Following a couple of interrupted and abandoned seasons, it’s hoped that Ilkeston Town can finally show local fans what they are capable of from start to finish in a campaign. The new Northern Premier League season gets underway on 14th August, with Ilkeston travelling to Stamford in the opening match of what is hoped to be a 38-game season.
Three days later, it’s the first home match of the season. Ilkeston welcome Sporting Khalsa to the New Manor Ground on 17th August, and The Robins will be hoping that their new 4G pitch will help them get off to a flyer at home. Ilkeston will also play an FA Cup preliminary round (opponents to be determined) on 21st August. Then, a week later, it’s back to the New Manor Ground for the first traditional Saturday 3 pm home game on 28th August.
While the Northern Premier is a world away from the top flight, where the average Premier League salary could fund a local team for years, there have been plenty of resources pumped into the club under the stewardship of chairman Mark Clifford.
Clifford has big ambitions for club
Clifford bought the club in October 2019, and he is obviously passionate about the project of building Ilkeston Town into a formidable force. He is keen to get new investors on board and has pointed to relations with David Hilton and building links with Bury FC, something he outlined in a statement made to fans back in January.
There is also a strong relationship between Clifford and Robins head coach, Mark Carruthers. The pair worked together as manager and assistant at Basford United, and it’s clear that their vision for Ilkeston is a shared one. Clifford recently spoke of his excitement over the squad Carruthers is putting together for the new season, telling the Derbyshire Times:
“We’ve made some really good signings and have excellent squad depth now. We have competition in every area and that’s not excluding our talented U23 players who are all coming through really well and competing for a place in the first team setup.”
The new 4G pitch should be ready for handover this week, according to Clifford. If you are interested in following The Robins at New Manor Ground this season, the latest admission prices are:
Adults: £9.00
Children Under 16: Free
Concessions/Students: £7
The official Ilkeston Town FC website states that “home tickets are not available in advance unless otherwise stated”. Cash is accepted at the turnstiles on matchday, with the gates opening 90 minutes before kick off time. You can get more details on ticketing and fixtures here. Or, if you wish to contact the club for match information, the email address is tickets@ilkestontownfc.co.uk.