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It is unlikely that myself and John Shiels will be publishing a Year Book at the end of this season due to lack of demand. However I am still keeping record of events and here is the story so far.


SEASON 2022-23  

Following our promotion from the Step 4 Northern Premier League Midlands Division, Ilkeston announced their list of retained and released players.  

Retained :
Kieran Fenton
Billy Bennett
Jared Bird
Jack Thomas
Dan Bradley
Charlie Wakefield
Ollie Brown-Hill
Zak Goodson
Remaye Campbell
Alex Troke
Montel Gibson 

Released :
Adam Chapman
Charlie Jemson
Tommy Williams
Stern Irvine
Aman Verma
James Carvell
Jack Rogers
James Reid
Joe Maguire
Ross Durrant    

On 11th May our first new signing was revealed to be central defender, Marshall Willock from Stamford. There was much speculation as to which Step 3 league we would be placed in. When Ilkeston were previously at playing at Step 3 we were in the Northern Premier League Premier Division but on 12th May 2022 the FA published their League Allocations and Ilkeston was placed in the Southern League Premier Central. So the direction of travel would be South and we would have several new grounds to go to.  Ilkeston announced the following seven signings to strengthen the playing squad
Marshall Willock (central defender) from Stamford
Ben O’Hanlon (left back) from Stourbridge
Chris O’Grady (striker) previously with Bolton Wanderers
Kalern Thomas (right back) from Coalville
Saul Deeney (goalkeeper) from Coalville
Tomasz Bukowski (goalkeeper) from Coalville
Jamie Ward  (forward) from Buxton
Ben Turner (central defender) from Buxton 

It was decided to make season tickets available and by 10th June, 127 had been taken up by supporters. Also on 10th June the club announced a huge sponsorship deal with Microlise that would bring in a six figure sum over two years. 

Pre-season friendly results
Sat 2 July Carlton Town (H)                  lost  0-2
Sat 9 July  Melton Town  (H)                 won 4-1   Bird, Goodson, Gibson 2
Wed 13 July  Heanor  Town (A)            won 4-2   Campbell (pen), Gibson, Troke (pen), Trialist
Sat 16 July  Kimberley MW  (A)            won 3-2   Gibson hat-trick
Wed 20 July  Shepshed Dynamo (H)   draw 0-0
Sat 23 July  Hinckley LR (A)                  won 1-0   Gibson
Tue 26 July  Boston United (H)              won 3-2  Gibson hat-trick
Sat 30 July  Belper Town (H)                 lost  0-1    


AUGUST 2022 

On 28 July Bet365 installed Ilkeston as 9/4 favourites to win the league.
The first match of the season was at Tamworth who decided to segregate the Ilkeston fans. It was goalless until the 86th minute when Kalern Thomas powered in a header from a corner. It seemed like we had snatched the points but Tamworth equalised 3 minutes later in controversial circumstances. Saul Deeney appeared to have the ball in his hands when he was  clattered by a Tamworth forward who then put the loose ball in the net. The expected free kick didn’t come and the goal stood and the points were shared.
The Ilkeston supporters coach was stoned as they were leaving the ground. Two windows were smashed. Injuries before and during the match caused our owners to bring in a new centre back. On 9th August it was announced that we had signed centre back Liam Daly from Kettering. 
Next up on 13th August we played our first home game with Leiston. the visitors. The UK was experiencing a second heatwave and the game was played in soaring temperatures. Montel Gibson gave us a half time lead but Leiston found an equaliser after the break. Zak Goodson scored what looked like an 89th minute winner but Leiston levelled again in added time. So only two points from our opening two games but the season’s start would get worse when we lost 2-1 at Barwell on the Monday night. Despite having more of the play we went two behind. Goodson pulled one back but Barwell hung on to take the points. Next up was Redditch United at home on 20th August. The day before the match it was announced that we had signed highly rated 20 year old former Sheffield Wednesday defender Declan Eratt-Thompson. The Redditch match failed to give us our first win. We fell behind early on but Jamie Ward produced an outstanding equaliser. Ben O’Hanlon received a red card in the second half and we had to settle for a point. The draw for the first qualifying round of the FA Cup was made on Monday 22nd August and we were paired with Matlock Town at Causeway Lane. Before then we were away to Rushden and Diamonds on Saturday 27th and home to Mickleover on August Bank Holiday Monday. Both Ikeston and Rushden were without a win and it remained that way after a 1-1 draw. Ilkeston had the better of the first half but it was Rushden who took the lead just before the break. We levelled in the second half through Gibson and should have had a penalty when a Rushden defender handled on the goal line but it wasn’t given. Two days later we played Mickleover at home and found ourselves three goals behind and outplayed. We got one back through Marshall Willock twenty minutes from time and the game changed. Gibson hit a 25 yarder into the top corner and Mickleover  who had dominated the game for 70 minutes were suddenly hanging on. However we’d left our recovery too late so couldn’t find a leveller. It was our worst performance of the season and many fans expressed their displeasure.  On 30th August it was announced that Zak Goodson had left the club for an undisclosed fee to join Altrincham. Shortly afterward we announced that we had signed Dempsey Arlott-John from Shepshed Dynamo as a replacement. This was followed by the signing of former Ilkeston favourite Joe Wilson from Gainsborough Trinity. The following day it was announced that Tom Solanke had joined us on loan from Boston United.         



SEPTEMBER 2022

 Next up was the Matlock FA Cup game. Wilson and Solanke would be available but Arlott-John was not due to being cup tied. Despite Ilkeston’s poor start support remained strong and the Supporters Group filled an 80 seater coach for the game. The cup tie was Ilkeston’s first win. Matlock had the better chances in the first half but failed to take them. The second half saw Ilkeston play much better and goals by Gibson and Campbell gave us a 2-0 win.  Despite the win; on 6th September the Club decided that time was up for Martin Carruthers and Wayne Hallcro. Jamie Ward and Ben Turner were installed as caretaker managers. The match against St Ives was postponed following the death of the Her Majesty, the Queen. Tuesday 17th September we visited the league leaders Coalville Town and produced our best performance and a 4-1 win. The following Saturday we met Anstey Nomads in the FA Cup 2nd qualifying round. It ended 1-1 with a replay needed on Tuesday night. The replay finished 2-2 after 90 minutes and 3-3 after extra time so the tie was decided by a penalty shootout which Anstey won 5-4. Owner Dave Hilton was impressed enough with Ward and Turner to give them the job on a permanent basis. Ward then brought in goalkeeper Ollie Battersby on loan from Grimsby.Ben O’Hanlon sustained a long term injury in the first Anstey match and Reece Hutchinson was brought in on a three month loan from Cheltenham Town.The 120 minutes played in the replay took it’s toll when we visited Bedford the following Saturday. The players looked tired and we trailed 1-0 at half time. We did better in the second half and goals by O’Grady and Solanke put us ahead but Bedford levelled in added time.  It was then announced that leading scorer Montel Gibson had moved to Telford United on loan. On the Tuesday night we entertained Stratford Town. This was a game of quality football where both teams played well. Ilkeston were approaching their best but after a goalless first half it was Stratford who who took the lead on the hour. Ilkeston responded quickly and two goals in three minutes gave us a much needed first home win. Dempsey Arlott-John scored the winner after an own goal equaliser.  


Southern League Premier Central as at 30 September 2022

                                             P   W   D   L    F    A    GD    Pts 
  1 Tamworth                        9    6    2   1   25  12    +13    20 
  2 Nuneaton Borough         9    6    2   1   20    9    +11     20 
  3 Coalville Town                9    6    1   2   28   13   +15    19
  4 Needham Market            9    5    1   3   16    7     +9     16
  5 Leiston                            9    4    3   2   18  14     +4     15
  6 Redditch United              9    4    2   3   15  12     +3     14
  7 Basford United                9    4    2   3   10  12     -2      14
  8 St Ives Town                   9    4    1   4    19  14    +5     13
  9 Bromsgrove Sporting      9    4    1   4    14  15     -1     13
10 Stratford Town                9    3    4   2    13  14     -1     13
11 Kings Langley                 9    3    3    3   11  14     -3     12
12 Royston Town                 9    3    3    3   17   21    -4     12
13 Hitchin Town                   9    3    3    3     7   11    -4     12
14 Ilkeston Town                  9    2    5    2   16  14    +2     11
15 Mickleover                       9    3    2   4    17   20    -3     11
16 Alvechurch                      9    3    2   4    14   17    -3     11
17 Rushall Olympic              9    3    2   4    13   16    -3     11
18 Bedford Town                  9    3    2   4    13   22    -9     11
19 Barwell                            9    2    3   4    13   15    -2      9
20 Stourbridge                     9    1    4   4     9   15     -6      7
21 Rushden & Diamonds     9    1    2   6     6    20   -14     5
22 Hednesford Town            9    0    2   7     7    14     -7     2     


OCTOBER 2022  

Sat 1st October we had no match because our scheduled opponents Needham Market were playing in the FA Cup, As a result of other teams playing we slipped from 14th to 18th. Tuesday 4th Oct we played our re-arranged match against St Ives Town. It didn’t go to plan and we lost 3-2.  We did well to come from behind twice but St Ives took the points with a last minute winner.  O’Grady and Ward were our scorers. Saturday 8th October we visited Coalville in the FA Trophy. Ilkeston included new signing Miles Mercury. There was a problem before the game when the referee decided that both teams couldn’t play in black shorts and Ilkeston had to borrow a set of blue shorts from Coalville. The two sides were level until the final ten minutes when Coalville went 2-1 ahead. The hosts then had two penalties, one of which was saved by Battersby before Coalville finally finished 4-1 winners. Dempsey Arlott-John scored our goal.Tuesday 11th October we were back in league action when we visited Rushall Olympic. Another new signing was on the team sheet, that of Finn Delap from Burton Albion. If we thought things couldn’t get worse we were wrong. We lost 2-0 and had two players sent off. Marshall Willock received two yellows in the first half and Dempsey Arlott-John received a straight red in the second half. Jamie Ward was understandably very disappointed and angry after the game.  What we hoped would be a promotion chasing season was starting to look like a fight to avoid relegation. Friday 14th October it was announced that Montel Gibson was returning from Telford United where he was on loan and could be available or the Royston Town away match the next day. The supporters coach was full for the 110 mile trip as we looked to halt a run of three consecutive defeats but were to be disappointed when Gibson was not in the squad. Despite this we earned a much needed three points. After a goalless first half Kieran Fenton headed us in front and Chris O’Grady added a second. Royston pulled one back with a penalty but we held on for the win. The following day it was announced that Reco Fyfe had rejoined the club from Long Eaton. Who can forget his hat-trick in the final game of the 2018-19 season against Loughborough University that clinched our promotion from the Midland Football League. On Friday 21st October two more new signings were announced, 32 year old winger, Tope Obadeyi and 19 year old central defender Harrison Solomon on loan from Derby County. Saturday 22nd October we were at home to Bromsgrove Sporting and this would be followed by two further home games giving us an opportunity to improve our position in the league.  The Bromsgrove game went well and we won 3-1. Chris O’Grady was man of the match as he scored twice and made the other for Remaye Campbell. On 24 October the club announced a squad update that showed Marshall Willock had left, Tom Solanke had been recalled by Boston and Ollie Brown-Hill had been loaned to Stamford. It also showed that James Jepson had joined the club as a coach. Next up on Tuesday night we played Stourbridge and it all went wrong as we performed poorly and lost 2-0. We ended October in 13th position four points off the playoffs and two points off a relegation position       



 NOVEMBER 2022 

On Friday November 4th the Club announced another loan signing, that of Lamine Kaba Sherif from Peterborough Sports. November Sat 5th November 2022 we were home to Hitchin Town and Sherif made his debut. After falling behind we came back to win 3-1 with two late goals. Gibson scored a first half equaliser and Fenton and Campbell scored near the end.  There then followed another week of comings and goings. On Wednesday 9th November it was announced the Reece Hutchinson had been recalled by Cheltenham and we had signed a replacement left back, Henri Wilder, from Alfreton, also on loan. The following day Tyree Wilson ex-Derby County player joined the club. It was also announced that assistant manager Ben Turner had left to join Forest Green Rovers as first team coach. Next up was a visit to 2nd in the table, Nuneaton Borough. Although Ilkeston had more possession throughout the match we couldn’t score and Nuneaton won the game by 2-0. Saturday 19th November we were home to Barwell who we had beaten us earlier in the season. This time we won by 2-0 and our first half performance was our most dominant to date. Despite our dominance we only scored one goal but it was a cracker and a first goal for Declan Eratt-Thompson. The second half was much more even and we ran out 2-0 winners following another stunning goal by Montel Gibson. The final match in November was another home game and our owners made it free admission.  Over 1100 turned up to see us beat Kings Langley by 3-0. Dan Bradley scored his first goal for the club and Remaye Campbell scored the other two. On 28 November it was announced that Montel Gibson had gone back to Telford United.  

League Table as at 30 November 2922

                                          P   W   D   L    F    A    GD    Pts
  1 Tamworth                    19   11   5   3   42  22    +20    38
  2 Leiston                        17   11   4   2   44  20    +22    37
  3 Nuneaton Borough     19   10   6   3   32  20    +12    36
  4  Rushall Olympic        19     9   5   5   32  23    +  9    32
  5 Coalville Town            16     9   4   3   42  22    +20    31
  6 Mickleover                  19     9   3   7   40  38    +  2    30
  7 Hitchin Town               21     8   6   7   27  32     -  5    30
  8 Redditch United          18     8   4   6   30   25   +  5    28
  9 Bromsgrove Sporting  19     8   3   8   33   38    -  5    27
10 Ilkeston Town              18     7   5   6   31   26    + 5    26
11 Basford                        17     7   5   5   23   23      0     26
12 St Ives                         17     7   3   7   32   27   +  5    24
13 Stourbridge                 18     6   6   6   27   24    + 3    24
14 Barwell                        18     6   5   7   28   32    -  4    23
15 Royston Town              19     6   5   8   32   42   -10     23   
16 Needham Market         16     6   4   6   24   18   + 6     22
17 Bedford Town               20     6   3  11  28   45   -17     21
18 Stratford Town              18     4   7   7   26   37   -11    19
19 Kings Langley               19     4   4  11  20   37   -17    16
20 Alvechurch                    12     4   3   5   19   20   -  1    15
21 Rushden & Diamonds   20    3    3  14  18   48   -30    12
22 Hednesford Town          19    1    5  13   21  32    -11     8   




DECEMBER 2022

December 1st revealed that Ilkeston had signed experienced Lee Tomlin as a player coach. Tomlin came with vast experience in the professional game, particularly at Championship level with Peterborough United, Cardiff City, Bristol City, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest. He had over 500 professional appearances to his name and had scored 122 goals. Tomlin was available for the next match which was against Redditch United away on 3rd December with a 12 30pm kickoff.

 

Last edited by Matchman (02/12/2022 1:16 PM)