Jan 20, 2025
The club is pleased to announce that Ilkeston Town junior player Trafford Clarke has signed for the first team and is available for selection for tomorrow night’s game versus Alfreton.
Trafford, a product of our junior’s, has impressed Ian Deakin and his management team during recent games. Deakin said: “Similar to Colby, Trafford has shown outstanding ability and desire to progress within the game, he is a good footballer with a very strong left foot and we are keen to provide him with valuable first team experience”.
#OneTownOneClub
Jan 18, 2025
Tom Cursons scored a brace as we returned to winning ways against Morpeth Town at the Microlise New Manor Ground.
After a strong start to the match, the Robins found the opening goal in the 37th minute as Cursons slotted the ball past Dan Langley with a calm and composed finish after an incisive pass from Connor Dixon played the striker through on goal.
Just before the break provider turned goalscorer as Dixon found the back of the net via the inside of the woodwork with an effort from just inside the opposition box.
Ahead by two at half-time, Ilkeston began the second-half just as they had left off in the first; however, a double change from the visitors bench threatened to flip the script.
Morpeth Town boss Craig Lynch introduced Jerome Greaves and Nic Bollado and the pair had an immediate impact. Greaves picked out the top corner in the 73rd minute to reduce our advantage and moments later Bollado’s volley found the bottom corner to equalise.
With ten minutes left to play Jamie Walker restored our lead with a looping effort from around 18-yards out that crept in at Langley’s far post.
In the final minutes of the match Cursons bagged his brace, netting his 21st league goal of the season to wrap up the victory with a powerful strike past the visitor’s goalkeeper.
Jan 13, 2025
The club is pleased to announce that Ilkeston Town junior and academy scholar Colby Porter has been training with the first team.
A product of our juniors, Colby has impressed first-team manager Ian Deakin and his management team during recent games. Deakin said: “Colby has shown outstanding ability and desire to progress within the game, he is a good footballer and with the right guidance and coaching I am sure he can achieve greater goals.
“We are keen to have a natural pathway from our juniors to our first team. The juniors are an integral part of our club and we are hoping this promotion is one of many.”
Ilkeston Town chairman and owner Andrew Nally added: “I am delighted with this news having been a fan of the player for many seasons. I look forward to watching the next chapter in his footballing journey and hope that one day we see more and more juniors take the leap to our academy and ultimately our first team”.
#OneTownOneClub
Nov 18, 2024
Fifty-five years ago Ilkeston Town travelled to the Moat Ground to take on Gresley Rovers in the new ‘Non League Trophy” as the Football Post coined it. It is now known as the FA Trophy. Ilkeston were in the Midland League and Gresley Rovers were unbeaten in the supposedly inferior East Midlands Regional League.
The teams were:
Gresley Rovers – Slaney, McDonnell, Page, Fitchett, King, Greaves, Michell, Cowlishaw, Liddle, Tomas and Fairbrother sub Duggins.
Ilkeston Town – Treharne, Jones, Agnew, Thompson, Tunstall, Wyld, Brown A, Norris, Shrewsbury, Coleman and Rann Sub McAndrew.
Ilkeston started the game strongly and had the best of the early exchanges and had Gresley on the back foot. Norris nissed a good chances for the Robins but Cowlishaw forced Treharne to make a good save just before the break. The Moatmen got back into the game into the second half and it was Ilkeston’s turn to defend in a strong wind which made fluent play difficult for both sides. On eighty-five minutes Ilkeston got their reward when Alan Brown scored with a header from a Thompson free-kick to win the game and secure the Robins journey in the FA Trophy.
In the next round drew at home to Prestatyn from North Wales and played the replay which was also drawn at Witton Albion due to Prestatyn lack of floodlights. The Manor Ground did not have either and the third game was played at Northwich Victoria with Ilkeston winning 3-1 through two goals from Shrewsbury and one from Brown. In the next round Ilkeston defeated Sandbach Ramblers before taking on Telford United in front of 607 fans. Telford were a strong side and were too good for Ilkeston running out 2-0 winners with goals from Bentley and Harris. Telford went on to reach the final but lost to Macclesfield Town. Interestingly all the teams that Ilkeston played in the first year of the FA Trophy all at some time went out of existence as did Macclesfield Town the winners and Ilkeston Town themselves. Meanwhile in the Midland League Ilkeston finished a disappointing seventh with Alfreton Town the runaway leaders at the top.
In the Football League Nottingham Forest drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur with Rees and Moore scoring for Forest and Greaves and Pearce getting the Tottenham goals. Derby County were well beaten 4-0 by Arsenal in their first season back in the First Division under Brian Clough. Everton were six points clear at the top and were
still there at the end of the season to secure the title. Elsewhere Nottingham Schoolboys took on Derby Schoolboys and won 2-1. Derby included future Derby County player Steve Powell and Notts included future Robin Bert Bowery. Mansfield Town A were beaten 4-0 by Birmingham City A with a very young Trevor Francis
getting one of the goals. Nottingham Forest A beat Thorneywood Athletic 4-0 in the FA Youth Cup with future Robin Graham Collier getting two of the goals and a youthful John Robertson also getting on the scoresheet.
This website piece is written by John Shiels
