This is it.

The biggest game of the season. The biggest game in the Badgers’ history for a long, long time. One final 90 minutes to get over the line.

On Saturday, Cannon Park hosts the Play Off Final as Retford United take on Coalville Town, with promotion on the line and two sleeping giants of non league football looking to take another step back towards where they both believe they belong.

After two tense semi finals, both sides booked their place in the final with 1-0 victories. The Badgers edged past Staveley Miners at Cannon Park, while Coalville travelled away and came through their tie against Stapleford Town. The difference this time is that the Ravens must make the away journey once again

It is crazy how one game can decide so much. Both clubs have enjoyed higher levels of non league football in the past, and both are now fighting to make the dream of climbing back up the pyramid a reality. For United, after finishing second with 103 points, just three defeats all season and a huge goal difference of +98, this is the chance to finish the job.

Coalville finished fourth with 82 points, staying in the play offs on goal difference after multiple points deductions across the campaign. They won 28, drew 10 and lost six, ending with a goal difference of +54. There has been plenty said from outside about how the table finished, but now all that matters is Saturday.

There is quality everywhere you look. The league’s top two scorers come from the two clubs involved in the final. Lewis Chambers still leads the way with an incredible 41 goals, despite being out of action since 14th March. Coalville’s Ronnie Morley sits just behind on 39 and was the man who scored the winner in their semi final against Stapleford.

The sides have already met twice this season. Back on 2nd August 2025, the Badgers travelled to Coalville and came away with a hard-fought 1-1 draw. Josh Devereux broke the deadlock on 57 minutes, before Ryan Green equalised late on to earn the Ravens a point.

The more recent meeting came just over a month ago, on 28th March, when United produced a superb performance at Cannon Park. Ben Ashall set the tone after just five minutes with a brilliant free kick, before Ross Duggan took over. He bullied defenders all afternoon, scoring on the stroke of half time before adding another excellent individual goal on 55 minutes to seal a convincing 3-0 win.

But Saturday is different. This is a final. This is everything.

Coalville will travel in strong numbers, so we need Cannon Park loud, packed and fully behind the Badgers from the first whistle to the last. The lads have given everything to reach this point, and now there is one final push needed.

One more game. One more huge afternoon at Cannon Park.

We can do it, Badgers.

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Club Registered Number: OC348147 | Owner: Nicholas Springthorpe