It doesn’t seem all that long since the football season actually finished and already pre-season fixtures have been announced, signings have been made, and, cup draws have been announced.

Yes, cup draws, this weekend having seen the opening round of Toolstation Northern Counties East League JCP Construction League Cup being made, and with it, the involvement of three, Nottinghamshire clubs.

Only two clubs from the county have won the NCEL League Cup in the past, Hucknall Town were three times winners in their heady days of the nineties (1994, 1997, and 1998), whilst Worksop Town lifted the cup just a few years back, in 2019.

Now, the focus falls on the triumvirate of Retford, Ollerton Town, and league newcomers, Retford United, to progress in the upcoming, 2023/24 edition.

Chris Woodhead’s Choughs side, having been knocked early last season, will be hoping for a better run of things when they start again in a few months’ time; having finished seventh in league last time out, Retford will have a 45 mile roundtrip to Rotherham, and a Swallownest side that finished second bottom in the league.

Ollerton Town meanwhile, they’ve endured a tough run of late, although still managed a mid-table, 13^th place finish, and a third round league cup showing; new, co-management pairing, Craig Collins and Tom Chambers, will be looking to steady a rocky ship, quickly, and have a favourable, home draw when they welcome league newcomers, Wombwell Town.

Based in Barnsley, Wombwell finished in fifth place in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division last time out, they’ll face a 73 mile round-trip to get their cup campaign up-and-running.

Meanwhile, Ryan Hindley’s Retford United side ran away with the Central Midlands League Premier North title last season, and are very much looking forward to a return to the NCEL; their reward for promotion, an opening round, 92 mile roundtrip, to North Yorkshire, and a Selby Town side who finished a credible tenth in the league last time around.

The Badgers are one of several newcomers to Division One for the new season and, alongside the promotion of Wombwell, they’ve also been joined by Yorkshire Amateurs, relegated from the Premier Division, as well as two other, promoted sides in Clay Cross Town, from the Central Midlands League Premier South, and Louth Town, if the Lincolnshire League.

Alongside the opening round draw of the League Cup, the NCEL also put forth its league constitution for the upcoming, 2023/24 campaign, Division One (Notts clubs capitalised) being as follows –

Armthorpe Welfare, Athersley Recreation, Beverley Town, Brigg Town, Clay Cross Town, Dronfield Town, Glasshoughton Welfare, Harrogate Railway Athletic, Horbury Town, Louth Town, Nostell Miners Welfare, OLLERTON TOWN, Parkgate, RETFORD, RETFORD UNITED, Selby Town, Shirebrook Town, Staveley Miners Welfare, Swallownest, Wakefield, Wombwell Town, Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, Yorkshire Amateurs.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @OllertonTownCFC Walesby Road Ollerton will host both Retford clubs next season.