On Friday evening we travel to Station Road to take on Collingham in Central Midlands League action. As always, your support is greatly appreciated by everybody at the club. The address for the ground is Station Road, Collingham, NG23 7RA.

On this day we have previously had six fixtures, with Colliery winning two, drawing one and losing three of those games. The last time that we played on 2nd September was in 2017, with two goals from Shaun Mundy and one from Lewis Francis securing a 3-2 win away at Dinnington Town. In 2016 we lost 2-1 at home to Appleby Frodingham, with the Colliery goal coming from Tom Pick. Goals from Dean Burrows, David Cornthwaite and Thomas Walker saw Colliery draw 3-3 at home to Clay Cross Town in 2014. On Saturday 2nd September 2006 we defeated Bolsover Town 3-1 at home, Paul Hodgkinson scoring twice, with Stuart Needham getting the other goal. In 2003 we lost 2-0 away at Southwell City and in 2000 we lost by the same score line away at Kimberley Town.

We currently sit in fourth position in the league table, with nine points from our opening three fixtures. On Saturday 20th August we defeated Dearne & District 5-2 at home, Rio Allan scoring twice and the other Colliery goals coming from Callum Brooks, Matthew Gains and Bayley Lowe. On Friday 12th August goals from Rio Allan and Harvey Thomas saw us win 2-0 at home to Kiveton Miners Welfare. On Saturday 6th August we won 4-0 away at AFC Phoenix, Bayley Lowe scoring twice, with Rio Allan and Harry Dunbar getting the other goals.

Moving on to our hosts and Collingham Football Club were established in 1887 and currently have 26 teams and approximately 400 playing and social members from age four upwards. Throughout its history Collingham FC has predominantly been involved with youth and Sunday football. In 1994, a Senior Saturday team was created which joined the Central Midlands League Premier Division. Having finished 14th in their first season promotion to the Supreme Division was clinched the following season by finishing fourth. The following five seasons were played out in the Supreme division with a best placed finish of fifth in the 2000/01 season which also included an appearance in the league cup final in which a goal in stoppage time gave Shirebrook Town the trophy in a 1-0 win. At the end of the 2001/02 season, the team from Collingham was disbanded and it was not until the 2015/16 season that the team returned to the Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Football League South Division. After winning only one of their first nine games in the league they improved throughout the season and eventually managed a very respectable 13th place winning 13 of their 34 games in the league. In the 2016/17 season Collingham were moved into the North Division of the Central Midlands League. Last season they finished in 13th place in the table with eight wins, five draws and 19 defeats coming from their 32 matches.

Collingham currently sit in eighth position in the table, seven points from their opening four fixtures. On Wednesday 24t August they defeated AFC Bentley 4-2 at home, with Kieran Job and Okiele Mccalla both scoring twice. On Saturday 20th August they drew 2-2 at home to AFC Phoenix, with Joseph Bilton scoring twice. On Saturday 13th August they won 1-0 away at Staveley Miners Welfare Reserves, Daniel Evans getting the only goal.

One to watch for our hosts will be Kieran Job. So far this season he has scored twice in four appearances.

The sides have previously met on nine occasions, with Colliery winning four, drawing one and losing four of those meetings. The last time that the sides met was Tuesday 1st February 2022, with Collingham winning the fixture at the Jones & Co Recreational ground 4-0, with their goals coming from Kieran Job, Callum Judge, Daniel King and Jamie Royle.

Next up after this fixture we face AFC Bentley away from home on Saturday 17th September. Previous results at The Avenue:
Saturday 25th September 2021 – AFC Bentley 3-0 Colliery – Zack King X2, Thomas Speight
Saturday 8th February 2020 – AFC Bentley 1-4 Colliery – Oliver Beaglehole – Charlie Baird X2, Callum Brooks, Leigh Warriner
Saturday 28th April 2018 – AFC Bentley 2-0 Colliery – Alex Irwin, Jack Varley

As ever if you can make it to the game your support is always greatly appreciated. Also, our Reserves are at home to 780 JLC on Saturday and our Ladies team are away at Ripon City Ladies on Sunday.

Viva Colliery