UP NEXT, the team is back on the road as they make their furthest trip of the season with a late winter visit to the MKM Stadium in Skegness to face twelfth placed Skegness Town. With both teams on thirty seven points, only Kimberley’s better goal difference separates the sides, although the miners have a game in hand.

Kimberley go into the match on the back of what is hoped to be a resurgence, having gone unbeaten in their last two matches. Following Saturdays’ 3-2 win over Clay Cross, the lads followed it up on Tuesday night with a draw against Gresley Rovers. The miners head to Skegness with revenge in mind, having lost disappointingly to Skegness on Valentines Day two weeks ago.

Skegness needs a repeat of the result two weeks ago, with it being their only victory since mid December. An inconsistent season is an understatement for the Lilywhites, having threatened the playoff places numerous times throughout the campaign, only for runs of defeats to push them back into mid-table. They will feel that they have the psychological advantage however after the convincing win a couple of weeks ago.

On Saturday, the first team welcomed Clay Cross Town to a changed home venue at Ilkeston Town’s New Manor Ground in the quarter final of the Sports Ground Development UCL Cup. The visitors opened the scoring fourteen minutes in as Reece Clegg found the back of the net from a close range overhead kick from a corner. Kole Lambert drew level with ten first half minutes remaining as he lobbed the goalkeeper from the edge of the 18 yard box with the keeper stranded on his penalty spot. Debutant Romello Nangle put the miners in front three minutes into the second half, seizing on a rebound after Kole Lambert's shot was saved, Nangle's first effort was saved and fell straight back to him to score at the second attempt. Josh Timson made it 3-1 on 67 minutes, finishing from close range. Alex Marshall, on loan from Ilkeston Town scored a late consolation from the spot for Clay Cross to make it 3-2.
Final Score - Kimberley Miners Welfare 3-2 Clay Cross Town

Skegness’ last match was under the lights at promotion chasing Grantham Town on the 17th. A Lewis Darlington hat trick and goals from Lee Shaw and Sean Wright wrapped up the game for Grantham as Skegness were only able to hit back with a brace from Declan Johnson.

LAST TIME AROUND

On Valentines Day, the first team welcomed Skegness Town to Greenwich Avenue having had the previous week’s away trip to Newark & Sherwood postponed due to the weather. Skegness opened the scoring when early substitute Declan Johnson opened the scoring on thirty eight minutes. Jordan Smith sealed the win in the third minute of second half added time.
Final Score - Kimberley Miners Welfare 0-2 Skegness Town

The last away meeting was a seaside trip to Skegness last April. A very poor first half from both sides lacked in both goalmouth action and quality as neither side managed a shot on target in the opening forty five. Kimberley, however sprung into life in the second half but were made to wait until the final twenty minutes to make the breakthrough as Dan Tuck opened the scoring with a well taken finish from eight yards after some great work from Fin Ryder. Aaron Coyle turned in a free kick from Matt Moffatt just seven minutes later to double the lead. On ninety minutes, a horrible goal kick was seized upon by Aaron Coyle only to see his blocked shot drop to Lewis Weaver, who still had a lot to do to turn the ball into the goal for 3-0. Substitute Ben Morley had a late shot blocked to deny Kimberley a fourth. Into the third minute of stoppage time, Skegness grabbed a consolation for the match to finish 3-1 to Kimberley.

The two sides met at the Stag Ground in the FA Vase in September 2024. A Leon Mettram Brace and Marshall Young wrapped up a straightforward 3–0 win for Skegness.

A few weeks earlier, a single goal separated the sides as Jordan Smith scored for Skegness midway through the second half in a poor game at the Stag in the league.

Onto the 2023-24 season, the two sides met in March. Kole 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 sides met at the Stag ground was in November 2023. The miners struck out as goals from Gary King and Scott Floyd took the points for the Lilywhites.

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

FINALLY

This is a big meeting for both sides in what will go a long way to ensuring their places in the league for next season with games to go. As we head to the business end of the season, the two teams will be keen on finishing as high as possible and show both improvement on last season, but also building for another big push next term.

There is a good size car park and the clubhouse is fantastic.

Admission is £7 for adults and £4 for concessions and u16's.

We hope to see you there