we can achieve.

"In football, in sport, there are highs and there are lows and right now, this is the lowest we have felt and we know you will be feeling the same. There are no guarantees in football, we have tried our best but our best was not good enough. We must now face the reality of what lies ahead and, for next season at least, that is the NWCFL.

"We give thanks to everyone who has worked so hard during what has become one of if not the most challenging season in the recent history of Glossop North End. As fans, you do not deserve this end to a season that in so many ways we will want to forget but in others we can look back on in time as a turning point for the revival of our club."

The club has already announced a series of friendlies to be played in July - against Sheffield FC, FC Halifax Town, Abbey Hey and Cheadle Heath Nomads - as preparations begin for Step 5 football and new surroundings in the 2023/24 campaign.

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