Former England manager watches as Emley prepare for new season with draw against Rotherham United

The Pewits’ first game back at their Fantastic Media Welfare Ground since their memorable promotion play-off victory saw them take on League Two opponents in front of former England manager Steve McClaren who is now Rotherham’s head of football.

And it proved a good workout for both teams with the game ending in a 1-1 draw.

Emley played in their new Adidas kit for the first time and showed some neat attacking moves that promise well for the campaign ahead with Joe Stacey at the heart of the play.

Joe Clegg, Bailey Thompson, Gabriel Johnson and Stacey all got efforts in before the professionals got into their stride and started causing their own problems.

Emley went in front just past the half-hour when from a free-kick in his own half quick thinking new signing Jamie Spencer spotted the Millers' keeper well off his line and lobbed the ball over him.

The brilliant finish from the former Huddersfield Town man was a goal of the season contender already, but his team could not hold onto their lead as Rotherham soon equalised when Fabio Tavares set up Lewis Clarke to fire home.

The second half did not flow so well as multiple substitutions were made. Rotherham had the better of things and came close to scoring a second when Osahon Ibie-Agho’s shot hit the post and rolled along the goal-line before being cleared.

Emley keeper Ben Bottomley made a couple of fine saves before the Pewits came close to winning it late on as Carlos Rodrigues was twice denied.

Both teams walked off to the applause of the 586 supporters and the ex-England boss with Emley showing plenty of spark to show their preparations are going all right.

They were in action again locally when making the short travel to play NCEL side Horbury Town in another game in which the main aim was to get minutes into the legs of the players.

Thompson put the Pewits ahead after just 11 minutes, but they could not add to their tally and lost 2-1 to two second half goals.

In a hectic week of warm-ups they also took on Penistone Church, winning 3-2 with goals from Johnson (two) and new boy Diego Di Girolamo.

Emley were due to be in action at Liversedge on Tuesday then they play further warm-up matches away against NPL D1 West side Mossley on Saturday and Ossett United next Tuesday.

They round off their pre-season campaign with a trip to Pontefract Collieries on Saturday, August 1.