The Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League, supported by Euro Soccer Company has a new website.  All future updates will be on: www.nottsseniorleague.co.uk/

As some of you may already know, Regatta Way Sports Ground in West Bridgford is under threat, with Nottinghamshire County Council wanting to use the land for future housing or two new schools. 
 
Many of you will have enjoyed times playing football (and maybe cricket) there, and West Bridgford Colts club do a fantastic job in encouraging youngsters of all abilities to take up and enjoy playing football.
 
EMPAL is supporting the opposition to this development which could leave West Bridgford Colts, West Bridgford Football Club & Gedling & Sherwood Cricket Club all homeless, and with it over a thousand local youngsters without a safe place to enjoy their sport.
 
Therefore, we’d encourage as many people as possible to sign the petition and show their support. Further details and the petition can be found at:
https://www.change.org/p/nottinghamshire-county-council-save-regatta-way-sports-ground-from-developers

A list of teams and their status in respect of completing a risk assessment is available on the COVID-19 page.

The FA strongly recommend a phased return to competitive football activity as follows:

Until 31 July
When ready, you can begin competitive training, with the overall group size (inclusive of coaches) being limited to 30 people.

From August
Outdoor competitive football matches to begin, for example pre-season fixtures, festivals and small sided football competitions.

From September
Grassroots leagues, men’s National League System, Women’s Football Pyramid tiers 3 to 6, and FA Competitions can commence.

Clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents/carers, spectators and football facility providers should read The FA’s full guidelines, which are accessible on the dedicated COVID-19 page, in addition to the latest Government guidance on COVID-19.

A return to competitive football should only happen once clubs and facility providers have completed the necessary risk assessments and comprehensive plans are in place.

The Premier League, The FA, the government and Sport England have come together through their Football Foundation to launch a new ‘Pitch Preparation Fund’ in support of the game, which is currently facing unprecedented challenges as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
 
The fund provides almost £10 million of financial support to those struggling to maintain their football pitches across the country. This is a direct response to a need across the game, providing grants to clubs that have lost out on normal revenue streams during this difficult period and helping them to prepare their pitches after challenging winter weather conditions.
 
The move will help to get clubs in a position to start playing football again when it is safe to do so, following government advice, and is estimated that to benefit up to 4,000 grassroots clubs and organisations.
 
A total of £9.56 million has been allocated to the fund, which is open to football clubs and voluntary organisations that maintain their own natural grass pitches and have at least 12 months’ security of tenure.  Clubs with suitable tenure for a 3G artificial grass pitch are also eligible to apply.
  
Robert Sullivan, Football Foundation Interim Chief Executive, said: “This fund reflects the determination of the Premier League, The FA and government to work together to make funding available to help get pitches match-ready for when restrictions are lifted.
 
“The Football Foundation will work with eligible clubs and community organisations across the country to ensure they get what they need.  We are here to help, so please apply via footballfoundation.org.uk before the deadline of 25 May.”

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement earlier this evening the Management Committee of the Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League, supported by Euro Soccer Company, have taken the decision to suspend all fixtures from midnight tonight, Monday 16 March, until further notice.

We have a duty of care to all players, staff and supporters of all of our clubs, together with match officials and volunteers.

This together with the announcement of the Football Association has left the Committee with no alternative.

The cup competition in the league is of now cancelled.

We shall continue to monitor the situation over the coming days and weeks and await further FA instructions, until then we are unable to answer any further questions.

Thank you.

Bingham town took sole possession of top spot in the Premier Division of the Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League, supported by Euro Soccer Company, after an own goal, a Euan Sweeting strike and a Tom Spencer penalty gave them a 3-0 win over FC Cavaliers while Southwell City suffered a 2-0 home reverse at the hands of Burton Joyce, for whom Reece Campbell netted twice.
 
Woodthorpe Park Rangers and Wollaton remain level on points with Burton Joyce after they both won too, at Bilborough Town 3-2 and against AFC Dunkirk 3-0 respectively.  A Buba Ceesay double proved insufficient for Bilborough as Toby King grabbed two for WPR alongside a Markell Bailey effort, while a Tom Slade brace sandwiched a Dan Chadwick strike for Wollaton.
 
Nobody was able to break the deadlock between Keyworth United and Attenborough whereas a solitary Jamie Humphries goal was enough for Calverton Miners Welfare to edge past Cotgrave 1-0.
 
Jack Upton and Junior Rodriguez gave Stapleford Town a 2-0 win over Eastwood CFC Development while the goals were shared between James Duffy, Kyle Nutt, Tommy Street and Ashley Dixon for Awsworth Villa in their 4-0 victory at Aslockton & Orston.
 
With only two goals in their preceding six matches there have now been six in each of Sandiacre Town’s last two games, this time they came out on the right side of a 4-2 scoreline against Magdala Amateurs.  That said, it was 0-0 at the break but Perry McGrath, Jordan Leonardi, Kian Morrison and Owen Hayes put Town in the ascendency before Toms Lawson and Groves salvaged some respectability for The Budgies.
 
In Division One, AFC Top Valley have extended their lead to 17 points after a Joe Gunn brace helped them o their way to a 5-1 win at West Bridgford AFC while second placed Ruddington Village drew 4-4 with Radcliffe Olympic.  Dan Neary bagged a hat-trick for Rudd.
 
Beeston are up to third after their 2-1 win at Kirton Brickworks and Ravenshead made it back to back wins by overcoming Wollaton Reserves 3-1.  Gedling Southbank and Robin Hood Colts drew 2-2 while Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves and Southwell City Reserves drew 1-1.
 
A Jordan Miles hat-trick helped Hucknall Town Development on their way to a 6-0 win over Radford Reserves.
 
In Division Two, United Grays consolidated pole position with a 2-1 win over the team in second at the start of the day, Ruddington Village Reserves.  Stapleford Town Reserves took the opportunity to leapfrog Rudd with a 2-1 win at Pythian.
 
There were three goals for Conor Pauley and two each for Daniel Hough, Thomas Siswick and Joseph Rock for Keyworth United Reserves in their 9-1 demolition of Burton Joyce Reserves.
 
Ellis Wright bagged a brace for AFC Dunkirk Reserves in their 6-0 win at Ravenshead Reds and Shaun Smith scored all three for Beeston Old Boys Association as they won by the odd goal in five against Clifton All Whites Development.
 
Bilborough Town Community doubled their points tally for the season with a very creditable 1-1 draw at sixth placed Cotgrave Reserves.
 
Elston United extended their unbeaten run to four matches with a 6-1 win over Bingham Town Reserves that included a Harry Johnson hat-trick and Barrowby edged out Asha 2-1.

The weather forecast suggests there's a distinct possibility that there could be several matches played in the Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League, supported by Euro Soccer Company, this weekend.

Action gets underway in the Premier Division on Friday night when Stapleford Town, who are nominally the home side, meet Eastwood CFC Development at their Pro:Direct Stadium while Wollaton will also be taking the opportunity to play on 3G as they host AFC Dunkirk at Greenwich Avenue.

On Saturday Southwell City, who moved back to the top of the table on goal difference with a midweek win over Aslockton & Orston, entertain Burton Joyce at the War Memorial Ground while Bingham Town, who they share the summit with, welcome FC Cavaliers to Butt Field.

Calverton Miners Welfare will have to do without the suspended Corey Ashley for their trip to Woodview to face Cotgrave. After their midweek reverse, Aslockton & Orston will try and get back to winning ways as Awsworth Villa visit Spa Lane.

Woodthorpe Park Rangers head to the Harvey Hadden Stadium to play Bilborough Town while Keyworth United welcome Attenborough to Platt Lane and Magdala Amateurs head to St Giles to take on Sandiacre Town.

In Division One, leaders AFC Top Valley are hoping to return to action for the first time in nearly a month with a trip to Regatta Way to face third placed West Bridgford AFC. Ruddington Village, 15 points behind Top Valley but with four games in hand, entertain Radcliffe Olympic at Elms Park.

Beeston can break into the top three if West Bridgford lose and they win on their travels at Station Road against Kirton Brickworks.

Ravenshead have a doubt over player-chairman Mark Yates for their away match against Wollaton Reserves at Weirfields but have Brent Horton back after nine weeks out through injury. Josh Deakin, a central defender signed from Pinxton, goes straight into the squad and the Reds are hoping to conclude the signing of one more player before the weekend.

In Division Two, it's first versus second as United Grays host Ruddington Village Reserves at Eagle Valley. Stapleford Town Reserves will attempt to capitalise on any slip up by Ruddington to move into the top two as they travel to Basil Russell Park to play Pythian.

​It was the turn of Storm Jorge to wreak havoc with the fixtures in the Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League, supported by Euro Soccer Company, but some creative scheduling and the use of Basford United and Eastwood Community’s artificial surfaces saw five games played in the Premier Division.
 
On Friday night a 1-1 draw between AFC Dunkirk and Woodthorpe Park Rangers saw them remain in third and fourth in the table respectively while Stapleford Town beat Calverton Miners Welfare 3-0 with goals from Joshua Watts (2) and Junior Rodriguez.
 
On Saturday, Wollaton moved up to fifth, level on points with and sandwiched between Woodthorpe and Burton Joyce, following a 3-1 win against Attenborough.  Wollaton sealed their fifth win on the trot inside the opening 12 minutes as Adam Hassell headed home, Daniel Chadwick then struck from close range before top scorer Joshua Stevenson fired in from 30 yards.  Kieran Whalin pulled one back rom the penalty spot after half an hour but that was the end of the scoring.
 
Bilborough Town picked up their first point since early December in a 2-2 draw with Awsworth Villa.  Town went ahead through Buba Ceesay early on but the pendulum swung Villa’s way with goals from Courtney Samuels on 15 minutes and Liam Towle on 29 minutes. With just less than a quarter of an hour remaining Joey Ubido netted a deserved equaliser.
 
Sandiacre Town recorded their fifth draw from their last seven outings.  The previous four had been 0-0 but this time both they and Eastwood CFC Development had held the lead at various stages before it ultimately ended 3-3.  Keanu Stevenson (2) and Nathan Clarke were on target for Eastwood; Daniel Harries, Keaton Matharu and Perry McGrath for Town.
 
In the sole Division One match that survived the weather, Wollaton Reserves and Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves drew 0-0, while in Division Two, a Sam Dunstan brace wasn’t enough for second-placed Ruddington Village Reserves as they went down 3-2 to Pythian.  The Pythian goals were shared between Jake Kane, Nathan Robinson and Jack Storrie.

​As the weather continues to play havoc with fixtures, in one of only three matches played in the Premier Division of the Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League, supported by Euro Soccer Company, Bingham Town beat Burton Joyce 4-1 to both avenge an opening day defeat and to move three points clear at the top.  A Euan Sweeting double opened the scoring for Bingham, Jake Hardy and Tom Spencer got the third and fourth before Ricky Gardner picked up a consolation for Burton Joyce.
 
Elsewhere, Awsworth Villa beat Eastwood CFC Development 2-0 with goals from Tommy Street and Ben Watson and Sandiacre Town drew 0-0 for the fourth time in six matches, this time against Aslockton & Orston.
 
Ravenshead were the big winners in Division One, seeing off Radford Reserves 8-1 with a hat-trick from Martin McDonagh, a goal each for the old guard of Paul Smith, Chris Bovey and Mark Yates, and Perris Thomas and Joshua Broad also on target.  Obinna Abuka replied for Radford.
 
Ruddington Village consolidated their claim over second place with a 3-2 win against Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves while Wollaton Reserves edged past Robin Hood Colts 2-1.
 
Hucknall Town Development and Kirton Brickworks drew 2-2.
 
Keyworth United Reserves are into the final of the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy after seeing off Nottingham 3-0.  Thomas Siswick set them on their way and a Conor Pauley brace sealed the victory.  Unfortunately the NSL’s West Bridgford AFC won’t be joining Keyworth in the final after they went down 3-1 to FC Sez.