UP NEXT, after a first loss in eight matches in the league, its back to cup action as we welcome Retford United to Greenwich Avenue in the second round of the league cup.

Kimberley Miners Welfare go into the match having been brought down to earth last with defeat and a below par performance last weekend, although the loss was still only their fourth all season. The result may be the wake up call they need in time for this weekend’s cup match against an opposition who are flying in the division below and have already knocked out step five opposition in the first round of this cup competition and also in the FA Vase. Having been sternly tested by step six opposition already in the cups in the form of Pinxton and Dunkirk, the Miners will have to be at the absolute top of their game in this match.

Retford United currently sit second in the United Counties League Division One and have lost just once all season, with Deeping Rangers and Melton Town among the opposition that they have beaten so far. In what is already looking like a two horse race in Division One with their neighbours and closest rivals, Retford FC.

Last weekend, Kimberley travelled to Stamford to face Blackstones FC in the league. The newly promoted side threatened to provide a much tougher match than the last time the two met. This proved to be the case as a poor match saw very little action at either end of the pitch in the first half, with Kimberley having the only real chances and could’ve been two goals to the good at half time. It wasn’t to be though as Blackstone dominated the second half and were rewarded with the only goal of the game from Will Bestwick on the hour mark. Final Score Blackstones 1-0 KMW.

On Wednesday night, Retford United continued their march at the top end of the table with a straightforward 3-0 victory over Swallownest from the chasing pack. Brandon Kane scored twice with Josh Egginton getting on the scoresheet in between.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

The club was founded in 1987 by Retfordian Brian Jackson to give the town a senior club after Retford Town had gone out of business. The club’s inaugural season was in the Gainsborough & District League which was successful so it applied to join the Notts Football Alliance the following season and competed in that league up until 2001, when they joined the Central Midlands League. Just three years passed before another milestone was reached and the club joined the Northern Counties East League.

The success continued, finishing as runners-up in the Northern Counties East League Division One in 2005–06, gaining promotion to the Premier Division, which they won at their first attempt. They were then promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One South, which they won two years running, gaining promotion to the Premier Division in 2009. In all, between 2000 and 2009, they won a total of six championships, of various leagues and divisions, in nine seasons.

However, at the end of the 2010–11 season they finished bottom and were relegated to the Northern Premier League Division One South. Due to financial constraints, the club opted to resign from the Northern Premier League and to compete in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division where they again won the title in the 2011/12 season but they rejected promotion opting instead to continue in NCEL.

Retford reached the fifth round (last 16) of the FA Vase in the 2006–07 season, while their best run in the FA Cup has consisted of one appearance in the fourth qualifying round, in the 2008–09 season, where they were defeated 3–1 by Alfreton Town. Their first season in the FA Trophy in 2007–08 took them to the first round where they were defeated 5–2 by Histon. Retford were relegated from the 1st division of the NCEL at the end of season 2017-2018 and now play in the Central Midlands North League.

In 2018 the football club was acquired by One Call Insurance and with the help of Chairman Nik Springthorpe is now a limited company and has been transformed following a complete refurbishment of the clubhouse, changing rooms and the outside areas at their home ground. In June 2022, former player and Badgers legend Ryan Hindley took the reigns and has high hopes for the future of the club and hopes to propel United back up the pyramid.

FINALLY

Both sides will be doing all they can to progress into the next round of the league cup. Kimberley will want to get back on track after slipping up last weekend but face a very tough opposition this weekend.

Retford United will look to continue their charge on all fronts and will provide a very formidable opposition for the miners this weekend.

This makes for a very interesting and exciting match in prospect.

The match has been very kindly sponsored by Scott Shaw, Darts coach. Please check out his Facebook page for more information.

Kick off is at 15:00

See you there