Archive News - Spring 2008

Lisa Dawkins' Nottingham Forest Ladies have been promoted to the National Premier League. The Reds beat Sheffield Wednesday 5-1 on Sunday to take the Northern Premiership Title, as Lincoln lost away to Sunderland. It's a major achievement for the Reds, given that they were only promoted to the Northern Premier four years ago. The opportunity to pit their wits against the countries finest ladies teams is most certainly deserved, having gone through the entire league campaign unbeaten.

YELLOWS REPRIEVE
In a shocking turn of events, Hucknall Town will not now be relegated from the Blue Square Conference South. The liquidation of debt-ridden Halifax Town has led to a restructure for next season from steps 1-4 to accommodate the loss of the Halifax from the Blue Square Conference, with Altringham, Boreham Wood, Slough Town and the Yellows earning reprieves from their respective relegations. If a new Halifax team is reformed, they will enter at no higher than Step 5 on the ladder. Yellows Chairman, Brian Holmes commented "I'm pleased for those at the club more than the players themselves, who didn't perform last season, We have been given another chance, the first time we have been reprieved when we have been relegated, and we must try to take advantage. 17 May 2008
HAT TRICK JOY FOR BADGERS	For full match reports, visit the Ollerton and Eastwood websites. For further match details & more pictures, click here.
Eastwood Town have retained the Notts F.A. Senior Cup for a third consecutive season. The Badgers eased to a 2-0 win over plucky CML Premier Champions, Ollerton Town, with an early brace from Matt Rhead. It says a lot of the game in that the Man-of-the-Match was Ollerton Keeper, Shaun Morris, who kept the score at a respectable level. Eastwood Town boss Paul Cox commented, "To finish the season winning two cups and reaching the play-offs means it has been really successful and we now want to take this club to a different level". Ollerton Manager Don Gethfield was delighted with the fight his young side showed and the magnificent support for his team, "It was a fantastic day for the fans and they were terrific, as was everyone at the club." It's 28 years since the last club completed a hat- trick. The last club? Eastwood Town. 15 May 2008
DRAMATIC SEASON FOR COUNTY TRIO	Read more about this story on the thisisnottingham & various Forest websites.
It's been a tail of joy and despair for our professional this season. Forest completed an unlikely final day return to the Championship with a 3-2 over Yeovil, despite having been eleven points adrift of second spot just five weeks ago. Notts County ensured that they remained the world's oldest league club, narrowly avoiding relegation to the Conference. Mansfield Town were not as fortunate however, dropping out of the Football League for the first time since their election in 1931. 5 May 2008
ROLLS RAIN IN COUNTY CUP BATTLE	Read more about the Intermediate Cup Final on the Notts F.A. and Hucknall Rolls Leisure websites. Click here for more pictures.
Hucknall Rolls Leisure rounded off a sensational season by capturing the Notts F.A. Intermediate County Cup on penalties at Hucknall Town last night. In a pulsating tie, played in torrential rain throughout the second half, Leisure edged Notts Police out 4-2 on penalties after the game had finished at 2-2. Leisure set the pace in the first half, taking a 2-0 lead into the break. However, as the conditions worsened, Leisure's neat passing football struggled to yield results, and Police fought their way back into it, taking the tie into extra time. Both sides were a credit to the non-pyramid Notts Senior League, giving it everything in extra time to find a winner. However, it was Leisure who held their nerve in the shoot out, as Police missed their first two, whilst Leisure tucked all of theirs away, to completed a remarkable League & Cup double in their debut season. 1 May 2008
VALLEY WORK BACK ON	YOU can keep track of developments on the Eagle valley website.
Work is set to restart on Arnold Town's Eagle Valley Stadium after a five week hold up. Gedling Borough Council issued a temporary stop notice after development plans were changed without permission. After the re-positioning the clubhouse in their application the club has been told it can continue work. Committee chairman John Boot told the Nottingham Evening Post: "The club got permission to build at the east end of the site but they started building in the middle. Given the significance of the site that was a mistake". During the pause in construction, work has continued on the seeding of the pitches and the club believe that the final delay will be minimal. Meanwhile, the demolition of their Gedling Road ground will commence on April 28th. 22 April 2008
TOP CLASS LADIES	For more on this story visit the NFLFC website
Lisa Dawkins' Nottingham Forest Ladies have been promoted to the National Premier League. The Reds beat Sheffield Wednesday 5-1 on Sunday to take the Northern Premiership Title, as Lincoln lost away to Sunderland. It's a major achievement for the Reds, given that they were only promoted to the Northern Premier four years ago. The opportunity to pit their wits against the countries finest ladies teams is most certainly deserved, having gone through the entire league campaign unbeaten. 22 April 2008
SIEMENS SHIP OUT AS HUCKNALL ROLLS UP	Visit the Rolls Leisure website for more photos and reaction
Hucknall Rolls Leisure, in their inaugural season, have been promoted to the NSL Senior Division. Promotion was confirmed following nearest rivals Matrixgrade's lost to Bilborough Pelican Res. It has been a phenomenal season for Leisure, who were formed out of the ashes of the now defunct Bestwood Miners Welfare. Not only have they remained unbeaten all season, but they have also reached the final of the Notts F.A. Intermediate Cup Final. They will replace Beeston-based Siemens, who's relegation was confirmed on Saturday following a 2-1 defeat to Caribbean Cavaliers 17 April 2008

EAGLES FLY OUT OF GEDLING ROAD	Visit the Eagle Valley website for up-to-date development news.
The long running saga of Arnold town's tenure at the King George V Recreation Ground has finally come to an end on Saturday - 54 years after it all began. In an emotion day for all connected with the club, the Eagles bid farewell with a 1-1 draw with Selby in front of their biggest league attendance since 2000, 233. The Eagles finest achievements occurred at their Gedling Road home, including two appearances in the FA Cup First Round. In 1967-68 they were defeated by Bristol Rovers in front of a crowd of 3,390 and in 1977-78 Port Vale were the victors after a replay. Another key event in the history of the ground was the record 10-1 victory over Denaby in October 1994 – Chris Freestone, who moved on to Middlesbrough, scoring an incredible seven times. The Eagles expect to be moving into their new home, Eagle Valley, in time for the start of the 2008/09 season. 16 April 2008
KING CAVS	Visit the Cavaliers website to watch a unique video package of their victorious day out at the ROKO Sports ground
Caribbean Cavaliers have cruised to the 2007/08 Notts Senior League Championship - breaking a trio of records along the way. Cavs dominated the NSL from start to finish, and despite some stiff resistance from Keyworth, captured the title with a game to spare with a 3-2 win at Magdala. They also record points tally, 11 straight wins and an unmatched 24-game unbeaten run. Cavs will now be hoping to complete a League and Cup double when they face Ruddington United in the NSL League Cup next Tuesday. 11 April 2008
LIONS HEARTS	Visit the Eastwood Town for an in depth match report.
A heartbreaking penalty defeat to Eastwood Town denied courageous Carlton Town in a place in this seasons Notts F.A. Senior County Cup Final. A drab first half, saw the scores level, with Unibond South Carlton easily matching their Unibond Premier neighbours. Eastwood took the lead early in the second half, but the Lions of Carlton refused to buckle, forcing an equalizer and pressing hard for a winner in regulation time. however, the scores remained 1-1 after extra time, with Lindon Meikle placing the winning penalty for Eastwood. The Badgers will now be hot favourites to defend their trophy when they meet Ollerton Town at Meadow Lane on Wednesday 7 May. 10 April 2008
70 YEAR WAIT OVER	Up for the Cup: Ollerton Town Visit the Ollerton Town for an in depth match report.
Ollerton Town are through to the Notts F.A. Senior County Cup Final having beaten Gedling Miners Welfare 3-2 at Plains Road last night. Two late goals made the score look more respectable for favourites Welfare, but Town thoroughly deserved all the accolades. It will be the club's first appearance since they won the competition in 1938 as Ollerton Colliery. Joint manager David Kent, who acclaimed his side's achievement after the match as something for the whole town of Ollerton, enthused: "I don't mind who we meet in the final – we will go and enjoy the occasion and hope, whatever the result, to do the town and the Central Midlands League proud. 9 April 2008
BITTER/SWEET FOR CHAMPION BADGERS	For more on this story, visit the Badger's and Unibond League websites
Retford United are Unibond Northern League Division One Champions - but they will not be promoted to the Unibond Premier. A typical 5-1 demolition of Alsager Town confirmed their status as Champions, having opened up a 17-point gap on their nearest rivals, Cammill Laird. Disappointing, the rapid progression of the club on the pitch hasn't quite been matched off the field. When Retford joined the League at the start of the current season they were accepted with an “E” Grade on the proviso that their Cannon Park home would be “D” grade by 31st March 2008. Sadly, the grading was not achieved by the deadline and the League were left with no option than to deny Retford United promotion. On a brighter note, subject to providing written assurances, the League have allowed the Badgers more time to complete outstanding ground improvements in order to defend their crown in the Unibond South next season. 6 April 2008
EMCP - A STEP CLOSER	To locate the current applicants (in purple) and present CML sides (in green) click here
Nine Nottinghamshire clubs have applied to join the new East Midlands Counties Premier League. The new Step 6 league, which will be governed initially by the Step 7 CML (which itself will split into north and south leagues), will feed into the Northern Counties East League. Applications have been submitted from current members of the Leics Senior League and CML. The Notts applicants are: Blidworth MW, Clipstone Welfare, Dunkirk, Forest Town, Gedling MW, Radford, Newark Town, Sutton Town & Greenwood Meadows. Some local clubs are unlikely to make it as they are struggling to meet grading requirements. These include floodlights, a 50-seater stand, dugouts to accommodate eight, separate walkway from changing to pitch for players, hard-standing all the way round the ground, turnstiles and an enclosed facility. The league is set to be launched in May. 1 April 2008
BULLS BOUND FOR CML	The Bulls are looking to recruit new personnel for the forthcoming season. Should you be interested contact the club through the to link their website here
Bulwell Town have confirmed that they will be entering both a first and second team into the newly structured Central Midlands League from next season. This will be the Bulls first journey on the Football Association ladder who were founded by club President, James Duffy in 2001. Their Goosedale Sports Ground is situated in an exposed, yet idyllic location, on the B683 between Papplewick and Bestwood Village. Facilities include a clubhouse, changing rooms, showers, and separate match day official changing facilities. The CML is set to split into North & South Divisions in 2008/09, as the F.A. yet again reshuffle the footballing pyramid. No known other new Notts sides have yet expressed an interest in joining the newly structured CML. 1 April 2008
MINNOWS GET THEIR CHANCE	Visit the Notts Senior Cup page for all the stats & the Club's websites for reaction. Visit here for competitions winners since 1883.
CML representatives Gedling Miners Welfare and Ollerton Town will do battle for a place in this season's Notts F.A. Senior Cup Final. The two sides defied the odds in disposing of NCEL representatives Arnold Town and Gedling Town respectively in the previous round and have been rewarded with the chance to play at Meadow Lane, the home of the worlds oldest league club, Notts County. Carlton Town will host competition favourites, Eastwood Town, in the other Semi-final. 21 March 2008
EAGLES HAVE THEIR WINGS CLIPPED	Visit the Notts Senior Cup page for all the stats & the Club's websites for reaction.
All the glory belonged to the Central Midlands League in last night's Notts F.A. Senior Cup Quarter Final ties. Gedling Miners Welfare caused the shock of the night, dumping out near neighbours, and last years finalists, Arnold Town, 4-1 at Gedling Road. Fellow CML representatives, Ollerton Town, recorded an impressive 2-0 win at Gedling Town. Competition favourites Eastwood Town are on course for yet another Notts F.A.Senior Cup Final, with the Badgers edging out Hucknall Town 1-0 at Watnall Road. 5 March 2008
FIRST TIMERS IN CUP FINALE	Visit the Notts Intermediate Cup page for all the stats.
Notts Police and Hucknall Rolls Leisure will contest the 89th Notts F.A. Intermediate Cup Final - a first for both clubs. In their inaugural season, Leisure made short work of dispatching of NAA side, Ashland Rovers 4-0 in their Semi-Final. Meanwhile, Police coasted to an equally impressive 4-1 win at Underwood Villa. The Final should see plenty of goals, with the two sides having scored an astonishing 39 goals between them in the previous five rounds. 2 March 2008
EAGLE VALLEY ON TRACK FOR AUGUST 08	Read more about this story on the thisisnottingham website. Additionally, you can keep track of development s on the Eagle valley website.
With landscaping and planning work almost completed, Arnold Town will this month press ahead with building work at Eagle Valley. The £1.6m project is on schedule to be completed in time for the start of the 2008/09 season. The 3000 capacity stadium will be home to 31 teams over 11 pitches, emphasising the importance of the project to the local community, not just the first team. However, Chairman Roy Francis offered a note of caution, given the seemingly never-ending saga of the move, "Everything is going to plan at the moment but we have had hold-ups in the past so we can't assume it won't happen again," He added, "but at the moment it is all going exceptionally well. The whole club will now be in one site, that is the main advantage." 1 March 2008