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- www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk

14th May 2004
The UniBond League Division One will have a distinctly local feel about it for the 2004-05 season after the final list of teams selected to compete was finally released by the Football Association earlier this week.

Belper Town, who endured a miserable season finishing third from bottom under new manager Gary Hayward, have waved goodbye to Ernie Moss' Matlock Town, who gained promotion to the UniBond Premier after one of their most successful seasons in recent history.

But the National League System restructuring process has thrown three other nearby rivals the Nailers' way and fans of all four clubs are already rubbing their hands in anticipation of the local derbies on the horizon.

Ilkeston Town, Gresley Rovers and Eastwood Town will all be lining up alongside Belper in the revamped UniBond Division One, each vying for one of three promotion places.

As a result of the restructuring process, two teams will automatically be promoted to the UniBond Premier, from which Alfreton Town have been promoted after only one season.

A third promotion spot is also available via a series of play-offs.

Although major rebuilding work needs to be done at Christchurch Meadow, Hayward's side will hold a slight advantage over their newly-installed opponents, due to the fact they have plenty of recent experience of the division.

Eastwood Town, galvanised by the arrival of Keith Smith as chairman last September, have only spent one season out of the UniBond set-up after finishing second in the Northern Counties East Premier Division.

But the Northern Premier League lifestyle will be a new experience for the Ilkeston and Gresley players, who have found themselves relocated from the Dr Martens Western Division.

Both have enjoyed disappointing seasons in terms of their final league position but both are looking forward to the new challenge.

Gresley boss Gary Norton has already been to 'spy' on a number of UniBond teams and will have his team well prepared.

Phil Stant, who arrived at the New Manor Ground last October to take over an ailing Ilkeston squad, has slowly but surely turned things around, with the help of assistant manager Ernie Oliver.

Both have plenty of experience of UniBond football, Stant most recently with Gainsbrough Trinity where he took over after a short spell at Third Division Lincoln City.

Stant has realised for some time that his side would end up in the UniBond League and, while trying to guide the Robins to their highest possible position in the Western Division table, has had one eye on life in the north next year.

"I wouldn't have been particularly bothered about which league we ended up in to be honest," he said.

"We'll be more than ready when the first game comes around. We've been bringing players in over the last few months who we thought would be well suited and good enough for the UniBond and we'll be doing more of that during the close season and should have a few additions to the squad over the next few weeks."

Oliver added: "The players that we bring in have got to be UniBond-type players and we've got to put together a side capable of winning promotion."

For Eastwood manager Bryan Chambers, the main aim of the recently completed season was to clinch an immediate return to the league they were relegated from in May 2003.

"There's going to be quite a few local derbies coming up which is great for the fans," said Chambers.

"We'll be going for another promotion from the off but we know it's going to be a much more difficult season because there will be some good teams in that division.

"It's going to be difficult to tell who will win it but I think the teams to watch will be Ilkeston, Belper and Kidsgrove."

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