About Us

Retford FC were formed in 2015 by Chris Woodhead and Kev Swannack.

Their vision for the club was that it would become a club where local footballers would be given the opportunity to develop and play at a good standard of non-league football. They began their existence in the 2015-16 season in the Central Midlands League North.

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The clubs’ first ever competitive game seeing them win 2-0 at Dinnington Town with a brace from Will Tomlinson. During the season Retford would enjoy victories over eventual champions Glapwell and the side that would go on to be promoted Ollerton Town, as they finished 7th in their inaugural season.

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The following season 2016-17 would see the club enter the FA Vase for the first time but they would lose 3-0 in the second qualifying round to Step 6 St Andrews.

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On the field the club improved on their league position of the previous year finishing 6th in the Central Midlands League North. This season included the current record score for the club which was a 15-2 victory away to Welbeck Lions, Will Tomlinson scoring nine goals in the game. A chance of some silverware came in the Floodlit Cup final, but it wasn’t to be as Sherwood Colliery triumphed 5-2 in the final at Rainworth’s Kirklington Road home. Off the field the club were making plans and at the end of the season they announced an end to the groundshare with rivals Retford United as they moved to a new home.

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Chris, Kev and a band of volunteers built the changing rooms and added railings and hard standing to bring our new home up to required standard. Retford began the 2017-18 season with a victory in the first game at their new home ’The Rail’, beating Tideswell United 3-0. They also demonstrated their commitment to local talent with the signing of Retford born goal scorer Adam Scott from Worksop Town. Scott would net 26 times during the season as Retford finished 5th in the league and reached the semi-finals of the league cup. During the season the club would also adopt it’s nickname ‘The Choughs’ another nod towards local history as the chough is feature on the town crest.

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During a busy summer ‘The Rail’ underwent huge renovations as covered standing was added as well as a new snack bar and hard standing on 3 sides of the ground. The addition of a small seated stand at the road end of the ground. The club announced plans for floodlights to be installed and also continued their commitment to developing local players by adding an under 21s and under 18s to the senior club as well as merging with Ordsall Rangers to create a junior section.

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The floodlights finally arrived in November. The Choughs matched off field success with on field success as they were crowned champions of the Central Midlands League, winning promotion to the NCEL. The season was a phenomenal success as we lost just once all year, finishing the season with 22 wins and 3 draws from 26 games and scoring 112 goals in the process. During the season Retford beat title rivals Clay Cross Town 4-1 and 5-3 as well as hammering big spending local rivals Retford United 5-0 in the Retford derby, Will Tomlinson scoring a hattrick to the delight of the 706 crowd.

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Refusing to stand still the club has made further improvements to the Rail with the addition of 250 seats, completed hard standing on all four sides of the ground and a new hospitality suite. The junior section has grown from 4 teams to 16 and we have also added a Ladies team and Girls teams.

 

2022/23 saw Retford miss out on the play-off's on the final game of the season, but there was joy for both the Ladies and Veterans sides who both won their respective league titles with the Veterans completing a league and cup double.

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2024/25 will be a new era for the club with the lateral move to the

United Counties League Division One.

The club made strides off the field with a new hospitality suite and major ground improvements that were unveiled in a game against Manchester United Legends

in June 2024.

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After successful seasons in the NCEL, further improvements to the ground including a stand in the name of much-loved club stalwart Martin “Buster” Keeton and a new committee room, the club continues to grow with a committee working hard to deliver the ethos of giving back to the local community, a growing fan base and an ambition to continue to grow ‘Our Local Club’.

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Up The Choughs !