THE town is rallying round to congratulate football club Halesowen Town after their exhilarating promotion play-off win at the weekend.
The club beat Spalding United - with man-of-the-match Kieren Donnelly scoring a last-gasp stoppage time equaliser and Jamie Insall scoring the extra-time winner to turnaround a nail-biting promotion play-off.
There were jubilant scenes in front of the 3,250 capacity crowd home game at the The Grove on Old Hawne Lane on Saturday (April 29).
Halesowen's promotion is a real boost for the town and means they are likely to face rivals Stourbridge in the no. 9 derby.
The 2-1 result is well-deserved for the boys in blue, who narrowly missed out on promotion last year.
Yeltz manager Paul Smith said: "I’m over the moon for everyone.
"This has been 4 years in the making.
"It’s a fantastic football club with fantastic people.”
Vice president Ron Moseley said: "The club is back in great hands with people who are passionate about it.
"It's great for the fans - to have so many people there was fantastic."
Ron said the club should know within a month whether they will promoted to the Northern Premier or Southern Premier League.
The hope is they will face rivals Stourbridge.
Halesowen councillor Simon Phipps, said: "The 112th minute goal sent the fans wild.
"It was a brilliant atmosphere.
"Being promoted means we will have more fans next year - there will be more opportunity for investment into the town from sponsors coming into the club and it's an opportunity for us to get one over on our old rivals Stourbridge in the no. 9 derby.
"It's a real pick-me-up moment for everybody in the town.
"There was huge support - a sell-out crowd with Spalding only bringing 108 fans."
James Morris MP congratulated everyone at the club, including those who work hard behind the scenes.
He said: “It’s always nervy when a game goes to extra time, but thankfully Jamie Insall’s goal spared us a penalty shoot-out!
"It’s fantastic news for Halesowen and it was great to see many people from across the town coming out to support them.
"Next year will be tough at a higher level, but I wish Paul Smith and the boys all the best.”
Halesowen BID manager Vicky Rogers said: "The whole town have been behind the team as they entered the final leg of their bid for promotion, everyone was talking about it, and the team did us all proud pulling off an amazing 2-1 win.
"The atmosphere was electric and the excitement of the 3,250 sell- out crowd was demonstrated as they celebrated on the pitch and later the music and partying continued in the Yeltz Bar.
"As a BID we are always looking to promote Halesowen and are in talks with the youth team management on how we can work more collaboratively in the future.
"Thanks to the team for helping to put Halesowen on a pedestal and raising our profile even more.
"Bring on next season."
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