WhiteBallProject
The Independent Voice of Ilkeston Football

You are not logged in. Would you like to login or register?



04/5/2019 7:33 PM  #1


Season 2018-19 and 2017-18

After promotion from the Midland Football League Division One at the end of the 2017-18 season, not many fans would have envisaged us getting promoted again this season. No one was sure of the standard of the MFL Premier Divison. As it turned out, we got off to a good start and soon hit the top of the table and stayed there. It was quickly evident that we could hold our own at this new level. Confidence became so high that fans at one stage were thinking in terms of us going for four trophies, the League, FA Vase, Derbyshire Senior Cup and League Cup. That wasn't to be but we did win the League, the one we wanted most. There were plenty of ups and downs over the season. Major disappointments were the cup exits against Belper United in the Derbyshire Senior Cup and Eastwood in the FA Vase. The Club had three different managers and many players came and went.  We could have finished the season with nothing but two immense performances in our last two games meant we ended on a high with the top prize. 
The story of the 2018-19 season will be available soon in the Ilkeston Town FC Official Yearbook.


 

Last edited by Matchman (14/5/2019 8:19 AM)

 

13/5/2019 8:01 PM  #2


Re: Season 2018-19 and 2017-18

Here is an abridged draft version of the 2017-18 Year Book which is still available. The 2018-19 Year Book will be on similar lines with league tables at the end of each month.


ILKESTON TOWN FC    OFFICIAL YEARBOOK   2017-18    

Contents  : 
Message from the Owner  -  Alan Hardy 
Message from the Chief Operating Officer   -  Anthony Redwood 
Message from the Manager  -  Steve Chettle 
Message from the Media team  -  Craig Lamont, John Shiels & Harry Worgan   
The Rebirth of Ilkeston Town FC : A summary of the season  -  John Attewell   
Statistical Information  -  John Shiels 
Photographs   -   Craig Lamont Photography & Danny Draper Photography       

THE REBIRTH OF ILKESTON TOWN FC     
Following the demise of Ilkeston FC, it looked like there would be no football at the New Manor Ground for the 2017-18 season. The Supporters Group had been busy trying to create a community club but they would not have been able to play until 2018-19.  They were adamant that they did not want another owner ran football club and were spreading the word that they were the best option for the future. A lot of preparatory work was done by the Supporters Group to try to ensure that football in Ilkeston would continue and with them in control. However, behind the scenes, someone else had ideas of his own. That person was Alan Hardy the owner of Notts County, a man with sufficient clout to make things happen. He registered a new Company in the name of Ilkeston Town FC Limited and reserved a place in the Midland Football League Division One. He was then successful in his bid to buy the Club and because of his forward planning Ilkeston Town were all set to play in the 2017-18 season. Due to the relegation and liquidation of Ilkeston FC, the new Ilkeston Town had to start life at step 6, three divisions below where Ilkeston FC was previously. Hardy pulled off a masterstroke by persuading Steve Chettle to return to Ilkeston as Manager. That changed everything in the eyes of most supporters. Many who had previously pledged allegiance to the Supporters Group’s plan of creating Ilkeston United Community Football Club quickly realised that Alan Hardy’s Ilkeston Town FC was a much better prospect. Supporters were given more assurance when, on the Club’s website, Alan Hardy was quoted as saying that he was absolutely committed to make Ilkeston Town not only self-sustainable but also competitive and ambitious and would be aiming to claim a place in the second tier of non-league football in the medium term. Anthony Redwood with considerable experience in the professional game was appointed as  Chief Operating Officer and Matthew Hallam as groundsman. At the time of the announcement that Alan Hardy was the new owner and Ilkeston Town was to compete in the Midland Football League Division One, there were only a couple of weeks before the start of the season. Ian Deakin was announced as Steve Chettle’s assistant due to his knowledge of the game at this level. Between them, they had two weeks to get a team together. This allowed little time for preparation. Three friendlies were organised before the first league match on August 5th 2017. Supporters were not sure what to expect from a team put together at such short notice but there was much elation and excitement that football in Ilkeston was back. So much so, that at the first pre-season friendly at Underwood Villa about a hundred Ilkeston fans turned up to show their support for the new regime. Their small car park was jammed.     

THE SEASON STARTS   
The first match was away at Uttoxeter and many supporters made the

Last edited by Matchman (20/5/2019 8:28 AM)

     Thread Starter
 

20/5/2019 9:10 AM  #3


Re: Season 2018-19 and 2017-18

Oh no !! I appear to have accidentally deleted the 2017-18 Yearbook . And it took me ages to put it on Whiteball. I'll try to get it back on again when I get the opportunity.

     Thread Starter
 

Board footera

 

Powered by Boardhost. Create a Free Forum