Rainworth Miners Welfare F.C.

Infobox Football club
clubname = Rainworth Miners Welfare


fullname = Rainworth Miners Welfare Football Club
nickname = "The Wrens"
founded = 1922
chairman = Brian Reece
manager = Rudy Funk
ground = Welfare Ground
Rainworth, Mansfield
capacity = 2000 ("171 seats")
league = Northern Counties East League Division One
season = 2007-08
position = Northern Counties East League Division One, 4th
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Rainworth Miners Welfare F.C. is a football club formed in 1922 and based Rainworth, near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England.

The club (also sometimes styled as Rufford Colliery F.C.) spent the greater part of their existence in the Notts Alliance, winning that league no less than 10 times, including a record six in succession between 1977 and 1983. They also recorded league cup and county cup success in that spell, and had some lengthy runs in the FA Vase, including reaching the final in 1981-82, when they lost the final 3-0 to Forest Green Rovers at Wembley Stadium.

After a period of less success, the club won two more Alliance titles in the mid-1990s, and then began to build for a rise up the football pyramid. Floodlights had been erected at their Kirklington Road ground in 1991, with covered accommodation following, which has since been extended and had seating installed. This enabled the club to be accepted for the Central Midlands League in 2003. They finished third in the lower ("Premier") division in their first season, earning promotion to the Supreme Division where they played until they were promoted to the Northern Counties East League Division One in 2007.

Club honours

*Notts Alliance champions - 1971-72, 1977-78, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1982-83, 1990-91, 1995-96, 1996-97
*Notts Alliance Senior Cup winners - 1970-71, 1977-78, 1981-82, 1982-83, 1994-95
*Nottinghamshire Senior Cup winners - 1980-81, 1981-82
*F.A. Vase runner-up - 1981-82
*Record attendance - 5071 v Barton Rovers, 1982 F.A. Vase semi-final second leg.

FA Cup 2007-08/Short Match Reports

* Extra Preliminary Round: Nuneaton Griff 0-3 Rainworth MWRainworth hammered the home side here with a nice 3-0 victory. James Whitehead sealed of the win with a header into the top corner.

* Preliminary Round: Teversal 0-0 Rainworth MWA fairly tight match here, Rainworth lucky not be defeated, a stunning penalty save from the Rainworth goalkeeper was enough to keep the away side in it.

* Preliminary Round (Replay): Rainworth MW 2-1 TeversalRainworth fell behind to an early goal just to minutes in. But a goals from James Whitehead and captain Lee Wilkinson were enough.

* First Round Qualifying: Biddulph Victoria 1-3 Rainworth MWA comfy 3-1 victory for Rainworth took them one step higher on the way to the FA Cup.

* Second Round Qualifying: Rainworth MW 2-0 Kidsgrove AthleticA pretty even game but with both sides creating plenty of chances. Rainworth however took theirs and came out 2-0 winners.

* Third Round Qualifying: Chasetown 2-0 Rainworth MWRainworth coming desperately close here, but 2 penalty kicks from Chasetown saw them head into the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory over Rainworth.

Current Season/Short Match Reports

* Match Day 1: Pontefract Collieries 1-4 Rainworth MWRainworth were the more attacking team here, they could have had a lot more goals. Rainworth 4-1 winners on the day.

* Match Day 2: Rainworth MW 1-0 Scarborough AthleticA thrilling game between 2 of the top sides in the NCEL first division. A late goal from James Whitehead gave Rainworth a 1-0 win.

* FA Cup EP Round: Dudley Town 1-2 Rainworth MWRainworth were the team creating more chances here, but found themselves a goal behind at half time. In the second half Rainworth turned it around, 2 goals were good enough to see Rainworth advance.

* League Cup: Staveley MW 2-3 Rainworth MWAnother thrilling game, Staveley took the lead on to occasions before James Whitehead scored a 25 yard screamer to give Rainworth a 3-2 win.

* Match Day 3: Rainworth MW 1-1 EmleyRainworth were the more attacking side here but failed to put away their chances, they broke the deadlock after just half an hour but began to fade away late on. Emley scored in the 88th minute.

* Match Day 4: Rainworth MW 1-0 Appleby FrodinghamRainworth were the just a hair in-front on attacking play and took the lead through Mark Hales. Rainworth maybe should have scored more the goals in the end but they did take all 3 points.

Rainworths next report will be posted on the 26th August.

List Of Players

*Lee Wilkinson

Mark Hales

Mark Cooper

Mathew Draper

Lee Soar

James Whitehead

Daniel Wright

Craig Wilson

Simon Poxon

Danny Naylor

Danny Bainbridge

Andy Jones

Richard Smith

Marcus Thorp

Graham Lounden

Jermain Hollis

Brendan Sweeney

Malcolm Brown

Robbie Clarke

Phil Massingham

Adam Lillie

Ashleigh Murdock

Will Heath

Alan Jeffries

Carl Spencer

David Williams

David Middleton