TOWN CENTRE INVASION
GLOSSOP people showed just how much they care for their football team by taking over the town centre on Saturday.
And it didn’t matter that North End had returned from Wembley Stadium without winning the FA Vase.
They had returned with honour and their heads held high.
And bursting with pride, locals wanted to celebrate the Hillmen getting there,
The result was more than 2,000 fans - most of them wearing the team’s colours - cheering the Hillmen as they rode on an open top bus to Norfolk Square.
Waving flags, cheering, clapping their hands, they lined High Street West from Arundel Street to the square.
Some of the players, in the tracksuits they wore for Wembley, looked happily surprised at the size of the welcome.
And they quickly joined in the applause - clapping fans for helping them reach the world famous stadium.
The double decker that had set off from Surrey Street, pulled up on Henry Street, where each player was introduced to the crowds, his name quickly drowned by the cheers.
Councillors, MP Tom Levitt, prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate Andrew Bingham, all added to the applause.
It was a time when political differences were put on one side.
For more than half an hour the green lawns of Norfolk Square were transfomed into a sea of blue and white.
And when the noise had died down, the celebrations were still not over.
It was off to Bradbury Community House for a civic reception hosted by High Peak Borough Council.
Players and officials were praised for putting Glossop on the map by Deputy Mayor Cllr Cynthia Mitchell, on her first official engagement since being appointment four days’ earlier.
Congratulating North End for a ‘fantastic achievement’,” she said: “After the thrilling semi-final victory over Chalfont St Peter, the whole town became gripped with cup fever.
“To all the players and officials, your achievement in reaching Wembley created a spirit and atmosphere in Glossop like none I can previously remember.”
After presenting chairman Dave Atkinson and secretary/director Peter Hammond with a commemorative scroll, Cllr Mitchell said: “The people of Glossop and, indeed, across the High Peak are proud of what you have done, and for putting Glossop on the map. As a council we share that pride and the sense of achievement that has gripped the town in recent weeks.
“We have several football teams across the borough and while Buxton and New Mills have both won trophies this season, none can match your feat on playing on the hallowed turf of Wembley.
“This reception is our way of recognising that achievement.
“This scroll is to commemorate something that will live in the memory of Glossop for many years to come.”
Dave and Peter accepted the award, thanking the council for what they had done. With more than £30,000 raised from the cup run and an ambition to win trophies and progress to higher leagues, there could be many more days like Saturday to come.
