Catch a Match

A listing of local matches this festive season.

The non-league football authorities finally bowed to pressure from the clubs and abandoned Boxing Day football. So, with both Newark & Sherwood and Southwell City opting for a two-week break it is down to Newark Town and Collingham to fly the local festive flag, but to see them you will have to travel.

“The Blues” are off to Stamford to play a club formed in 1891 as the works team of the town’s famous engine manufacturer. Blackstones are in their first season as a step five club and currently sit just above the relegation zone but a run of one victory in their last nine league matches means they are going in the wrong direction.

The Scrooge like Notts Senior League are sending Collingham to Wollaton instead of the traditional local derby, which robs both sides of a good pay day.

Saturday though does see some tasty local derbies with the all Retford match at “The Rail” expected to attract a four-figure crowd. The home team lead their Canon Park neighbours by a whopping twelve points and a derby day victory more than puts one step in step five. Both clubs are well equipped to go up the pyramid, but we said that last season and look what happened.

Or you could head south on the A1 and possibly the first ever time the two sides have met in a competitive match. Harrowby, deep in the relegation mire host a Grantham Town side twelve points behind leaders Boston Town with four matches in hand, add to mix they do not like each other and this could be a Christmas cracker in many ways.

A word of caution, car parking is going to be exceedingly difficult at both these matches.

Finally, a match full of memories. Back in the seventies coal was king with Rainworth and Clipstone sweeping all before them. How times have changed, Rainworth look likely to drop out of the pyramid in a dismal season that has only brought two victories and sees then fourteen points off safety. “Clippo” sit five points above the danger zone in their poorest season in recent years. A good day for reminiscing about past glories.

Do not despair about Boxing Day as rugby comes to the rescue. Newark Rugby Club’s traditional President’s match gets under way at noon, the bar opens an hour earlier, and the hot food is every bit as good as the previous days feast.