This weekend offered a first taste back for many local grassroots football clubs as the comeback following lockdown that has seen sport stalled since the start of 2021 finally allowed amateur footballers far and wide from across the county to get back to doing what they enjoy the most… Playing football.

With many league competitions disbanded, some clubs have decided to merge together and combine their efforts for smaller independent tournaments that will see the continuation of football through the summer months, others have drastically changed their league competition for smaller cup KO tournaments whilst there’s still those playing friendlies, just for the sake of finally being able to get a game.

Junior football has been at the forefront of the comeback with games taking place from as early as last weekend whilst Dunkirk & Basford United U16’s were a couple of the first of the elder teams to play, doing friendly battle on Thursday night at the Ron Steel Sports Ground with the Boatmen winning 2-1.

Basford’s under 15’s were also in action on Saturday at home to Telford United in a game that ended 1-1 whilst a full programme of YEL games included a 13-2 win for Sherwood Colliery U14’s over Codnor Boys and 11-0 win for Cropwell Youth U13’s over Long Eaton United White and a good old fashioned 0-0 between Ilkeston & Eastwood under twelves.

Up north, Retford United were one of the first senior teams to play a competitive friendly, enjoying a 5-1 win over Epworth on Thursday night, whilst cross-town Retford FC Ladies enjoyed a 3-1 friendly win against Newark Town Ladies at the Rail Ground yesterday and on the same day, Sunday League Football returned with a big win for Clumber FC over Hucknall Town (7-1) and a thrilling encounter between QA and FC Basford which ended 5-4 whilst Stratford Haven beat Fort Notts 3-2 all in the Premier Division.

The Notts Sunday League has restarted its competition with fixtures currently pencilled in until May, whilst the NSL is organising a cup competition that involves the majority of its member clubs which starts this Saturday.

Some Notts Senior League sides were also in friendly action preparing for next weeks cup competitions with Rushcliffe FC losing 3-1 to Cotgrave Reserves whilst their own Reserves were beaten 1-0 by Cranmers. Bingham Town beat Underwood Villa 2-0 with goals from Jake Hardy and Tom Spencer whilst Aslockton & Orston beat Woodthorpe 4-1 with two goals from Ryan Bartello and one each from Cav Robb and Pierce Hallam.

Finally the East Midlands Veterans League saw plenty of games yesterday afternoon with Teversal Vets beating Newark Vets 4-0 and Kimberley Miners Welfare Vets beating Nottinghamshire Vets 7-0 amongst others.

And despite a heavy 7-2 defeat against Salutation FC who had Danny Gaunt score a hat-trick, our very own Nottingham Sport Editor Danny Peacock, 42 years young, got on the scoresheet for Wilford FC in their first game back in 2021.

No matter what the result, how you performed, just being out and playing the beautiful game with friends and team-mates is a pleasure in itself. Long may it continue and here’s to more next week.

*Main image @Retford_FC action between Retford Ladies and Newark Town Women as football returns for all.