UP NEXT, After a fortnight of cup matches, attention turns to the league as Kimberley Miners Welfare welcomes Shirebrook Town to the Stag Ground in a must win match for both teams.

Shirebrook will make a twenty one mile trip up the M1 without a win since August and sit second bottom in the league, level on points with Kimberley, but with a inferior goal difference and having played a game more.

Both teams will see this match as a chance to turnaround a recent poor run of form, although Shirebrook have been scoring goals in their recent matches, unlike today's hosts, who have struck out on their last four occasions.

Kimberley’s last match was a 3-0 home defeat to Skegness Town in the FA Vase last weekend.

Shirebrook played earlier this week, when they hosted Heanor Town under the lights. Goals from Sam Brown, Sacha Markelic and Carl Demidh wrapped up a very comfortable 3-0 win for Heanor.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

The club was founded as Shirebrook Colliery, and joined the Central Midlands League. In 1985–86 they won the Senior Division, and were promoted to Division One. In their first season in Division One, they finished second, and were promoted to the Premier Division.

In 1993 the club changed its name to Shirebrook Town. They won the Supreme Division of the Central Midlands League in 2000–01, but were not promoted due to ground grading issues. The following season they won the league again, and this time were promoted to the First Division of the Northern Counties East League. After finishing as runners-up in their first season, they were not promoted due to ground issues. However, the following season (2003–04) they won Division One, and were promoted to the Premier Division, where they remained until 2010.

The club was relegated back to Division One at the end of the 2009–10 season.

After spending most of the 2010–11 and 2011–12 season in the middle part of the table former player Gary Castledine was appointed manager after former manager Micky Taylor left the club to take over at newly formed club AFC Mansfield. However Gary's reign did not last long and after 10 games of three wins and seven losses he was sacked by the club and replaced by formed Sheffield F.C. manager Mark Shaw, who managed to guide the club to a respectable 6th position however during the close season Mark left to take over at Evo-Stick side Worksop Town.

Honours
Northern Counties East Football League Cup - Runners-up 2011–12
Northern Counties East Football League Trophy - Runners-up 2011–12

FINALLY

Both sides will be looking for a much needed win to kick start a recovery, with a couple of wins being enough to push either side up the table

Admission prices are as follows

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

Please come along and support the lads