UP NEXT, Kimberley Miners Welfare make the trip to Mansfield Town's One Call Stadium to face step four Basford United in the Nottinghamshire FA Saturday Senior Challenge Cup Final.

Kimberley go into the match with the majority of the squad rested for three weeks, having ended the season whilst Basford have been playing right up until last Tuesday in the playoff semi final in the Northern Premier League Midlands.

After a long season in which the miners have successfully achieved step five status for another season, tonight's match under the lights is quite possibly the biggest match in the history of the club. Despite the thirty three place difference in league positions, and the miners being heavy underdogs, form goes completely out of the window in cup finals and the whole club will be hoping for a performance to upset the record books and take the silverware tonight.

Kimberley played their semi final in March under the lights at The Stag Ground when they welcomed Radford FC. In what were horrendous conditions, the sides were struggling to play much football with torrential downpours coming in sidewards with heavy wind putting pay to an attractive game of football. Miners keeper Tom Smith didn’t have much to do throughout the ninety minutes, pulling off a fantastic save in the first half but was rarely threatened by the visiting side. Kole Lambert opened the scoring just four minutes into the encounter. It took until midway through the second half for Kimberley to double their lead as Fin Ryder found the back of the net on a rare return from Shepshed Dynamo. This was enough to take the miners to Mansfield in May.
Final Score - Kimberley Miners Welfare 2-0 Radford

Basford United will head into the fixture as overwhelming favourites after a great season saw them reach the playoffs of the Northern Premier League Midlands division, ultimately falling at the last hurdle to Belper Town.

Basford’s semi final saw Carlton Town visit Greenwich Avenue on a Tuesday night at the end of March. Carlton took the lead through Alex Howes on twenty minutes and looked good for the victory at the break. Basford came flying back with three goals in the final fifteen minutes of the match through Connor Diamio, and two from Dameer Rose to seal a spot in tonight’s final.

FINALLY

We hope to see as many of you as possible joining us at the One Call Stadium for our final appearance of the 2025-26 season.

Tickets can be purchsed directly from Mansfield Towns website - HERE

To get to the One Call Stadium from Kimberley, follow the directions linked HERE

See you there