I decided to go to see Kirton Brickworks FC play for the second time. My previous visit was thwarted by the weather when the game was moved from within the brickworks to a nearby village pitch. The grass pitch was then waterlogged but this time I was sure that this wouldn’t be the case because of our summer of little rain. When I arrived the pitch looked immaculate, the nets up, new advertising boards compared to last time, but no people. Luckily someone was leaving from the brickworks and he told me the game was off but didn’t know why. I have now found that the morning pitch inspection found the pitch unplayable?
On to the phone to check on the nearest game that I could make it to in time, I was lucky to find Retford FC’s game at home to Southwell City. Retford FC sitting top of the table.
The journey started with a crawl behind a tractor and when I was in Retford I was following a car through a green light when on the pavement to the left a grey haired lady on a mobility buggy suddenly rushed towards the road. The car Infront, me and the one behind slammed on the brakes and in our hesitation the lights changed to red. She pressed the button for her to cross and blithely rode across the road.
I parked, with plenty of time and walked through the road tunnel to ‘The Rail’.
The grass pitch looked as immaculate as on previous visits but there were not many people about. In fact only 199 fans in total, disappointing considering Retfords great start to the season. It was a cold day and I walked to the far corner where the club house is and the food kiosk. Getting some chips i went and sat in the open seating behind one goal, very reminiscent of seating behind a green at a golf competition and chatted to a visitor from the Doncaster direction. I wasn’t sure that this was the best place to watch the game as coming across the vivid blue sky were sone light and grey clouds hurried along by a wind that made it seem colder than the official 8 degrees.Luckilly this ground has covered standing down one side and at one end.
Retford FC were only formed in 2015 moving to their ground āThe Railā in 2017. They were founded at a time when Retford United were going through a rough patch and were promoted from the Central Midlands League in 2019 to compete in the Northern Counties East League where they established themselves. With the FA re-organisation of Non-League football they were transferred sideways to the United Counties League Division 1 which they have been competing hard to move to the Premier Division North.This club have done wonders in their ten years in existence, they have purchased their ground and adjoining land, and built a brand new fan area in one corner with a Scandi styled wood clad, club house, food kiosk, and toilet block.
Southwell City FC were formed in 1893, but early records are sketchy, with the club believed to have played in the Newark area. The team was devastated through casualties in the Great War and although football was played in Southwell it wasn’t until its reformation in 1955 that the current club truly emerged. They joined the Notts Football Alliance in 1957 where they stayed until the end of the 2002/03 season, moving to the Central Midlands League was. On their journey the football club merged with Southwell United Youth Football and Southwell Amateurs and have created a Community Charter club that caters for all grades of the game. This has been achieved through developing their old and new grounds. Winning the Notts Senior League gaining promotion to the United Counties Division One in 2022.
Retford FC 1 Southwell City FC 1
Saturday 25th October 2025, 15.00 pm kick off. Attendance 199.
United Counties League, Division 1, 1st v 16th, The Choughs v The Bramleys/City
Retford Football Club,Babworth Road, Retford, Notts DN22 7NJ
Retford in all navy blue kit with the goalkeeper in all yellow.
Southwell City, Grey shirts with fluorescent pink sleeves and shorts, the goalkeeper in all orange.
Southwell started the game as if they were the top of the table team clipping long balls over the top for their forwards to run on to. It paid off within 5 minutes when Christopher Okoye collected the ball on the left, beat two defenders and hit the ball across the goalkeeper into the bottom right hand corner. Southwell continued to look the most promising side with corners and long throws, the home side looked if they were having a bad day. As the half progressed the game became more even with both teams having chances which was summed up by both teams missing easy chances minutes before half time. Retfords striker blasted over the bar with only the goalkeeper to beat and immediately at the other end the away team should have scored had it not been for their goalkeepers outstretched leg. Southwell deserved to be Infront at half time but the score could easily been higher for both sides.
The game resumed the same pattern in the second half but this time it was Retford who were more in charge and they equalised with 62 minutes gone when a corner from the left was headed on twice, across the goal for Ahmed Tahar, a recent substitute, to head the ball into an open net. Retford now took control but good defending by Southwell kept clearing the pressure despite a large scramble on the goal line that somehow did not go in and a long range shot that glanced the post. Southwell too had breakaway chances which the home keeper did well to keep out.
As the game drew to a close it was City who should have taken all 3 points when No 4 was put through. He had been Southwell’s outstanding player all over the pitch but had noticeably faded in the last ten minutes. With just the keeper to beat he hesitated allowing the ball to be cleared, he still however got my vote as man of the match.
Retford’s point kept them in a commanding position at the top of the league and were lucky to find that their chasing arch rivals, Retford United FC also drew along with others in the chasing pack.
The chips this week were disappointing, like warm and soggy. They tasted OK and were not greasy but only managed a score of 55.
payonthegate 