UP NEXT, the first team are back in league action with their second match of the bank holiday weekend. This time, they make the relatively short trip to Debdale Park. There they face a tough challenge in Sherwood Colliery, who were relegated down into the division for this season.

After a slightly below par performance, but another victory against Birstall United in the FA Vase on Saturday, the miners will look for a step up in levels today as they face one of the top teams in the division.

Sherwood Colliery go into the match on the back of a tough away trip to Newark Town on Saturday amid a busy schedule due to their progression in the FA Cup. With a lot of goals scored so far this season,”The Wood” will want to add to that in the match this afternoon.

On Saturday, Kimberley welcomed Birstall Town from the Midland League in the FA Vase. In a match where they could, and should have been out of sight by half time. Almost every corner, and cross was delivered straight to the waiting hands of the Birstall goalkeeper, while shots from open play were either just wide or just over throughout a match that was dominated by the hosts, without ever having the cutting edge. The miners finally got the breakthrough as Tom Hilton smashed home in the 73rd minute following some great work and a low cross from Hanif Alassani. Two of this season’s new signings combined to seal a trip to Pinxton in the next round.

Sherwood Colliery’s match on Saturday saw them take a trip to Newark Town. After a 3-1 win against Ansty Nomads the week before in the FA Cup, it was back to league action against one of the better teams in the division from last season. The teams went in goalless at half time in what must’ve been a well matched first half. Sherwood took the lead on 55 through Jamie York, but Newark hit back on 71 through Harvey Grice. Final score 1-1.

LAST TIME AROUND

The two sides last met in March 2024 as Sherwood Colliery marched to the league title and promotion. A straightforward win at Debdale Park saw Sherwood open the scoring after just two minutes through Craig Westcarr and double their lead on nineteen minutes through Marley Grant. Kimberley had no answer and the match finished 2-0 to The Wood.

Earlier that same season, the Miners took all three points at The Stag Ground as Kole Lambert scored twice and Henry Swann scored to take a 3-1 win with Kieran Knight grabbing Sherwood’s only goal of the game.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

The club was formed in 2008, although a club of the same name did compete in the FA Cup in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

They joined the Central Midlands League in 2012, and entered the FA Vase for the first time in 2016 where they beat Penistone Church and Clipstone both of higher divisions before being knocked out 3–2 by Westfields.

The 2017–18 season saw the club finish as runners-up in the league and subsequently gain promotion to the East Midlands Counties Football League.

The 2019–20 season saw the club enter the FA Cup for the first time, getting past Quorn F.C. in the extra preliminary round, before losing out to Loughborough Dynamo in a replay in the next round.

In 2021, the club were promoted to the Premier Division of the Northern Counties East League based on their results in the abandoned 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.

The 2023–24 season saw Colliery promoted as champions to the eighth tier. They were, however, relegated straight back, finishing 20th in the 2024-25 Season in the Northern Premier League.

Honours

LEAGUE

United Counties League Premier Division North
Champions: 2023-24
Midland Amateur Alliance Division One
Champions: 2010-1

CUP

Central Midlands Football League Floodlit Cup
Winners: 2016–17

FINALLY

With three clean sheets in a row, Kimberley will need to use that resilience against a freescoring Sherwood team who will want to get their league campaign going after a two match winless run although boosted b y their FA Cup win over Ansty.

There is plenty of parking at the ground or neighbouring railway station.

We look forward to what will be a very tough match against quality opposition. It’s these kinds of matches that we hope for in a season that has started at the right end of the table.

Kick off is at 15:00