Saturday 21st March 2026 ko 15:00

United Counties League Division One

RETFORD UNITED 4 (Kolodynski 26 Duggan 44 Wilson 70 Allwood 90+6)

STAPLEFORD TOWN 0

Att 158

Entry £6

Programme £2

After the trials and tribulations of the Scottish Hop it speaks volumes that a 2 and a half hour drive represented straightforward! Ever since I’d visited Retford United’s great rivals Retford FC, it seemed daft that I’d not visited the ground on the edge of the town. And will all due respect to both clubs, it is Retford United who have the longer history.

This incarnation of the club dates from 1987, bur were formed to replace Retford Town who’d scratched from the Northern Counties East 3 years earlier. The club started in the Gainsborough & District League but joined the Notts Alliance the following season. They were promoted to the Central Midlands League in 2001 and in 2004 were elevated to the Northern Counties East. 3 consecutive promotions saw them reach a high point, playing in the Northern Premier League Premier Division having been promoted six times in 9 years!

Sadly that was as good as its got for United thus far.  The 2010–11 season saw them finish bottom and were relegated to the Northern Premier League Division One South. Financial issues saw them opt to take voluntary relegation from the Northern Premier League back to the Northern Counties East where they again won the title in the 2011–12 but turned down promotion on financial grounds. Worse was to follow in 2018 when United were relegated from down to the Step 7 Central Midlands League.

Thankfully their stint there was to be only 1 season, and the club have played in the Northern Counties East Division One, or the UCL Division One ever since. That history does give a trip to Cannon Park the feel of watching a game at a far higher level. Or putting it another way, I’d been looking for an easy afternoon out and I certainly got that here.

I’d seen Stapleford last year, and they looked a good side then but were blown away by a Retford United side, in the midst of a promotion tilt. The only fly in the ointment was who they were chasing top spot with… yes, Retford FC! History will show that FC won the title, with United following up though the playoffs with both moving laterally to the Nortjh. If nothing else the local derby will still be in place….