Following another of the realignments by the Football Association, two of Nottinghamshire’s finest, both in the same town as well, were laterally moved during the summer, Retford United and Retford being moved from the Northern Counties Eastern League Division One, to the United Counties League Division One.
Here the Nottingham Sport catches up with Choughs supremo, Chris Woodhead, who, after seeing his side finish mid-table in the NCEL One last time around, has witnessed his new-look charges start this season well, sitting sixth heading into a home FA Vase 2QR clash with Glossop North End, with seven wins and two draws from their eleven outings thus far.
Last season however, it was perhaps one to forget, certainly long-since resigned to the history books for the Choughs boss.
“It was a poor one for us,” admitted Woody.
“We had no regular, first choice ‘keeper, and that is something which really cost us.
“It was also a rebuild for us as well, and we’ve been adding some new face, a bit like we have just done this past summer – and there’s been some redevelopment going on at the Rail.
“This though (the lateral movement), it came completely out of the blue.
“I’d seen a few posts, here-and-there, on social media, then, the day before the official announcement, we found out that the rumours were true.
“There’s some great sides in this league though, but I do feel we’ve made it a stronger division.”
Defeats to Rainworth Miners Welfare, and in their last outing, to Blackstones, have put a little dampener to a start in what is a top-heavy, Notts division, as well as high-scoring draws with Clay Cross Town and Southwell City (both 3-3), however, progressing in all three cup competitions have certainly helped brighten the mood at the Rail.
Over a four-week spell through mid-August to early-September has seen the Choughs at their free-scoring best, registering seventeen goals over five matches and which included a 5-1 success at Coalville Town (Liam Bennett with a second-half brace), 3-1 at Rossington Main in the Vase (Aaron Sennett-Nielsen amongst the scorers), defeating March Town by the same in the UCL Cup (Ainsley Finney netting), before recently ousting AFC Mansfield, 2-1 at home in the Notts FA Senior Cup.
“The standard in this league is rather similar to that of the NCEL,” admitted Woody.
“Although yes, it is a little top-heavy with Notts clubs, to which a few will be in the mix come the seasons end, I’m sure.
“The aim though is to get promoted and, although the play-offs is the aim, we would like to win the division.
“We’ve signed some good players that’ll make a huge difference for us, so, we just need to get things sorted on the pitch, then see what happens.”
Like their neighbours, Retford United, Retford are certainly finding goals easy to come by, their twenty-eight in eleven being spread among a dozen players; Declan Bacon, Scott Boden and Ainsley Finney have bagged four apiece thus far, and they’re chased by the pairing of Liam Bennett and Steven Wankiewicz, both on three each.
“Having beaten March Town (UCL Cup) and Rossington in the Vase, those results show we’ve improved,” continued Woody.
“Rossington, that was a scalp for us, and now we have to get the job done against Glossop this weekend.
“As for the derby with United, I’d have rather had the other fixture earlier in the season than at the end of it, but it’s a game that’s great for everyone, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Rivalry-wise, as things stand, the Choughs will face the Badgers twice this season, in the league; separated by less than two miles with each club based either side of the town centre, derby day is often (well always) an entertaining fixture.
This season, the first meeting between the two sides will see Woodhead’s Choughs make the short trip to Cannon Park, and Ryan Hindley’s Badgers, for the traditional, Boxing Day fixture, with the return, at Woodhead’s The Rail, currently scheduled for the last match of the season (21 April 2025).
Long before those however, the Choughs welcome Glossop North End to the Rail this coming Saturday afternoon (21 September) looking to book their place in the next round of the FA Vase – keep up-to-date via their X here.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @Retford_FC Retford Manager Chris Woodhead.
