Pre-Season Scheduling Starts

No sooner was the 2025/26 football season finished, were clubs beginning to work on squads, pre-season, and the start of the upcoming, 2026/27 campaign.

Granted, the World Cup is just around the corner, but for local sides, holidays abroad with team-mates and families will soon be a thing of the past, clubs all but having announced a plethora of friendly matches across the county.

With United Counties League Premier North pair, Eastwood CFC and Kimberley Miners Welfare, still to announce their pre-season dances, other clubs are pretty much locked in, with two facing a Mansfield Town XI, and two heading up to the north-east.

Encompassing the clubs between Steps 2 and 5 of the non-league pyramid the following are locked in, with National League North side naming six of eight friendlies, and a Legends Game, for fans to enjoy.

The Tigers’ Legends Game will take place on 13 June, at the Windsor Foodservice Stadium, Craig Denton will be assisted by Ryan Hindley in one dugout, whilst the other sees Pete Rinkcavage has Jason Maybury in support in the other dugout.

Craig Parry’s side will then begin their pre-season campaign hosting Hallam on 4 July, followed by games against Retford (away, 7 July), Ilkeston Town (home, 11 July), South Normanton Athletic (away, 14 July), Barnsley XI (home, 19 July), Garforth Town (home, 25 July), Mickleover (home, 28 July), finishing with the visit of a Sheffield United XI on 1 August.

Both Carlton Town and Basford United came close to earning promotion for the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands in the season just finished, and they’ll both be looking to start the new season strong.

The Millers have lined up half-a-dozen friendlies in July and are set to face Radford (away, 4.7), Eastwood CFC (away, 11.7), Sherwood Colliery (away, 14.7), Coalville Town (a, 18.7), Matlock Town (h, 25.7), and Alfreton Town (home, 1.8); the Ambers meanwhile have eight outings upcoming and will face Lincoln United (home, 7.7), AFC Mansfield (home, 10.7), Dunkirk (away, 14.7), Gainsborough Trinity (home, 18.7), Kimberley Miners Welfare (home, 21.7), Newark Town (away, 25.7), Ilkeston Town (away, 28.7), and Heaton Stannington (away, 1.8).

Joining Basford United with a trip to the north-east will be UCL Premier North side, Hucknall Town, they’re also facing off with both Retford sides in a list that sees the following lined up – AFC Mansfield (home, 4.7), Ollerton Town (away, 7.7), Marske United (away, 11.7), Retford (away, 14.7), Dunkirk (tbc, 18.7), Retford United (away, 21.7).

Elsewhere in the UCL Premier (Eastwood, and Kimberley still to announce theirs) friendlies for Sherwood Colliery being South Normanton Athletic (home, 4 July), Shirebrook Town (home, 8 July), Anstey Nomads (home, 11 July), Carlton Town (home, 14 July), before finishing away at Leicester St. Andrews (away, 18 July); whilst Newark Town will be opposing Harrowby United (home, 4.7), Sleaford Town (away, 8.7), Stamford (home, 11.7), Nettleham (home, 14.7), Staveley Miners Welfare (away, 22.7), and Basford United (home, 25.7).

Meanwhile AFC Mansfield travel to Clipstone in their opener on 2 July followed by games with Dearne & District (away, 4.7), Harworth Colliery (away, 7 July), Basford United (away, 10.7), Dronfield Town (away, 14.7), and Handsworth (away, 18.7).

Then there’s the two Retford, returning to the Northern Counties Eastern League and, following promotion will line up in the Premier Division when the new season begins, they’ve had to rejig their friendlies to accommodate new challenges.

The Choughs have two quick-fire games on the road in early July, at Rainworth Miners Welfare on the third, and at Appleby Frodingham the following day, the fourth, they then host Worksop Town (7.7), visit Harworth Colliery (11.7), and finishing with home games against Hucknall Town (14.7) and Mickleover (18.7).

Last, but by no means least, the Badgers, who begin their pre-season with a trip to Club Thorne (3.7), followed by further away days at Dronfield Town (7.7), and Clay Cross Town (11.7), hosting a Mansfield Town XI (14.7), a trip to Beverley Town (18.7), and finishing with a home game on the 21 July.

It’s a busy, yet enjoyable pre-season for all local sides, so, do get out and support your local clubs, and check with them via their socials in advance for any changes/updates – they’ll appreciate your support!!