They lost all 28 league games, conceding 186 goals and scoring only eight in that season, a campaign so bad that the FA invited them to a training session with the England national football team.
John Slater was in charge for the 1998–99 season as the club were relegated to the lowest point of the football pyramid, the Central Midlands Premier Division.
At the last minute, the club was rescued thanks to the efforts of Steve Spencer, who after initially spending time maintaining the ground, decided to take over as the new first team manager.
Two seasons of relative success and rebuilding followed, but after Funk's departure in 2003, Blidworth struggled in the league and cup competitions for a number of years under different management teams.
In April 2007 and under the management of Dave Hughes, the club won the Nottingham shire Intermediate Cup beating Bulwell FC 2–0 at Hucknall Town's Watnall Road Ground.
This resulted in Chairman Alan Whitworth appointing the management duo of Kevin Chappell and Keith Easom assisted by ex-Blidworth player Simon Ward.
The start of the 2009-10 season saw Keith Easom promote Chris Bullock to join him as assistant manager with Graeme Rodger left to run the reserves alone.
Plans and funding applications were well underway for a brand new football changing facility overseen by vice chairlady Helen Wilford which were hoped to be in place for the season after.
Keith Easom, Chris Bullock and Stan Matthews resigned from their positions at the club and it was then decided not to run an under 19 side for season 2010–11.
They brought in a whole new squad and backroom staff, including Chris Wain as grounds man but the team finished the season in 12th place in the CML South division after the league split to reduce travelling.
Bower assisted by Kevin Heathcote brought a squad of players to the club and finished the season in 6th place along with a late quarter final defeat in the under 19's shield.
On 7 October 2012, the changing facilities at Welfare Ground opened for use after local resident Don French took over the stalling project from Helen Wilford in September 2011 and within 10 months dug the first spade on site, after nearly 3 seasons sharing the cricket pavilion.
Gary Shelton joined the club as the new chairman with Dave Voller, Mick Gould and Mike Wain left to run the first team.
Voller and Gould stepped down from their roles as the season began so Mike Wain brought in Richard Preston and Lee Cook to attempt to stabilise the club.
Cotton's squad beat higher league opposition twice before being made to replay St Andrews on a technicality and losing in extra time.
With stability a big factor in their decision the pair appointed Lewis Saxby as first team manager after Steve Smith had stepped down from temporary charge after the last game of the season at Southwell City.
Saxby brought in a new squad of players to start the 2017/18 season in the CML South but promised to use the club's youth system to garner local talent in men's football.
Season 2018/19 saw Lewis Saxby, Dan Machin and Adam Gullett attempt to build on their start to life at Blidworth by resigning most of the squad that ended the previous campaign.
Richard Hannigan became manager and with Mitchell, guided the club into the top 6 before the season ended prematurely in March with 10 games to play due to COVID-19.
Hannigan brought Steve Smith back to the club as his Assistant from Rainworth MW and the 3 embarked on adding to an already good squad to compete in a strong CMFL South division.
A stop-start season was finally abolished in April 2021 after 4 months of inactivity due to the global pandemic with Blidworth unbeaten and top of the table.