MATCH PROGRAMME ARCHIVES: Woksop Town's Hughes received warm welcome at Gay Meadow in 1949

This was Worksop Town’s first season back in the Midland League since 1930, and they faced the first teams of Shrewsbury, Scunthorpe and Peterborough, all yet to be elected to the Football League.

Much later Boston United and Scarborough would also gain short-lived promotions.

On this early post war Boxing Day a 5,000-plus crowd would be expected at Gay Meadow for Worksop’s first visit.

The programme notes inform us that Worksop’s player manager, 'Steve' Hughes, was formerly at Shrewsbury, and will be accorded a warm welcome back to the Meadow.

Worksop’s team was Hewitt; Wright, Darwin; Dyson, Blagg, Dennison; Daley, Hughes, Moseley, Schofield and Parker, playing in amber shirts and black knickers.

At the time, Shrewsbury sat in sixth place in the 24-strong league while Worksop were 20th.

Worksop lost this one 2-0, as they also did in the return match at Central Avenue in April.

By the end of the season, the Shrews had sunk to 10th place, but this did not prevent them being elected to the Football League, along with third place Scunthorpe United in the summer of 1950.

Worksop Town finished in 20th place above Halifax Town Reserves, Boston United, Newark-based Ransome & Marles and Doncaster Rovers Reserves.

The Champions were Notts Forest Reserves.

The next season Worksop improved to finish 12th out of 22 clubs.