As the football season is just around the corner, the opening week of fixtures in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League, and the draw for the Preliminary Round of the Uhlsport United Counties League’s, Kingfisher Lighting League Knock-Out Cup competition, have now been released.

In the former, the Northern Counties East League, the upcoming seasons’ Division One will see three clubs representing Nottinghamshire, following the promotion of Retford United, they joining that of Retford, and nearby Ollerton Town, a little over ten miles south.

The opening Saturday of the 2023/24 season has Chris Woodhead’s Retford on the road, as the Choughs make the near two hour, 68-mile round trip, to Brigg Town; Ollerton Town, now manager by the pairing of Tom Chambers and Craig Collins (interviews coming soon), welcome last season’s Central Midlands League South champions, Clay Cross Town, to Walesby Lane; and the newly promoted Retford United, ably led by Ryan Hindley, have their first game back in the NCEL, hosting Wakefield at Cannon Park.

The Tuesday night, will see the first, Notts derby of the season as Ollerton make the short trip to Retford, and The Rail, as Chris Woodhead’s side host the first, local dust-up of the season and, on the same night, Retford United have their first away game when they make the trip to Dronfield Town.

Opening week fixtures for Notts clubs (in bold) –

Saturday 29 July Brigg Town vs. Retford; Ollerton Town vs. Clay Cross Town, Retford United vs. Wakefield

Tuesday 1 August Dronfield Town vs. Retford United, Retford vs. Ollerton Town

(The full fixture list for the NCEL Premier and Division One, is expected as soon as possible, after Tuesday 5 July)

In the latter of the two, afore-mentioned leagues, and scheduled to take place in early September, Nottinghamshire-based clubs know who their opponents will be in the opening round of the KO Cup, and there’s three, local derbies with which to enjoy as well.

Concerning those derby matches, Newark Town will hosts Hucknall Town, Eastwood CFC entertain Selston, and Rainworth Miners Welfare have Sherwood Colliery as visitors; of the remaining ties, six Notts clubs have been drawn at home, and four are on the road.

Radford will welcome Barrow Town to Selhurst Street, Dunkirk take on Lutterworth Athletic at Lenton Lane, Clifton All Whites entertain Cogenhoe United at Green Lane, St. Neots Town make the trip to Clipstone’s Lido Ground, Ashby Wivenhoe head to AFC Mansfield, and Forest Town, and Wisbech Town are the visitors of Kimberley Miners Welfare, when they head to The Stag.

Of the other Notts clubs in the draw there are away days for West Bridgford (at Leicester St. Andrews), Newark & Sherwood United (at Eynesbury Rovers), Gedling Miners Welfare (at Easington Sports), and Southwell City (Holwell Sports).

UCL Kingfisher Lighting KO Cup Preliminary Round, for Notts clubs (in bold) –

Radford vs. Barrow Town; Leicester St. Andrews vs. West Bridgford; Newark Town vs. Hucknall Town; Eynesbury Rovers vs. Newark & Sherwood United; Easington Sports vs. Gedling Miners Welfare; Eastwood CFC vs. Selston; Rainworth Miners Welfare vs. Sherwood Colliery; Dunkirk vs. Lutterworth Athletic; Clifton All Whites vs. Cogenhoe United; Clipstone vs. St. Neots Town; AFC Mansfield vs. Ashby Wivenhoe; Holwell Sports vs. Southwell City; Kimberley Miners Welfare vs. Wisbech Town

Keep up-to-date with both leagues via their respective websites, NCEL here and the UCL here.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @RetfordUnited a home fixture against Wakefield will kick off Retford United’s campaign.