There’s a family affair brewing at Basford United since Matt Wheatcroft took over as Ladies manager, late last year, something that was very much on show in their recent, 5-0 FA Cup win against visiting Higham Town at the weekend.

Having steadied a somewhat rocky ship, winning seven and drawing one of his first eleven at the helm, Wheatcroft’s Ambers finished comfortably in mid-table, and are now looking ahead to the 2026/27 East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Division One Central campaign with renewed optimism.

Arriving at a club that had lost six of their opening seven, it was always going to be interesting to see what he could do, especially having been assistant at Mansfield Town Ladies prior to his appointment.

He was soon joined by one of his daughters, Olivia Wheatcroft (also from Mansfield Town), at Greenwich Avenue, she scoring in her second game for her new team, the new era beginning with back-to-back meetings against Nottingham Trent University.

“NTU was the first game, and we had a fantastic start,” began the Ambers boss, Managing Director of sponsors, Purpose Media Ltd.

“Getting that result on the board (a 3-1 win with goals from Jade Eaglefield, Charlotte Duthie-Thompson, and Ava Hardeman), we knew we needed around fifteen points to stay up.

“But we couldn’t put out the same team in the League Plate the following week due to the rules (Basford lost 3-2, Liv Wheatcroft with a brace).”

Since then, Wheatcroft’s side went on to win their next four, before a drop-off at home to Long Eaton United in mid-March, scoring twenty and conceding seven along the way.

Liv Wheatcroft fired home four in the 8-0 thrashing of West Bridgford Colts, and was again on target against Coalville Town Ravens (5-3 home win), and again in the reverse to Long Eaton (Basford lost 3-2).

Then came the trip to University of Nottingham, they sharing ten goals in what was a crazy, 5-5 draw (Ruby Bolingbroke, Charlotte Duthie-Thompson, Isabel Wretham, Liv Wheatcroft, and Jade Eaglefield netting for the Ambers).

“That 5-5 game was a free-for-all,” explained Wheatcroft.

“But some of the players, they began dropping off as the season progressed.

“I’ve also taken a lot of Mansfield’s JPL players to Basford, a lot of 16-17-year-olds, who won the National League title and I wanted to keep them together.

“I’ve also got my two daughters, Liv, and Mimi (Amelia) playing, whilst adding a mixture of youth, and strength and experience to the squad.

“It was a mess when we came in, and I explained what things needed changed, and that we’re not only here to win, but do things together.”

That togetherness is what Wheatcroft, his coaching staff, and joint-captains, Megan Wood and Paige Rogers, will look to bring to a season that will see them fighting on three fronts in its early stage – the League, League Cup, and Adobe Women’s FA Cup, with the Nottinghamshire FA Women’s County Cup coming later in the season.

The league season kicks off with a trip to Oakham United (13 September, whilst in the draw for the EMWRFL League Cup First Round, Wheatcroft’s charges face a road trip to YP (Sheffield), in mid-October, with the boss looking ahead to the new campaign itching for success from the off.

“We want to win it this season,” continued Wheatcroft.

“I’m not scared to say that; let’s have a go, and see what we can do.

“The League Cup, we’ll just see how we get on, but the league is the priority.

“As for the County Cup, that’s really between us, Mansfield, NTU, and Notts County, so again, we’ll see how we go, but Mansfield will be the team to beat there.”

Against Higham Town, in the First Qualifying Round of the Women’s FA Cup, Matt Wheatcroft’s charges stormed to a 5-0 drubbing of their opponents.

It was a victory made even more the sweeter for the Basford boss in that both Liv, and Amelia, found the back of the net, alongside one for Millie Edwards, and a brace from Jess Smith.

Both Amelia Wheatcroft, and Millie Edwards, netted on debut for the Ambers, they being two of nine debutants, with Wheatcroft stating afterwards that it was a “Super proud dad moment.

“10 years of coaching both girls comes to light in this game today.

“But it wasn’t just about Mimi and Liv today, what a brilliant team/squad performance from all the players.”

Meanwhile, the opening round of the EMWRFL League Cup sees the following ties drawn with regards Notts-based clubs (in CAPITALS) –

Stanground Cardea vs. SHERWOOD, Dronfield Town vs. HUCKNALL TOWN, NEWARK TOWN vs. Stamford, UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM vs. Northampton Town Development, MASFIELD TOWN vs. Grimsby Town, SJR WORKSOP vs. Wellingborough Town, NOTTS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT vs. Oakham United, Thurmaston DPC Vixens vs. ARNOLD EAGLES, YP (Sheffield) vs. BASFORD UNITED

Basford United Ladies will be competing in the EMWRFL Division One Central this season alongside the following nine, other clubs – Asfordby Amateurs, Coalville Town Ravens, Long Eaton United, Melbourne Dynamo, Oakham United, Pride Park, Sherwood, Thurmaston DPC Vixens, and University of Nottingham.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Basfordutdfc Ambers Manager Max Wheatcroft.