With the non-league season in the Central Midlands Alliance League finishing up some two-and-a-half weeks ago, Linby Colliery Welfare are preparing to go again, with the possibility of two matches still to play.

The reason the delay, Linby have an outstanding, Buckingham Insurance League Challenge Cup semi-final to play, against Graham Street Prims, overcome that and it’s a date with Dinnington Town in the final.

All this is expected to be played out, this week, with the semi-final set for Wednesday night, at the Fireology Fred Harding Ground, Borrowash Road, Derby, and the final, at some point this coming weekend.

For Linby, who won the competition on penalties back in 2022, and lifted the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy last season, success again here will definitely be a reward for a season of hard work, and overcoming odds.

Long-time club servant, and club Chairman, Adrian Ward, spoke of the situation that had unfolded over the past couple of months, which has had his manager, Jonathan Wass, and his young side, waiting eagerly in the wings.

“They (Graham Street Prims) lost to Burngreave United in their quarter-final, but found out the following day that Burgrave had played a couple of players that were contracted with Guiseley,” explained Ward.

“The league then proceeded to expel them (Burngreave) from the competition, to which was then appealed, and it carried on for a while.

“The semi-final was initially planned for late April, but the appeal halted that, and the players that were used against Prims, they were also in the squad to play us, but hadn’t played enough matches.

“Derbyshire FA eventually came to a decision based on timescales, so another review meeting was held, leading to Prims playing us, in the remaining semi-final, on Wednesday night.”

This cup run, Linby also reached the quarter-finals of the Notts FA Senior Trophy, and the CMAs Abacus Floodlit Cup, began back in late-November when they defeated Mayfield 2-0 at home, Harry Thorne and Benjamin Stanley with the goals.

Derby Singh Brothers were then bested 4-1 at home in mid-March, Ashdon Bernard’s brace being added to with goals from Zachary Hamilton and Charlie Tassi, with the latter pairing soring the goals that saw another home win, this time 2-0 against Borrowash Victoria later that month.

League-wise however, form throughout the season has been somewhat erratic, for every game they won, they proceeded to lose the next one, winning ten and drawing six of their thirty-two outings.

Scoring goals has been hard to come by, with Tassi and Hamilton joint-top scorers with nine apiece, mind Tassi’s has come in just thirteen games; their chairman though, aware of what the ‘issues’ have been, is confident this side can progress.

More so with a successful Development side that won the Nottinghamshire Senior League Spring Division Two title. He added; “We’ve got a youthful, inexperienced side which has shown, especially also having a couple of lads out with long-term, ACL injuries.

“But there’s definitely something in then, in what is a very physically demanding league; they’re a great bunch of lads, it’s just been those fine margins, and the little things adding up.

“When Jonathan (Wass) came in, having managed our U16s, then Reserves, before taking over from Matt Peberday, a lot has changed.

“We’re lucky to have a strong development side though as well, who’ve just won an Notts Senior League title, so we’ll just take the game as it comes, and play it how we can.”

Linby CW face Graham Street Prims in the outstanding, CMA League Challenge Cup semi-final on Wednesday (27 May) night at the Fireology Fred Harding Ground, Borrowash Road, Derby; the winners will face Dinnington Town in the final, details still TBC.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @FCLinby the fabulous Church Lane home ground of Linby Colliery Welfare.