Review: A change of league and fortune for Ollerton Town in 2020

Ollerton Town currently top the EMCFL after a great start to the season. Pic by Nigel Owen.

For Ollerton Town, it was also a memorable year as they saw one league campaign null and voided before moving into a new league in which they are currently top of.

Dave Winter’s men headed into 2020 on the back of a poor run of form in the Northern Counties East League. The New Year didn’t bring an immediate upturn in fortune but January did seem them record their result of the season as they defeated lowly East Hull 10-1.

February saw some mixed form and what proved to be their last win in a long time came when they defeated Rossington Main. Poor form saw Ollerton into March but on the 13th, with Ollerton in 16th, the Northern Counties League announced that they had postponed all games with immediate effect. Later that month, the FA announced that the whole of non-league would have their seasons expunged with no relegation or promotion.

Gav King has played a key role in firing Ollerton to the top since his return to the club.

The club was forced to endure the national lockdown until mid-June when, thanks to the hard work of people behind the scenes, the club was in a position to welcome the players back for training. More good news then followed as prolific forward Gav King returned to the club after a year away.

On the 21st July, it was announced that the club had been moved to the East Midlands Counties League, which was news the club greatly welcomed.

Football finally returned in September and Ollerton took no time settling into their new league, winning all four games in the opening month, scoring 21 goals and conceding none.

October saw an FA Vase defeat to Radford and a 1-0 league loss away to Eastwood but two other league wins and a draw meant the Town were still the early pace setters.

Ollerton have laid a great defensive foundation this season to help them top the table.

Two late goals saw Ollerton defeat West Bridgford in early November before the league was suspended for a month as the Coronavirus restrictions were tightened.

The resumption of action on the 12th December saw Ollerton draw with Graham St Prims before a dramatic win over Kimberley Miners Welfare made it 4 games unbeaten. The year then ended with an emphatic 4-0 victory away at rivals Shirebrook Town, Ollerton’s ninth win and clean sheet in their 12 league games so far.

Now however, football has been stopped once again and there are doubts as to whether the season will reach a natural conclusion. Ollerton will be hoping that it can and that 2021 will be a year to remember for everyone at the club.