New Years Day Clash: Worksop Town

Worksop Town, the A57 Derby awaits, as the footballing gods throw two sides at opposite ends of the Pitching In Northern Premier League table against each other on January 1st (3pm). The New Year's Day clash, that is set to attract a bumper crowd, could be just the pick me up for Russ Wilcox's battle weary troops. A rallying call for the twelfth man to come out in numbers and roar the Blues to victory.

Details: Published: 31st December 2023

Co-Chairman, John Myskiw pointed to the importance of the New Years' Day fixture, outlining: "It's the first local derby in a number of years, at home, and comes on the back of a disappointing December in terms of results, but we are hoping Russ and Stampy can rally the squad and start the new year with three points. This will be a tough game with Worksop at the other end of the table, and in the play-off places, but if the lads can put the hard work in, we can compete! Let’s get behind the team today and hope we get some points on the board!"

Tickets

Advanced tickets can be purchased online, through our ticketing portal here. Adults at £13, Concessions at £9, Under 16s for £5 and Under 12s (free) can all be purchased. Season Tickets and Half Season Passes are valid for the game. And pay on the gate (cash only) is also an option. But as we look to attract a bumper holiday season crowd, tadvance tickets, to beat the rush, are certainly the way to go, avoiding the rush and obtaining your favourite spot at the Kal Group Stadium!

Build Up

After the defeat to Stafford Rangers, the players will know the urgency and requirement of three points with Trinity just six clear of the final relegation position. Worksop have found themselves at the opposite end of the table in 3rd place just seven points off the coveted top spot.

The Tigers have gone five games without a defeat and their last loss dates back to the 25th November, where Marine claimed a 1-0 victory. Despite this seemingly good form three of their five games in their unbeaten run have ended in draws, all draws coming against teams battling in mid table where Worksop have been favourites. This may be Gainsborough’s hope for their 2024 opener as they will be looking to get a point if not all three!

Worksop have some experienced players on their side and some familiar faces to ourselves. Ex-Trinity winger and midfielder Terry Hawkridge played for the Blues just over a decade ago, joining in 2012 netting 6 times in 37 appearances, before leaving for Scunthorpe United just a year later. At the Iron he spent a 3 year spell at Glanford Park from 2013-2016 netting just once in 56 appearances.

Another ex-Iron player is at the Tigers after joining from Scunthorpe this summer, 30 year old centre half, George Taft is a starter for the Tigers and has been in great form this season recently picking up Worksop’s Player of the Month award for November. He made his debut for our visitors in the reverse fixture, back in August, where Trinity were soundly beaten.

Incredibly, only three of the starters from that August fixture are still at Trinity. Harry Lovick and McCauley Snelgrove having since departed to North Ferriby. Adam Porritt, who has joined Emley. Will Flint and Harrison Poulter were recalled to Doncaster and Scunthorpe respectively, while ‘keeper Dylan Wharton has been unfortunate with injury and health concerns that have kept him from appearing between the sticks for the Holy Blues (and parent club, Sheffield United). Ex Tiger, Liam Hardy, departed for Liversedge, scoring three in his first three games at Step 4, before finding himself on the bench in recent weeks. And finally, Jerome Slew, who has embraced a health and fitness lifestyle, and appears to have distanced himself from the beautiful game.

Jay Rollins and Luke Hall have been in and amongst the goals this season. Rollins so far has eight goals and most recently scored a last minute winner in Worksop’s previous game to defeat Basford United 1-0 at home. Luke Hall has scored nine goals and is the Tiger’s top scorer and also scored two goals for Worksop in the reverse fixture. There are other players who are more than capable of getting goals for Worksop too such as Vaughan Redford and Paul Green.

Since beating Macclesfield on October 24th, Worksop have failed to win on the road (in normal time) victory over Rossington Main in the Sheffield and Hallam Cup after a 4-3 penalty shootout victory, was the last time the Tigers really roared, away from home. Three consecutive league draws followed defeat to fellow title chasers Warrington Rylands, with points picked up against Bamber Bridge, Workington and Lancaster City.

Sitting third, at the time of writing, seven points off the summit, Worksop are enjoying life back at Step Three, having stormed the Northern Premier League East Division, picking up 99 points, whilst scoring an incredible 112 goals in 38 games. At an average of nearly three goals a game. Adapting quickly to life in the Pitching In Northern Premier League, the Tigers beat Neal Bishop’s Gainsborough on Easter Monday.

Trinity’s task will not be an easy task to say the least as they have to attempt to keep this Worksop side (the 2nd highest scorers in the league with 51 goals in 22) quiet. And then attempt to hurt Worksop themselves who also have the joint second best defensive record in the league with 24 goals conceded in their 22 games played. Against tasks as tall as this, Russ Wilcox will be hoping to see his side rise to the challenge. And against great adversity, overcome those barriers and return the Northolme to the fortress of early season specifications.

Programme

Jack Moore-Billam adorns the front cover of this festive programme. A new feature where we get to know some of our fantastic volunteers, launches for the New Year's programme. Hear how Liam Gale gives his time to help the club and find out how you can help us too! The Women's feature profiles Liam McNulty and also takes the opportunity to look back and reflect on the year just gone - and the upcoming months of the season, that see the Ladies competing on two fronts, as they gun for promotion.

Dave Horsley, Boss Russ Wilcox and Skipper Dylan Cogill all look ahead after difficult recent weeks. There's all the information you need on our oppositions. And articles for the nostalgic, as Phil Anderson shares his View from Carlisle Street and Steve Andrews uncovers some treasures from under the bed!

Elsewhere

This round of fixtures has been split with some teams opting for a pre-New Years Day fixture, with four sides agreeing to play their games on Saturday 30th December instead. The results of these matches are shown below:

Basford United 2-1 Marine
FC United of Manchester P-P Radcliffe
Marske United 0-2 Morpeth Town
Matlock Town 1-3 Stafford Rangers
Bradford (Park Avenue) vs Guiseley
Hyde United vs Ashton United
Lancaster City vs Atherton Collieries
Warrington Rylands vs Macclesfield
Whitby Town vs Ilkeston Town
Workington AFC vs Bamber Bridge

Preview: Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media) and James Whitbread (@JW__Journalism)