Tuesday (15 April) night will see Central Midlands Alliance League pair, Blidworth Welfare and Linby Colliery Welfare, do battle at Sherwood Colliery’s Debdale Park, in the final of Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy.

Each side has endured battles en-route to this seasons’ final, with Blidworth having overcome Wollaton, Toton Tigers, FC Sez, and Keyworth United, the latter, in the semi-finals, coming back from three-down, to win on penalties.

Alongside reaching a County Cup final, this season has seen ‘The Blid’ (sponsored by Mansfield Electrical Supplies and Bifoldingdoors4u) challenging at the top end of the CMA’s Premier Division North, they pushing for a top three/four finish, they currently sit fifth, with a game in hand.

Dating back to the 1920s, when they were originally formed as Folk House Old Boys, a name which lasted near seven decades, until the early 1980s, when they changed to the Blidworth Welfare name we know today.

There’s been numerous highlights, and lowlights at the club, less said of some of the latter, the better; of the former though, the club finally lifted league titles over the past few years, winning the Central Midlands South (2022) by four points from Mickleover Reserves.

However, the club resigned from the United Counties Division One halfway through the season; the club restarted in 2023 in the Central Midlands Division One East, winning last season’s title at a canter (by twelve points) from second place Kirton Brickworks.

That was under the erstwhile guidance of Aiden Harris, a former player at the club who took early retirement having scored against Long Eaton United, just shy of three years ago.

“I’ve been manager here for a couple of years now,” began Harris, who co-manages the club alongside Johnny Ward, with Richard Copestake as his assistant.

“I broke my league the season we won the Central Midlands South, having scored the winner at Long Eaton.

“I’ve also previously played for Linby, who are a really great club, with some great people behind the scenes.

“Aidy (Adrian Ward) even donated to the fund that was set up after I’d had the break; I always keep an eye on both leagues though and, with Linby being a former club, who’ve got a lot of young players coming through, they’re a club I look at.”

This season though, with the club having re-stabilised itself, they will be hoping that successes this season will be a springboard to future successes.

In the current campaign Harris’ side have registered thirteen victories and five draws, from their twenty-seven outings; beginning with a six-match unbeaten run, but erratic form either side of the festive period has proved a downfall.

Since early February however, form has picked back up and ‘The Blid’ have put together a nine-match unbeaten run which has pushed them back into contention for a top five finish.

“We’re looking at third or fourth,” admitted Harris, looking at how their season has panned out so far.

“The downfalls have been due lack of consistency, and losing players who’ve moved elsewhere.

“We always wanted a good cup run though, as well as establishing ourselves at Step Seven, and push for the top six in the league.

“Doncaster (City) and Dinnington (Town) were always going to be the top two sides (they’re a good 25pts+ ahead of the rest).

“But, if we win our games in hand, then we can push for at least fourth, that’s where we are looking at.”

As for this season’s cup run, Harris and company are delighted they’ve been the two finalists from last seasons’ competition.

That final was won by Wollaton, 4-1 against Keyworth United, the former having beaten Blidworth 5-4 back in the competitions third round.

“Wollaton beat us last season on their way to winning the Trophy,” explained the Blidworth boss.

“So, to beat them, as well as Keyworth, the beaten finalists last time around, then I’m very proud of the lads for what they’re doing.

“The players, and the football club as a whole, have achieved so much this season and we’ve got a gameplan, and clear instructions in place, going into the final.”

In reaching the final, a run which started with a 2-1 at home to Wollaton, thanks to a brace from Archie Ward, Blidworth, thanks to four goals from Reilly Hodgkinson over the games against Toton Tigers and FC Sez, set up that semi-final dance.

At home to Keyworth, Harris’s side saw themselves two-down at the break, and three heading into the final twenty minutes; goals form Ward, Kyle Bacon, and Benjamin Copestake however sent the tie to penalties.

Blidworth won the shoot-out 5-3 with Bacon and Copestake, as well as Liam Carver, Triston Burrell and Harry Topliss all netting from the spot, with goalkeeper Harry Chapman saving the decisive penalty to send his side through.

Now, it’s time for the final, Blidworth Welfare facing Linby Colliery Welfare for the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy; the final will be at Debdale Park, home of Sherwood Colliery, 15 April 2025, KO 19:45.

Keep up-to-date with all things Blidworth Welfare via their Facebook and X/Twitter.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @BlidworthFC the Blidworth team which has reached the Notts Senior Trophy final.