UP NEXT, Attention turns to our fourth different cup competition of the season as we host Clifton All Whites in the first round of the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup. With an opportunity to be in the hat to face Notts County B or Nottingham Forest u21’s amongst others in the next round, both teams will see this as a great chance for a big second round draw.

After securing passage into the next round of the league cup at the weekend, albeit narrowly, with a 91st minute winner, the miners head into this match with confidence of progressing.

Clifton head into the match on the back of a first win in six matches after a solid home win over Sandiacre Town.

Kimberleys last match saw them take a ninety odd mile trip East to Wisbech Town in the United Counties League Cup. Despite dominating the early exchanges, Kimberley found themselves behind after twenty one minutes after a good piece of play down the left saw the Wisbech striker squeeze the ball past goalkeeper Tom Smith from ten yards out. Kimberley equalised on the half hour mark as captain Ryan Wheatley found himself unmarked at the back post after a Nat Peters free kick was floated into the box. Just a minute later, substitute Kai Wilson, on for the injured Ben Morley after just ten minutes, finished coolly from the edge of the box after a cut back from Paul Johnson. Wisbech levelled on sixty six minutes through the same player, again after some good work down the left. With time ticking away, cometh the hour, cometh the man. A long ball upfield from Tom Smith was headed backwards by a Wisbech player, for Josh Timson to pounce and fire in from ten yards out, across the goalkeeper to take the win and spark wild celebrations, joined by Ant Ward doing a Mourinho, sprinting along the touchline to join in with the lads.

Clifton’s last match was a 6-3 home victory in the league over Sandiacre Town, who have lost every match they’ve played so far this season. With the score at 2-2 at half time, Clifton turned the screw in the second half finishing with goals from Cal Dunkley and Greg Tempest, followed by Alex Li, a second for Tempest and a brace from Tyreace Palmer. Sandiacre answered with a goal from Tristan Elson and two from Ryan Baker, completing an expected win for Clifton.

Both teams will look to take the win and progress into the next round of the cup.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The two sides met in a preseason friendly in the summer. With nothing riding on it, the game finished 1-1.

The last competitive meeting between the two sides was two years ago in the league cup. With none of the current squad featuring in the match, Kimberley ran out 5-2 winners at Clifton with goals from Nathan Banton, Sam Brown, Tom Jones (2) and James Shaw. Sam Leggitt and Issa Gaye scored the goals for Clifton.

Two more wins for Kimberley came in their championship winning 2021-22 season. 2-1 at Clifton and 3-0 at the Stag Ground

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Clifton All Whites was founded in 1963, originally under the name of Thistledown Rovers. The club's founder members included Dick Lambert, Ivor Ekrem and Bill Norwell.
. During the 1960s and 1970s Clifton All Whites dominated youth football in Nottinghamshire by attracting the best players from all over the county, now most players are local. In 1963 there were only four teams in the Young Elizabethan League, and as the club developed, more teams and clubs were founded, many with advice and help from Clifton All Whites. By 1964 plans were underway for Clifton All Whites to test their skills abroad in a Dutch Tournament to be held at the end of the 1964/65 Season. Overseas tours at the time were rare.
In the early days when football clubs only usually supplied shirts for their players a new standard was set as Clifton All Whites supplied a full strip. Another first was when the under 12's played a top Scottish team before a crowd of over 20,000 before a First Division match between Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.
Professional clubs attempted to persuade Clifton All Whites to become a nursery club, but still the club policy is not to become tied to any one club. David Staniforth was the first player to make a career as a professional footballer, with Sheffield United.
Clifton All Whites performed well in FA Youth Cup games and eventually gained their own ground. In 1973 the club ventured out of youth football to senior football and joined the Midland League. Mick Walker was the first club manager and coach. He later served as manager of Notts County. The club resigned from the Midland League partway through the 1977-78 season.
During the 1990s the club played in the Nottinghamshire Alliance and later joined the Nottinghamshire Senior League. In 2010 Clifton joined the Central Midlands League South Division and continued to play in that division. In 2013-14 Clifton won the South Division championship. After returning to the Nottinghamshire Senior League, they became Champions in the 2016/17 season and were admitted to the East Midlands Counties League of which they finished in 12th place in the 2017/18 season.
A number of professional footballers have at one time played for Clifton. Amongst them are Garry Birtles, Jermaine Jenas and Darren Huckerby.

Honours
2005/06 League Cup Senior Section - Winners
2009/10 Notts Senior League - League Champions
2011/12 Central Midlands League Cup - Runners Up
2012/13 Central Midlands League Cup - Winners
2013/14 Central Midlands League - Winners
2016/17 Notts Senior League - League Champions

MATCH SPONSOR

The match has been very kindly sponsored by No Sweat, No Excuses - Personal Trainer. Please take a look at her Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/AllSweatnoexcuses

FINALLY

Both sides will head into the game in a desperate search of a morale building victory, having endured a difficult start to the season. Kimberley will see this as a chance to continue their turnaround. Clifton will see this as a free hit against higher division opposition. An exciting game will be in prospect.

Admission prices are as follows

Adults £7 Concessions £4, tinder 16’s free with a paying adult

Please come along and support the lads