Retford United Football Club, nicknamed “The Badgers,” is a non-league football club based in Retford, Nottinghamshire.
Established in 1970, they currently compete in the Toolstation NCEFL Premier Division, which is part of the ninth tier of English football. The team calls Cannon Park their home ground.
History
Retford United Football Club, also known as ‘The Badgers’, was founded in 1987 by Brian Jackson to replace the defunct Retford Town. Starting in the Gainsborough & District League, the club quickly progressed through the ranks, moving to the Notts Football Alliance and then to the Central Midlands League in 2001. Their success peaked between 2000 and 2009, where they won six championships across various leagues, including consecutive victories in the Northern Premier League Division One South.
However, the club faced relegation and financial issues in the 2010–11 season, leading to a move to the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. Their cup run highlights include reaching the fifth round of the FA Vase in 2006–07 and the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup in 2008–09. After a relegation in the 2017-2018 season, they now play in the Central Midlands North League.
In 2018, One Call Insurance acquired the club, converting it into a limited company and refurbishing its facilities at Cannon Park. The appointment of former player Ryan Hindley as manager in 2022 brought new hope for the club’s future, aiming to ascend back up the football pyramid.
Alumni
Former players and managers elsewhere in the non-league pyramid