UP NEXT, weather permitting, the reserves are at The Stag Ground as they welcome second bottom side, AFC Sandiacre Town in their first fixture of 2025 after the match last weekend was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

With a three week gap since their last match, the miners would hope to avoid a potential banana skin as they face a side that has won just twice in the league so far this season. With the teams in second and third place both in action in what would be considered winnable matches, three points is essential.

AFC Sandiacre Town come to The Stag Ground on the back of nine straight defeats and their last win was way back at the start of September. They will come to Kimberley with no pressure or expectation on their shoulders, which could give them a chance of putting in a performance.

With last weekend’s home match postponed due to a frozen pitch, their last match for the reserves saw them maintain their charge at the top of NSL division one with a 4-2 home win over Rushcliffe FC. A first half hat trick from Bijan Pakrouz sealed the win, with a fourth being added by Toby Gibbs in the second half.

AFC Sandiacre Town’s last match was also three weeks ago in a heavy 3-0 defeat at home to Pass Move Grin. The result leaves them second bottom with three games in hand over Keyworth United Reserves who sit three points ahead.

LAST TIME AROUND

The two sides last met at The Stag Ground in the same weekend of last year. The match ended in a goalless draw.

Earlier last season, the miners came away from St Giles Park with a 3-2 victory with goals coming from Robert Da La Silva Makamu, Matthew Dickinson and Brody Horsley.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Sandiacre Town Football Club was formed in 1978 by Malc Turton and Pete Smith and Tony Mattison. They had previously run the successful Ilkeston Town Under 14's, and saw the need for youth football in Sandiacre.

At the very first practice night over 150 youngsters turned up and it was decided to run three teams in the Notts Youth League at under 16's, 14's & 12's. The first Trophy for the club was when the under 14 team won the 1978/79 Notts. Youth league beating Clifton all whites 5 2 to pip them to the league title. The team was run by Tony Mattison and Peter Thornley.

Season 1979/80 saw the number of youth teams grow to five with a Saturday senior side also being established and joining the Central Alliance League as one of the founding members.

In 1982, work started on building the Club Headquarters at St. Giles Park, the cost of the project was £40,000 with half the money being raised by Club members. The building work was carried out with the help of the Manpower Services Commission and was completed in 1984, The official opening on 28 March 1984 was performed by Peter Taylor and Roy McFarland from Derby County Football Club.

The club played in the Central Alliance League in the 1970s and 1980s. They were one of the founding members of the Central Midlands League in 1983, but the club lost its place in the league in 1990 after failing ground grading. In 1992, the club merged with Lace Web United. They were promoted to the CML again after finishing runners-up in 1991–92. They won the CML Premier Division in 1992–93. Their first appearance in the FA Vase was in 1995, and they reached the first round in 1997–98 and 2004–05.

HONOURS

Central Midlands League Premier Division
Champions 1992–93
Midlands Regional Alliance
Runners-up 1991–92

FINALLY

This is a huge match for both sides. For Kimberley, it’s another step towards the championship, which they cannot afford to drop if they want to maintain the lead at the top. For AFC Sandiacre, it’s a chance to take a huge scalp in their desperate challenge of pushing up the table.
Please get along to support the boys