RBL attention this weekend turns back to the Buckingham Insurance League Challenge Cup as they travel to Holbrook, where they face Holbrook St Michaels in round three with a point to prove after the league match early in the season.

With form picking up in recent weeks, RBL will hope to progress into the next round with this tough away match. The Lions face a side who themselves are on a fantastic run, having lost just once since the end of October, dropping a total of just five points.

In the last round of the cup, RBL overcame Teversal Reserves 2-1, with goals coming from Jordan Lee and Lee Oliver, while Holbrook St Michaels managed a fantastic 2-1 home win over third in the league Mickleover Reserves.

RBL will want to continue where they left off last weekend as they gave probably there best performance of the season, coming back from a goal down to gain a 1-1 away draw against Linby Colliery Welfare. Lee Hillier equalised the opening goal on 23 minutes. From that point it was total domination from RBL, who couldn’t find a winner that their play deserved.

Holbrook St Michaels’ last match was the home 2-1 victory over Mickleover Reserves on the 12th of February. Goals from Gandola and Cartright doing the damage, with just the one goal from Mann for Mickleover seeing the Saints through to host RBL in round three.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE HOSTS

There has been a football team in Holbrook village at least since the early part of the last century. Local newspaper records show that a team called Holbrook Swifts was successful in cup and league competitions around 1910 - 1912. It is believed that in 1912 this team changed its name to Holbrook Saint Michaels. What is known for sure (we still have the minutes book) it that in early 1932 the local vicar, The Reverend Sides formed a team named after the village church of Saint Michael, to play in the Belper Sunday School League.

We moved to our present ground, Holbrook Park in 1936 and, apart from a short period during the Second World War, we have played continually since winning cup and league competitions. We have had many successes over the years most notably being the only club to win the Derbyshire Divisional Cup Northern section (1975 & 1983) and the Southern section (2006).The Club has progressed through the local leagues: The Belper Amateur League, The Derbyshire Welfare League, The Derby Senior league, The Central Alliance and latterly the Midland Regional Alliance where the Club was the longest serving member. The Club has always endeavoured to be a village team that follows its motto ‘victory with honour’. Our junior section consists of 2 teams competing in the Derby City league

For season 2021/22 Steve Palombo, first team manager and his Assistant Daren Cartwright, continue with their vision for the future for the club adding strength and depth to the squad. Noel Hayes is taking last seasons under 17 team into senior football, playing in the Midlands Regional Alliance. We have appointed a Junior development officer to help provide a pathway from junior to senior football. We have recruited several players and our reserves aim to progress with, primarily, a young squad intent on developing into first team players. Dave Wainwright and Simon Billyeald continue in their roles as Manager and assistant.

With both sides sitting in mid table, a continued cup run is a must and they will both be going for the win.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The two sides last met in August, where RBL hosted the Saints at Poppyfield Drive. A goal from Jordan Lee and two from Liam Oliver were not enough in a poor match where St Michaels came out 4-3 winners, with goals from Regan Bickerton, Ben Cartwright, Dylan Garnett and Liam Gregg.

In the Covid hit 2019-20 season, the two sides met twice at Holbrook, once in the league and once in the cup. The Saints were victorious on both occasions as they won 2-0 in the league in August 2019, with goals from Ben Cartwright and Sam Williamson. The cup match in November was a little closer. With the hosts winning 2-1 on this occasion, with two goals from Morgan Holloway answered by a single goal from RBL.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

The match will take place a short 10 miles away at Holbrook Park. Take the A38 as far as the Abbey Hill roundabout in Allestree, joining the A6 (Duffield Road) and follow it and turn right onto Makeney Road in Duffield. Follow this road as it becomes Duffield Bank. Bare right onto Red Lane, which becomes Makeney Road in Holbrook. Turn into Holbrook Hall and the pitch is on the left.

Full details for the venue are:

Holbrook St Michaels F.C.
Holbrook
Belper
DE56 0UH