Sherwood Colliery, now under the guidance of manager Jake Wright, will look to make club history following the draw for the first qualifying round of this season’s Emirates FA Cup.

Wright, a defender by trade with Football League experience at Brighton & Hove Albion, Oxford United, Sheffield United, Bolton Wanderers (and briefly at Mansfield Town), was part of the successful, United Counties League Premier North title-winning Wood side of 2024, took over from veteran manager, Wayne Savage, in the summer.

His arrival, from fellow UCL side, Eastwood, has ushered in a new era at Debdale Park, and with it, an influx of summer signings which included former teammates Toby Woodward and Phil Watt, winger Nathaniel Crofts, and forward David Olatomide, to name a few.

A bumpy start to the new season, one which saw back-to-back losses, has just five weeks or so later, not only seen them start turning a corner in the league, but also earn progression in the FA Cup.

Seven games played already, the Wood have picked up victories in two of their last three league games, 3-1 at home to Ashby Ivanhoe, and 2-1 at Hinckley, to move up to tenth in the league table.

As for the FA Cup, successes against Moulton, 3-2, and Boston Town, 1-0, puts them back into the first qualifying round for the fourth time in five seasons, having done so in the 2021/22 (also defeated Boston Town), 2023/24, and 2025/26 competitions.

Their reward, a home tie with Northern Premier League Premier Division side, Gainsborough Trinity, who last season reached the First Round Proper themselves, following wins over Corby Town, Rushall Olympic, Dunston UTS, and Hartlepool United, before falling to Accrington Stanley.

Joined on his coaching staff by assistant manager Stuart Coke, goalkeeping coach Gavin Saxby, and physiotherapist Charlotte Biggs, Wright has seen his captain, Jamie York, help lead from the from the front in terms of scoring goals this season.

His brace in the opening FA Cup win against Moulton helped the Wood on their way to a 3-2 win, whilst summer signing, Nathaniel Crofts, scored in each of the club’s two, cup ties thus far – Crofts leads the way at this early stage of the season with five goals to name, York three, alongside one apiece for Phil Watt and Ethan Wiesztort.

Despite only being formed as recently as 2008, they have a number of successful seasons, including lifting the UCL Premier North title in 2024, whilst last season saw them enjoy a run to the Fourth Round Proper of the FA Vase.

They’ll now look to create another slice of history, in the FA Cup, with progression against Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday 5 September, before that however, they host Shirebrook Town tomorrow (25 August) in the Preliminary Round of the SGD UCL Cup, and a trip to Newark Town (2 September) in the league.

For regular updates, and information on matches, visit their Twitter/X account HERE.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @SCFC08 Debdale Park is home to Sherwood Colliery FC.