PREVIEW | HOLWELL SPORTS VS KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE

ATTENTION TURNS TO THE FA VASE FOR THE FIRST MATCH OF THE BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

UP NEXT, the miners are away on the outskirts of Melton Mowbray as they travel to face Holwell Sports in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase in a welcome break from league action in the first of two matches in three days over the bank holiday weekend.

After a much improved performance last weekend, Kimberley will want to progress further in the FA Vase with victory against Holwell and break a poor run of form. Holwell will see this match as a chance to gain the scalp of a team from a higher division. After a great win last weekend in the United Counties Division One, the yellow and greens will see higher division Kimberley as a good opportunity for progression themselves in the cup.

Last weekend saw Kimberley take the short trip to Coronation Park in Eastwood, where they faced high flying Belper United. Belper opened the scoring after being given an early penalty as their striker was brought down in the box. Just ten minutes later, Lewis Weaver equalised after some good work from Ben Morley, Josh Timson and Kai Moore to set him up. Belper retook the lead just five minutes later and doubled their lead to take the score at half time to 3-1 to the hosts. Kimberley were more on the front foot in the second half and were rewarded on 58 minutes as Ben Morley sent Lewis Weaver through to bag his second of the game. Kimberley kept pushing, but were unable to add to their tally, narrowly losing the match 3-2.

Holwell Sports’ last match saw them travel to Radford. Youssef Abouraia and Jozsef Keaveny took Holwell into half time at 2-0. Keaveny bagged his second just five minutes into the second half. Radford pulled two goals back, but it wasn’t enough to stop Holwell claiming the victory.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The two sides last met in Kimberley’s championship season in 2021-22, when they won the United Counties League Division One. a 7-1 victory at the Stag Ground in February 2022 was wrapped up with goals from Aaron Coyle, Luis Rose (2), Sacha Markelic (2), Bijan Pakrouz and Ben Sandhu, with Holwell’s consolation coming from Scott Mooney.

The earlier fixture at Holwell was right at the start of the season in August. The miners were 2-0 up at half time with goals from Adam Morley and Luis Rose. Rose bagged his second on the hour, with Holwell substitutes, Ian Bitmead and Lamin Conteh scoring towards the end of the match.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Holwell Sports FC was established in 1902 as Holwell Works. They joined the Leicester & District League, and were league champions in 1907–08. After winning the league again the following season, the club moved up to the Leicestershire Senior League. In 1911–12 they won the Leicestershire Senior League title. At the end of the following season the club transferred to the Central Alliance. However, in their first season in the Alliance they finished bottom of the league and resigned.

Holwell subsequently played in the Melton Mowbray & District Amateur League. After winning the league in 1933–34, the club rejoined the re-established Leicestershire Senior League, the league having folded at the end of the 1929–30 season. In 1946 they were placed in the Central Division. An eleventh-place finish in 1947–48 saw them earn a place in Division One for the 1948–49 season. However, the club finished bottom of the table and were relegated to Division Two. Despite only finishing seventh in Division Two in 1949–50, they were promoted back to Division One at the first attempt.

In 1954–55 Holwell were Division One runners-up. They were runners-up again in 1957–58, but after finishing second-from-bottom in 1961–62, the club were relegated to Division Two. This began a period of yo-yoing between the divisions as they were promoted back to Division One at the end of the 1962–63 season, then relegated the following season. The club were promoted back to Division One again in 1965–66, but relegated back to Division Two again two seasons later. In 1976 the club left the league, returning to the Leicester & District League. After finishing as runners-up in 1978–79 they rejoined Division Two of the Senior League.

Holwell were Division Two runners-up in 1981–82, earning promotion to Division One., which was renamed the Premier Division in 1983. They were relegated back to the (renamed) Division One after finishing bottom of the Premier Division in 1983–84, but won Division One at the first attempt to ensure an immediate return to the Premier Division. In 1987–88 the club won the Premier Division title, and at the end of the season were renamed Holwell Sports.[5] Under the new name, they won back-to-back Premier Division titles in 1991–92 and 1992–93. They were runners-up in 2000–01 and 2004–05,[6] and won the League Cup in 2005–06. In 2008 the club were founder members of the East Midlands Counties League.

At the end of the 2017–18 season, Holwell were transferred to Division One of the United Counties League.

Honours
Leicestershire Senior League
Premier Division champions 1911–12, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93
Division One champions 1984–85
League Cup winners 2005–06

Leicester & District League
Champions 1907–08, 1908–09

Melton Mowbray & District Amateur League
Champions 1933–34

Leicestershire and Rutland Senior Cup
Winners 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58

Best FA Vase performance - Third round, 2013–14

FINALLY

Both sides will welcome a change from the league as they look to progress in the FA Vase. With both in patchy form, they will see the match as an opportunity to get a valuable victory as they face league opposition just two days later over the bank holiday weekend.

Admission prices are as follows

Adults £5
Concessions £3

Please come along and support the lads