Rainworth Miners Welfare FC

Rainworth Miners Welfare F.C.

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 MW

Rainworth 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 MW

A 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 Teversal

Rainworth 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 MW

A 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 Athletic

A 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 MW

Rainworth 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 MW

Rainworth 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 Athletic

A 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 MW

Rainworth 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 MW

Another 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 Emley

Rainworth 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 Frodingham

Rainworth 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.