April can only mean one thing. Easter, and with it comes promotion and relegation in the football league tables.

This is the time of year when cups are won, titles are lost, teams are often forced to play three times a week to get their fixtures done, all ahead of the May cut off, but with promotion and survival on the line, it can often be the best and busiest months in a season now eight- or nine-months in.

We at Nottingham Sport are going to delve into the happenings of our local non-league clubs, to see who needs what to do and when, to give you an idea of the winners and losers as the campaign draws to a close, starting in the Northern Premier League where our highest ranked local teams lie, in Worksop Town, and in Basford United, two teams having very different seasons indeed.

Worksop Town (2nd Northern Premier League Premier Division)

The top ranked Nottinghamshire based semi-pro side is Worksop Town, the Tigers are second in the Northern Premier League behind already crowned champions Macclesfield. Craig Parry’s side ran Robbie Savage’s outfit close during the first half of the campaign but faltered a little to fall away in the middle part, but picking up in the later stages they are now four points ahead of third place Guiseley in the table, and are more importantly 13 points ahead of Ilkeston in sixth, who are a place outside the playoffs, with just four games to play.

That means Worksop are mathematically secure of a playoff place, but finishing as high as possible will give them home advantage in the semi-finals and final, currently Stockton Town and Ashton United are fourth and fifth respectively with one of those, or Ilkeston, offering a potential opponent for a place in the semi-final, where should they win that, they’ll have a final chance of gaining promotion to the National League North.

Remaining fixtures: 12 Apr v Bamber Bridge (h), 19 Apr v Matlock Town (a), 21 Apr v Basford United (h), 26 Apr v Blyth Spartans (a).

Basford United (20th Northern Premier League Premier Division)

In contrast to Worksop’s terrific campaign, things couldn’t have gone much worse for Basford, who have had managerial turmoil, slowly slipping and sliding down the division to a twentieth spot they lie today.

United are five points below Matlock who are fourth bottom, but even the Gladiators could go down, usually with the bottom four guaranteed in the relegation places their saving grace could be elsewhere, with twists and turns in non-league football, even the lowest may survive, but it’s looking bleak for Basford who are eight points adrift of straight forward survival with four to play. Sitting on 35 points they already look destined to be playing at step 4 next season. Unless they get a reprieve.

Remaining fixtures: 12 Apr v Morpeth Town (a), 19 Apr v Hyde United (h), 21 Apr v Worksop Town (a), 26 Apr v Hebburn Town (h).

Carlton Town (8th Northern Premier League East Division)

Should Basford fall, they may be renewing acquaintances with Carlton Town, who are a step below in the East Division of the NPL. The Millers have had a steady season in the middle echelons and are going ok, on 65 points and only three points off a playoff place.

In a keenly contested division topped by Cleethorpes Town (85pts) who Carlton play next, it is looking likely that Dunston (75) and Emley (71) will be in the playoffs, but with Belper Town (69) Newton Aycliffe (68), Stocksbridge Park Steels (66), North Ferriby (66) and Carlton in the mix, it really could be two of five, the Millers however are outsiders for now with a tough run of fixtures, should they reach the playoffs and gain promotion it would be the highest level they have reached in their short history. Carlton have been at their current level for 18 successive seasons.

Remaining fixtures: 12 Apr v Cleethorpes Town (h), 19 Apr v Dunston (a), 21 Apr v Sherwood Colliery (h), 26 Apr v Bishop Auckland (a).

Sherwood Colliery (20th Northern Premier League East Division)

Unlike Carlton, Sherwood Colliery are fairly new to step four football, in their first season at the level and they have found things testing during a campaign that has currently placed them in the bottom three.

Sherwood have risen in recent years but whilst this season looks like one too many, they have at least been competitive in the games they have played, although they have had a couple of heavy defeats recently as they expect their destiny of dropping down a division.

On 33 points they are eight points behind Ossett United in fourth bottom, nine points behind Brighouse, Bridlington, Consett and Heaton Stannington who are all looking over their shoulders in vain. But it looks like much to do in their remaining four games, with favours needed from elsewhere, if they are to survive the drop.

Remaining fixtures: 12 Apr v Stocksbridge Park Steels (a), 19 Apr v Newton Aycliffe (h), 21 Apr v Carlton Town (a), 26 Apr v Grimsby Borough (h).

Eastwood Community (2nd United Counties Premier Division North)

With just three games to play, Eastwood Community are second only two points behind leaders Lincoln United who they play at Coronation Park on Saturday. It is looking like the winner of that match will potentially go on to take the title, and gain promotion to the Northern Premier League.

Eastwood have struggling Gresley Rovers before mid-table Belper United to round off their remaining games, whilst Lincoln play Heanor Town and Skegness Town after their massive title clash at the weekend.

Remaining fixtures: 12 Apr v Lincoln United (h), 19 Apr v Gresley Rovers (a), 21 Apr v Belper United (h).

AFC Mansfield (6th United Counties Premier Division North)

Should Eastwood fail to win the title this season, they could be facing AFC Mansfield, who are a place and two points outside the playoffs.

The Bulls have had a steady season with 19 wins and 10 losses from their 35 games so far and will be one of two teams trying to creep into the four semi final slots, with the other currently outside the playoff places, Newark Town.

With Bourne Town on 73 points not entirely outside the title race, it does look like the Lincolnshire outfit will concede to a third spot finish, whilst Boston Town on 68 points and Heanor Town on 65, the clubs in prime position above AFC on 63, and Newark on 62.

Remaining fixtures: 12 Apr v Newark Town (a), 19 Apr v Skegness Town (h), 21 Apr v Shirebrook Town (a).

Newark Town (7th United Counties Premier Division North)

Funny enough, Newark in seventh, play AFC Mansfield in sixth on Saturday, with the winner of the match perhaps being favourite to make a late playoff push, whilst a draw will probably be no good for either.

It’s been a solid season for Newark who will at least finish guaranteed as top team in town, they are just three points from Heanor Town in fifth place so a win this weekend could have them forcing their way closer to achieving an unlikely promotion dream.

Should fourth placed Boston Town win at Ashby Ivanhoe on Saturday, they’ll all but guarantee Newark Town can’t catch them (even with them playing each other in a weeks time), so it’s all eyes on Heanor and their last three games at Wisbech, at Lincoln United, then at home to Melton Town, to see if any stutters can be capitalised upon.

Remaining fixtures: 12 Apr v AFC Mansfield (h), 19 Apr v Boston Town (a), 21 Apr v Newark & Sherwood United (h).

Newark & Sherwood United (12th United Counties Premier Division North)

Playing these days at Harrowby, in Grantham, Newark & Sherwood United have had a disappointing league campaign, but their season is far from over yet, as they’ll end the 2024/25 campaign facing Hucknall Town in the final of the Nottinghamshire Senior County Cup.

Before their trip to Mansfield Town’s Field Mill stadium in May, where they’ll look to repeat their success of winning county silverware as they did two seasons ago, Newark & Sherwood will travel to Hucknall this weekend, before hosting Sleaford, and then visiting Newark Town, to end their regular season with a derby day at the YMCA on bank holiday Monday.

Remaining fixtures: 12 Apr v Hucknall Town (a), 19 Apr v Sleaford Town (h), 21 Apr v Newark Town (a). 6 May v Hucknall Town (n) County Cup Final.

Hucknall Town (14th United Counties Premier Division North)

The yellows have lifted off since relegation worries earlier in the season, their new managerial duo of Triss Whitman and Aaron Large helping them towards safety in the division, and more excitedly, towards a final place in the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup.

Hucknall have 43 points and are fourteenth, a massive fourteen points from Kimberley Miners Welfare who are second bottom in one of two relegation places, who they face on the last day of the season. Hucknall’s drive now will be preparing for their cup final with one eye on next season already.

Remaining fixtures: 12 Apr v Newark & Sherwood United (h), 19 Apr v Bourne Town (a), 21 Apr v Kimberley MW (h). 6 May v Newark & Sherwood United (n) County Cup Final.

Kimberley Miners Welfare (19th United Counties Premier Division North)

Kimberley are a place above bottom of the table Shirebrook but eight points clear of them with 29 points, but more importantly, they are just two points below Gresley Rovers in eighteenth, with a fighters chance for survival.

With Deeping Rangers and Sleaford Town (both on 33 points) not out of the woods yet, Kimberley will probably need at least two wins from their three remaining games to have a good go at survival.

The Miners travel to Skegness Town on Saturday, the Seasiders eleventh with nothing but pride to play for, then Kimberley host another mid table team in Ashby Ivanhoe, before a last match of the campaign verses Hucknall Town, by then, will it be all said and done?

Remaining fixtures: 12 Apr v Skegness Town (a), 19 Apr v Ashby Ivanhoe (h), 21 Apr v Hucknall Town (a).

United Counties League Division One

Second placed Retford FC (76pts) still have a chance of winning the division, Clay Cross Town (78) are top by two points with three to play and take on Holwell Sports next, before matches with Selston and Blackstones, as the Choughs take on Radford, Gedling MW and Retford United in their final match of the campaign, the derby day on bank holiday Monday might be the venue to be at, as it’s likely the Badgers will do everything they can to stop their same town rivals from winning the division.

On 70 points and in third place, Retford United are more likely to be settled with a playoff spot. They are eight points clear of Blackstones and Staveley in fourth and fifth and eleven points clear of Clipstone, who are three points outside the playoff places with three to play.

Gedling MW also have a slim chance of the playoff places, they are four points below the cut but have just two matches remaining, whilst settling in mid table are Radford, Stapleford, Southwell City, Dunkirk, all safe from the drop.

Not so however are the following teams, West Bridgford in fourteenth, Rainworth Miners Welfare in fifteenth and Clfton in sixteenth, all on 28 points are just three clear of Holwell Sports who are third bottom in the drop zone, whilst Selston, second bottom, and Sandiacre Town, at the foot of the table, will need to win at least two of their three games, to have any chance of survival.

Notts Senior League Premier Division

Leicestershire based FCV Grace Dieu top of the Nottinghamshire Senior League and need a point from their final three games to take the title. They have been ran close by Cotgrave this season who are currently nine points below the leaders with three games matches remaining.

FCV also have the small measure of a League Cup final to play against Aslockton & Orston who edge Keyworth United by a point in third. Bottom of the table Radcliffe Olympic are cut adrift but with four games still to play. Radcliffe on 19 points are four points below Beeston who still have five matches of their season remaining.

Central Midlands League Premier Division North

Doncaster City head the way above Dinnington Town whilst the best Nottinghamshire representative in the division is Blidworth Welfare in sixth.

Blidworth are joined by Worksop Town Reserves (just a point and a place behind in seventh) and SJR Worksop (36 points) in ninth, Harworth Colliery (10th) and Ollerton Town Community (12th) are all into their final few games of the season with not much bar pride and middle pack places to play for.

Central Midlands League Premier Division South

Finally, our round up concludes as Linby Colliery Welfare in third place of the CML South have a chance of second spot behind runaway leaders South Normanton Athletic.

Linby have 58 points and are level with Melbourne Dynamo who do have a game in hand, Linby also with a County Cup Senior Trophy final to play for against Blidworth Welfare, face Melbourne (a) on the last day of the season which is 3 May.

Elsewhere in the division, Arnold Town lie tenth whilst Mansfield Hosiery Mills are thirteenth, Teversal on 21 points second bottom are four points from safety with four games to play.

*Main image @HucknallTownFC recent action between Hucknall Town and Deeping Rangers.