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Whilst it was tougher picking up wins last season, there was never a game we went into when I thought we couldn’t win it because those players were capable of producing winning performances. Surely Deaks has to take some credit for that. It’s not possible to win every game and I remember going to Hednesford and watching us outplay them for 90 minutes then being robbed by a referee’s decision then a goalkeeping error in added time. Of course there were games when we weren’t so good and deserved to lose. That’s football, you could never be sure of a result last season because it was so competitive with so many good teams. A big factor in why we didn’t do so well last season was because of losing players through suspensions. Deaks wears his heart on his sleeve and his seven match suspension didn’t exactly set a good example to the players and key players missing matches through suspensions eventually took its toll on results. 

Every supporter was so happy when Deaks arrived and personally, I thought the three seasons under Deaks were brilliant. But nothing stays the same and it’s time to move on. I would like to thank Deaks, Craig, Adam  Ben, Simon and all the players for the entertainment and pleasure they gave to me. It’s a privilege to travel to away matches on the team bus and get to know the management and players on a more personal level. When things go wrong they feel it as much as supporters. They have always done their best for the club.

So the Deaks era has ended and we start again with Tristram Whitman and Aaron Large. Almost all of last season’s players have left so it’s a total new start and it does feel strange looking forward to next season without having a clue what sort of team we will have. 



 

Last edited by Matchman (26/5/2026 8:37 AM)

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New player signings by local teams: 
Mickleover appear to be making a push for promotion with some good Step 2 additions  

Basford
Terry Hawkridge
Ryan Wilson
Danny Gordon 

Belper
Josh Mansell (Lichfield player of the season) 

Matlock
Alfie Roberts (Ilkeston Town)
Jo Cummings ((Halifax Town)  

Mickleover
Hamza Bencherif  (Worksop)
Manni Norkett  (Boston United)
Sam Saunders  (Truro City) 

Carlton
Jack Thomas (Basford) 

Ilkeston Town :   None announced so far 

Alfreton Town :   None announced so far


 

Matchman wrote:

.
Last season’s top scorer Harvey Kirby-Moore has joined Anstey Nomads

Anstey Nomads (C)
@TheNomadsFc

WELCOME HARVEY KIRBY-MOORE The 20 year old striker commits to the
season 26/27. Having played for Ilkeston Town last season and scoring 15 goals in all competitions, we are delighted to welcome Harvey to Cropston Road
#UpTheNomads


I thought Harvey might stay but no, he's another leaver.
I must admit i can't ever remember an exodus of players at the end of a season, the likes of this.
Deaks told me this would happen. I expected some to leave but not this many.



 

bet he told the players a load of crap ......

Sam Parker - signed for Alfreton

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​I’ve been assured that we do have some players for the coming season but the club don’t want to give details at the present time. 
Apparently non contract players can’t be signed until 1st July so “signings” are not definite until then. 



Saying you’ve “signed” a player notifies other clubs that the player is available / looking for a move and another club could then make him a better offer. Maybe that’s the reason for no announcements.

 

Last edited by Matchman (02/6/2026 1:22 PM)

They could have been on one year contracts?
In the past players who were not on contract were paid per game played so if you did not play you did not get any money. This was the case at Ilkeston until we starting going up the leagues in the 1990s. Players realised that players from other clubs were on much better money than them and threatened to leave. The club then put them on contracts. Unfortunately the team could not cope at the higher, lost 11-1 to Merthyr but were stuck with players on contracts who were not getting selected but still getting paid.
I got the impression that the only players you had on longer than one year contracts were those who you may get a fee for. Non contract players can go without any fee as long as the interested club puts seven days notice in for them I believe. I think we have quite a few non contract players over recent years as you find some of them have turned out for Sunday pub teams as well. In the end it’s all about getting the best return for the money you have available.