South Normanton Athletic FC were formed in 1926 as South Normanton Miners Welfare, and they adopted the present name in 1990/1991 season. The club’s nickname ‘The Shiners’ comes from the 1750’s when South Normanton was the heart of the ribbed stocking industry. The workers’s trousers backsides spent many hours on the stools, that they became shiny and made the individual recognizable as from the South Normanton Area.
South Normanton Athletic were promoted in the 2016/2017 season when they finished second in the East Midlands Counties League behind the champions, West Bridgford FC who elected to stay in the league, and therefore South Normanton were promoted to the Total Motion Football League Premier Division as the next best team.
South Normanton Athletic were in 19th place, one above the relegation zone in MFL Premier Division, and were looking to pull away from Shawbury United and Haughmond as well. Boldmere St Michaels were in 14th place in the same league, and were looking to push up the table and go towards the top half of the table.
My Visit to the MJ Robinson Structures Arena
The journey to South Normanton was easy, and only took around half an hour or so, and the weather was glorious (before the match and the first half, the second half was a different story!), and the playing surface was in excellent condition as well.
The South Normanton Athletic club shop was well stocked with league and non league programmes, Scottish programmes , pin badges and SNAFC football shirts, and the gentlemen in it was very welcoming and friendly, I bought a pin badge, a Selston FC programme, Macclesfield Town programme and a Ashby Ivanhoe programme as well, for under £4.00.
The bar was smart and clean, it also had the standard range of drinks (Carling, San Miguel, Guinness, and Strongbow, but no real ale!, it also had club memorabilia on the walls which was a nice touch as well. The bar did a good trade with the travelling Boldmere fans as well.
Me and my dad took our positions on the right hand side of the pitch, near the home and away dressing rooms and watched the first half.
The First Half
South Normanton Athletic FC were the better team in the first half, and considering their predicament, wanted the result more than Boldmere St Michaels in the first half, South Normanton took the lead on the 23rd minute, when the ball found Kane Jellyman, who was allowed to turn by the Boldmere defense, and scored from a narrow angle. Boldmere responded well and equalized in the 31st minute, when Ben Usher-Shipway worked his way through the South Normanton defense, and slide a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
South Normanton, like Boldmere responded very well, and scored in the 35 minute,which was helped by Tom Lewis, whose shot was saved by the Boldmere keeper, but the rebound was put in by Jack Ekins-Tyson to put the shiners back in charge of the match and South Normanton kept Boldmere at bay until the end of the first half.
The Second Half
The second half was not as entertaining as the first half in terms of goals scored, but there were still several chances for both sides, South Normanton’s best chance came from Jack Ekins Tyson, whose shot hit the post with the keeper beaten and the follow up shot by Jamie Turner was well saved by the Boldmere Keeper. South Normanton were quick on the counter attack and the two stand out players in Tom Lewis and Jack Ekins-Tyson were always a danger.
However South Normanton defended well, and rarely allowed the Boldmere attack to create clear cut chances, and when they did, in the last 10 minutes, when Jack Skinner volleyed a half clearance towards goal, and it was very well blocked by Ryan Fuller-Nadine and South Normanton held on for a vital three points which boosts their survival hopes.
Final Thoughts On The Match
South Normanton Athletic wanted the win more than Boldmere St Michaels, and played well throughout most of the match, and looked good on the counterattack with some good young players as well, hopefully they can survive this season and push on next season.
Prices at South Normanton Athletic FC
Admission- The standard £6 for Total Motion Midland Football League Premier Division matches, £4 for concessions and U18’s and £1 for U10’s.
Programme- The programme was £1 and it contained articles about the history of South Normanton Athletic and Boldmere St Michaels FC, fixtures, the league table, Teammates 2.0, player sponsors and season sponsors as well, the programme was full color and consisted of 18 pages.
Club Shop-The SNAFC pin badge was £3.00, the Selston FC (The Whistler) programme was 20p, The Macclesfield Town programme ( Silkmen) was 20p and the Ashby Ivanhoe programme was 20p
Food and Drink- The San Miguel and Guinness cost £3.50 a pint and i have a portion of chips with a sausage roll, which was very nice and good value for money, £1.50 for a portion of chips and 80p for the sausage roll
Attendance Figure for this Match
The official attendance for this match was 64, which included a good sized contingent from Boldmere St Michaels FC, it was also one of the lowest attendances in the Total Motion Midland Football League Premier Division on the 21st of April 2018.
Final Thoughts on my Experience at The MJ Robinson Structures Arena
Despite struggling in their first season in the Total Motion Midland Football League Premier Division, and competing with teams such as Coleshill Town, Bromsgrove Sporting and Worcester City, who were playing in the National League North only 2 years ago ( They were relegated in 2016-2017, but asked to be put in the TMFL Premier Division due to rising costs and trying to find land to build their new stadium in Worcester), South Normanton Athletic have shown they can compete and survive at this level. It is disappointing that few people come to watch South Normanton, as they are a friendly local non league club where you will be guaranteed a warm welcome, 100% commitment from all the players, and honest football at the heart of the community. I would encourage the people of South Normanton, Pinxton and Alfreton, and of the Bolsover District in general to watch South Normanton Athletic FC, and after going once, you will feel the urge to come back again.
Programme and a San Miguel.
Beautiful View of the Pitch and the Hills Beyond.
South Normanton and Boldmere in Action in the First Half.
The Main Stand, and the Family and Disabled Stand in the First Half.
View of the Main Stand in the Second Half.
Purchases from the South Normanton Club Shop.
Non League Travels 