UP NEXT, visiting the Stag Ground the week is Skegness Town, who take an almost ninety mile trip from the seaside for the second weekend in a row after facing Belper United last weekend.

After a second half lesson on bank holiday Monday against table toppers, Eastwood CFC, Kimberley will want to pick themselves up and put in a decent performance this weekend against another tough opponent.

For the bank holiday on Monday, Kimberley made the short trip down the road to Coronation Park, to face an Eastwood CFC side against whom they had failed to score against in three out of the last four matches, all of which had been defeats. Kimberley found themselves a goal down at half time after ex-Ilkeston Town player, Alex Troke opened the scoring for Eastwood. They will have felt unlucky with this, having created enough chances to at least have drawn level, if not taken the lead in the first forty five minutes. Eastwood stepped things up in the second half, while Kimberley looked tired after working so hard in the first half. A relatively straightforward half for Eastwood saw them score another three goals through Troke again, ex-Nottingham Forest striker, Craig Westcarr and Tyler Blake for a 4-0 win. Kimberley can't feel too down about the result, with Eastwood having one of the highest budgets in the league and a number of ex-professionals in their ranks. The league top scorers were always going to be a tall order for the miners and were by far the best team they've face in the league so far this season. Onwards and upwards for the next games.

Skegness Town's last match was also at Coronation Park, where they faced Eastwood's tenants, Belper United. Arun Jones opened the scoring for Skegness, but Jack Thatcher ensured the sides went in even at half time with an equaliser for Belper. An own goal and a goal from Billy Bradley wrapped up an impressive away win for the Lilywhites with the final score 3-1 to Skegness.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

The club was founded in 1947, as a successor to the town's two pre-war clubs Skegness United and Skegness Blue Rovers. The latter having one season in the Lincoln & District League (1937–38). After a season in the Boston & District League (using Wainfleet Road Recreation Ground) and then the East Lincs Combination (at the former ground of United in Richmond Drive), the club moved to Burgh Road to become a founder member of the Lincolnshire League in 1948. After two successful seasons in the Central Alliance (South), the club were, 1960–61 apart, when the League was in abeyance, members of the Midland Counties League from 1958 to 1982, finishing as runners-up in 1978–79, missing out on the title on goal difference. The club had a season in its successor, the North Counties (East) League, before returning to the Lincolnshire League in 1983. During the 1977-78 pre-season, Skegness Town played a pre-season match against Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest and nine months later Forest became champions of England.

Until 1985 the club regularly entered the FA Cup but only once reached the first round proper, in 1955–56, when they were defeated 4–0 at home to Worksop Town after beating Barton Town in the first qualifying round, Brigg Town in the second qualifying round, Grantham in the third qualifying round and finally Gainsborough Trinity in the fourth qualifying round. The club's last participation in the FA Cup was in 1985 and a 1st qualifying round trip to face local rivals Goole Town where they lost 3–2. Skegness Town entered the first ever FA Trophy competition in 1969–70 and competed until 1976–77 never getting past the qualifying rounds. They switched to the FA Vase, reaching the 4th round in 1978–79 where they lost to Shepshed Charterhouse and the 5th round in 1981–82, losing to Rainworth Miners Welfare. Changes in the ground grading regulations for national competitions ended the club's participation in 1990–91.

Since the Lincolnshire FA restructured its cup competitions in 2006, the club competed in its Junior Cup losing the 2007–08 final on penalties. Previously, with some success, the club participated in the Senior 'B' Cup, becoming its first winners and adding a three further wins. For 1956–57 they were promoted to the Senior 'A' Cup winning at their first attempt going on to six wins including a hat-trick between 1968 and 1971.

The club were champions of the Lincolnshire League in 2006–07 and 2007–08,[4] thus winning their third and fourth county league titles. The Lilywhites also won the league in the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons.

On 25 May 2018, it was announced that Skegness Town would be promoted to the Northern Counties East Football League Division One, step 10 of the English football pyramid, thus ending a 36-year absence. Following their promotion, it was announced on 30 May 2018 that the former assistant manager of National League North side Boston United Martyn Bunce would be the side's manager for the 2018-19 season, replacing Nick Chapman. On 16 November 2018, it was announced that Nathan Collins would join the club as joint manager with Martyn Bunce. Martyn Bunce stepped down as manager on 28 January 2019, leaving Nathan Collins as the singular manager of the club. In 2021 the club were promoted to the Premier Division North of the United Counties League based on their results in the abandoned 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.

In early 2016, it was announced that Skegness Town would be moving from Burgh Road to the new Vertigo Stadium. The site of The Lilywhites' old ground Burgh Road had been demolished to construct a small shopping centre and the new location was to be on Wainfleet Road. The ground was completed by mid 2017 for the start of the 2017/18 season. The stadium was officially opened on 21 July 2017 by Mayor Danny Brookes

Honours
Lincolnshire League champions: 1951–52, 1955–56 2006–07 & 2007–08, 2013–14, 2015–16 & 2016–17
Lincolnshire Football League Cup 1951–52 1953–54
Central Alliance (South) champions: 1956–57, 1957–58 & 1960–61
Lincolnshire FA Senior 'B' Cup winners: 1949–50, 1950–51, 1952–53, & 1955–56
Lincolnshire FA Senior 'A' Cup winners: 1956–57 1959–60, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71 & 1974–75

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The two sides last met in March. Cole Lambert scored twice for Kimberley. A Marshall Young brace was accompanied by goals from Gary King and Declan Johnson for a 4-2 win at Skegness.

The last time the sides met at the Stag ground was in November last year. The miners struck out as goals from Gary King and Scott Floyd took the points for the Lilywhites.

ONTO THIS WEEKEND

We have Laprisha's Catering on hand to provide Caribbean food options for spectators to buy on Saturday. Please look them up on Facebook.

Both sides will want to push for three points. Kimberley desperately need to get some points on the board in the league. Skegness will want to keep pushing at the top end of the table.

It should be a great game.

Please come along to support the boys