HONOURS · 2025/26

Champions of Derbyshire.

A night at Pride Park that belongs in the club's modern history: Ilkeston Town lifted the Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Glossop North End.

On Tuesday 21 April 2026, the Robins walked out at Pride Park and came away as Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup winners — Ilkeston Town's first triumph in the competition since 2014.

Glossop North End made Ilkeston work for it. Ethan Sutcliffe headed the Hillmen in front before half-time, and Alfie Roberts had already made important saves to keep the Robins in the contest.

The response after the break was emphatic. Captain Matt Thornhill thundered a 25-yard strike into the corner to level the final, before Sam Parker met Thornhill's corner with a header to turn the game around and put Ilkeston 2–1 ahead.

Glossop hit back through Sutcliffe to force penalties, setting up the moment that would define the night.

Shootout hero

Alfie Roberts takes centre stage.

Roberts saved penalties from Joel Igwenwaan and Conal Gallagher as Ilkeston took control of the shootout. With the Robins 2–1 ahead on spot kicks, Jamie Walker stepped up and drove the winning penalty into the top corner.

From a goal down in normal time to lifting the trophy in front of the travelling Robins support, it was a final full of the sort of moments that stay with a club.

Ilkeston Town Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup Final highlights
IlkestonTownTV

Watch the final.

Relive the goals, the comeback, Alfie Roberts' shootout saves and the celebrations from Pride Park.

External media

Derbyshire Senior Cup Final

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49 minutes

Thornhill levels it.

The captain arrows a superb long-range strike into the corner to drag the Robins back into the final.

55 minutes

Parker turns it around.

Sam Parker rises to meet Thornhill's corner and heads Ilkeston into a 2–1 lead.

Penalty shootout

Walker wins the cup.

After two Roberts saves, Jamie Walker dispatches the decisive penalty into the top corner: Ilkeston Town, champions of Derbyshire.

Official report

Read Derbyshire FA's account of the final.

The county FA match report records the full story from Pride Park and the Robins' first Senior Challenge Cup win in twelve years.

Derbyshire FA report
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