At the fourth time of asking, the Central Midlands League will finally run it’s post-season, Chairman’s Cup competition, with just the four groups of three apiece (twelve entrants in total) now taking part.

The group stage will see each club play home, and away, matches between that of Saturday 24 April and Saturday 15 May, after which the top two in each of the groups will progress to the quarter-finals, whilst the four bottom clubs will contest the semi-finals of the League Plate competition.

As for the Champion’s Cup itself, the following four groups have been drawn –

• Group A – AFC Bentley, AFC Phoenix, Crowle Colts
• Group B – Dinnington Town, Newark Town, Retford United
• Group C – Clay Cross Town, Nottingham, Underwood Villa
• Group D – Holbrook St. Michaels, Mickleover Sports, Rowsley 86

League statements over the past 72hrs or so, have stated that:

“Games will be played over six match-days (four Saturday’s and two midweeks.)….

“Quarter-finals and semi-finals will be spaced out to attract spectators. Hopefully…..

“This is the fourth and final set of fixtures, the delay and changes are due to clubs making last-minute decisions about playing. This has been set up for clubs who want to play games, so no further changes will be made, no more withdrawals permitted. Should this happen, the competition will be abandoned immediately.”

Whilst in their ‘quick guide’ and concerning the knockout phase itself, the Central Midlands League added:

“Finals venue(s) to be selected from clubs playing in the competition.

“Quarter-finals onward will be from 17 May, so should be in front of spectators. So the plan is to play them across four evenings, Monday 17 May to Thursday 20 May.

“That will give all home clubs an exciting Cup match and an extra payday.

“Semi-finals on Saturday 22 May (some say this is too soon after last quarter-final, but we’ve used Thursday for midweeks for last three seasons).

“Final on Saturday 29 May with Plate final same day but KOs staggered.”

The opening rounds of matches in the Central Midlands Chairman’s Cup will see four games on Saturday (24), one Tuesday (27) and three Wednesday (28), with the following taking place –

Saturday 24 April

• Group A – AFC Bentley vs. Crowle Colts
• Group B – Retford United vs. Newark Town
• Group C- Clay Cross Town vs. Underwood Villa
• Group D – Holbrook St. Michaels vs. Mickleover Sports

Tuesday 27 April

• Group B – Dinnington Town vs. Retford United

Wednesday 28 April

• Group A – Crowle Colts vs. AFC Phoenix
• Group C – Underwood Villa vs. Nottingham
• Group D – Rowsley 86 vs. Holbrook St. Michaels

Keep up-to-date with the Central Midlands League, via their website here.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @RetfordUnited a Notts derby kicks off the competition as Retford United take on Newark Town.