'Only going in one direction' Kelvin Davis' view on Hednesford Town potential after promotion

Boss Kelvin Davis believes Hednesford Town will continue their ascent up the footballing pyramid under the club’s ambitious ownership.

The Pitmen are back at step two of the non-league pyramid and look forward to National League North action next season after Monday’s thrilling penalty shootout play-off success.

It was a second consecutive promotion for Hednesford and a successful end to former goalkeeper Davis’ first three months at the club after a surprise appointment following the controversial dismissal of Gavin Hurren.

Hednesford and their historic Keys Park home have been transformed in two years under the ambitious ownership of Craig and Amanda Gwilt and manager Davis reckons the sky is the limit with the Pitmen’s united front.

"The ambition is there and whether we are here or not the club is only going in one direction,” Davis said after his side prevailed against Warrington Rylands on spot-kicks.

"It's great to be a part of it. I think we've added something since we've come in.

"But the important thing is everybody wants the same thing at this club. Everybody wants to go in the same direction.

"When everyone is doing that you have a hell of a chance at being successful."

The Pitmen endured relegation from step three in 2022/23 and, following a failed takeover and significant financial concerns, the Gwilts purchased the club from Hayden Dando in March 2024.

The club had said in May 2023 they would pull out of the Northern Premier League for the following season. But former vice-chairman and co-owner Dando stepped in to help see through a takeover.

Monday’s success marked successive promotions under Craig and Amanda Gwilt, the ownership who have bold plans and have delivered significant financial backing to continue to move the squad through the divisions.

More than 4,000 supporters packed into an impressive developed Keys Park on Monday to see the dramatic penalty success, earned after defender George Williams - one of several former Football League squad members - converted a 90th-minute equaliser.

Davis, the former Wimbledon, Ipswich, Sunderland and Southampton shot-stopper, said of the scenes: "I can still feel my jaw hurting from the celebration when we went one all!

"That feeling you give, the noise from the fans off the back of that is really special.”

Davis is supported in the dugout by Danny Butterfield, the former Crystal Palace stalwart, and existing staff members.

The ex-keeper won successive promotions from League One to the Premier League with Southampton and has now been part of back-to-back climbs as a manager.

“It's definitely different!” Davis said of promotion as a manager. “Probably it's a little more that you know the onus is on you. The decisions are on you.

"I'm fortunate in that I know I've got Danny Butterfield with me and really good staff which I inherited at the club who are really passionate and want to do well at the club. They are very good at their jobs.

"I've got a very good group of coaching staff that can support me in moments where when you've got questions it's nice to know you can rely on those guys.”

Davis’ only spell in management prior to succeeding Hurren in February was an 18-month stint at National League outfit Eastleigh.

Hurren, who won the play-offs against Congleton in 2025, was dismissed in February despite sitting joint-top of the Northern Premier League Premier.

Successor Davis was unable to guide his troops to the title as Hebburn Town clinched top spot on the final day.

And promotion came via the tightest of margins as it appeared Cheshire underdogs Rylands would cause an upset after an early second-half Clive Smith header, but Williams’ last-gasp equaliser led to spot-kicks and skipper Joe Doyle-Charles buried the decisive penalty.