Woodhouse Win Title

In a sharp contrast to the season before, Mansfield-based side, Woodhouse Colts, are celebrating both winning a title, and promotion.

Initially set up as a junior team, Woodhouse entered a senior team into the football pyramid at around the time the world was plunged into covid mayhem, joining Division One of the Central Midlands League.

Initially registered in the South a season that was subsequently null and voided, Woodhouse was moved to the Central division, finishing fourth and third in successive seasons, before moving again, this time to the East, for the 2022/23 campaign.

Fourteen wins and two draws from their eighteen matches would see them joint-top with champions, on goal-difference, AFC Normanton, and with it, another move, promotion gained to the Premier North.

Current manager, Ross Richmond, was still a player for the club then, making ten appearances as they finished fourth bottom, two places and four points above the relegation zone.

Tough times continued in 2024/25 as well, the club folding early in the season, record expunged; but they bounced back, and in some style as well, lifting the Macron Stores Nottingham Division One East title and suffering just one defeat in the league all season.

Now manager, Ross Richmond spoke to the Nottingham Sport about recent events at the Forest Town Arena.

“Following promotion in 2024, and a change in players, we ended up folding at the start of the 24/25 season,” began Richmond.

“We only had a dozen or so players when pre-season started, and the standards are quite high in the Premier North, so we struggled – especially against household names like Ollerton Town, Blidworth Welfare, Teversal.

“It was hard for us to compete.”

Having rejigged, rebuilt, and rebirthed in the ensuing months, the Colts returned this past pre-season, and took Division One East by storm, literally.

Winning fourteen and drawn two of their seventeen games, and with a goal-difference of +51, it soon became a forgone conclusion where the destination of the title would be.

Striker Jordan Ingram has been a revelation since his return to the game after a lengthy period away, scoring half of his side’s goals, including a seven-goal haul in the season-high, 16-0 win at home to Willow Wanderers in late February.

The only defeat was a 4-1 reverse to runners-up, Ashland Rovers, Colts avenging that with a 3-1 win in the return fixture, whilst Newark Town Reserves, who finished third, were beaten 3-0 in the two sides’ one meeting (the other postponed).

Looking back Richmond added;” I’ve been around five-six seasons as a player, moved to assistant manager, then took over when we went down.

“New ownership got us going again and, although I’d initially come back as a player, I took the reins as this season was starting.

“I didn’t want to, and was constantly thinking about whether it was worth it, but we’ve built something here and have a consistent number of players.

“The first couple of games we only had a dozen or so players, so couldn’t imagine winning the title, we were just looking at stabilising.

“After the league win at Teversal 1918 (6-1 in mid-September, Jayden Bull and Jordan Ingram with braces), I felt we had a chance.

“Then they beat us in the cup (4-1, mid-October), then lost to Ashland (same score a week later) and it bloodied our noses.

“After Newark though (3-0, late-October, Ingram hat-trick), that’s when I felt we could do this; it was a great response.”

Victories in their final three outings of the season, 5-1 at Shirebrook Soldiers (Ingram treble), 4-1 at home to Teversal 1918 (Ingram alongside Kyle Chadburn, Joshua Smyth, and Karl Bullock), and 4-2 over visiting Long Bennington (Jordan Jenkinson, Kyle Chadburn, Jack Sellars, and Callum Mays) in the final game, sealed championship success.

As for Richmond et al, focus turns to next season, in the Central Midlands Alliance Premier, he concluding with thoughts of; “Pre-season will see us play different sides to last time.

“I want to be able to see where we’re at, and go into the season competitive, and aim for a top half finish.

“It’ll be a massive step up, but the players here are capable enough.”

Woodhouse Colts are one of four, Central Midlands Alliance Division One champions, alongside Rossington FC (D1 North), Ripley Town (D1 West), and either Derby Gazers/Punjab United (D1 South).