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Belper Town's
unusual nickname, 'The Nailers', came about because the craft of nail
making began In Belper in the middle ages when it was the site of a hunting
lodge for John of Gaunt. The huntsmen needed nails for the shoes of their horses
and the trade in nails eventually grew.
Nail making was a domestic industry with the
Nailers working in family groups but, in 1861, the introduction of
machinery to manufacture nails was the beginning of the end for the local
trade which died out altogether at the beginning of the century to be
replaced by modern industry and commerce In the town.
Like the nail making industry, Belper Town FC
has faded away in the past. Originally formed in 1883, the Nailers went
out of existence three times through lack of finance.
The main highlight in those early years was an
FA Cup 1st Round tie against Sheffield Wednesday on 15th October 1887 in
which the Nailers were narrowly defeated 2-3 by the Yorkshire giants.
The Club reformed for the fourth time in 1951
and it was in that year that they enjoyed their record attendance when
3,600 fans turned up to see Belper play Ilkeston Town. Regular four figure
attendances were commonplace at Christchurch Meadow in those days.
Season 1958/59 was a turning point as the
Nailers outshone wealthy Heanor Town and Ilkeston Town, their strongly
backed neighbours, with 2,000+ gates to win the Central Alliance League
championship and the Derbyshire Senior Cup. Three years later, they were
invited to join the revamped Midland Counties League although major ground
Improvements were required before the Club was allowed to bring Midland
League football to the Town for the first time.
Three times the Club finished bottom of the
League, the last time in 1978/79, when only the charitable overtures of
member clubs at the League AGM saved Belper from comparative obscurity once
again.
Under the astute managership of lvan Hollett
and John Harrison, the Nailers responded to the challenge in magnificent
style by winning the Midland League championship in the very next season
and, just for good measure, the Derbyshire Senior Cup as well.
The Nailers won the Northern Counties East
League Championship in 1984/85 the guidance of the late Harry Bethell. The
championship success that season coincided with the arrival of former Derby
County and England striker, Kevin Hector. Lack of finance at that time held
the Club back from taking up a place in the newly formed First Division of
the Northern Premier League.
In more recent seasons the club has enjoyed
tremendous success in the FA Vase, reaching the 5" Round twice and
also a semi-final appearance in which they lost 2-3 on aggregate to Oxford
City, having won the first leg 1-0 at home, in front of nearly 2,000
spectators.
Having achieved the runners-up position in the
Northern Counties League in 1996/97, the Club took its place in the UniBond
League 12 years after the first opportunity had been spurned.
Initially the club did well in the UniBond
League but has struggled in recent seasons. Ernie Moss and his assistant,
Sean O’Neil, kept the club safely away from the relegation positions during
their time in charge at Christchurch Meadow but the club did not really
challenge for honours during their time at the helm.
Ernie and Sean resigned their positions midway
through the 2006/07 season, to be replaced by goalkeeper, Andy Carney and
club captain, Danny Hudson, initially on a caretaker basis. The joint
managers did more than enough though to secure the managerial reins on a
permanent basis and are now looking to push the club forward towards the
UniBond Premier Division.
Lying in a picturesque setting, Belper’s Christchurch Meadow
ground is well appointed with excellent facilities and a first class playing
surface. The club has made many improvements in recent seasons. In 2003,
the club opened a new 500-seater stand to bring the stadium up to UniBond
Premier Division standard and beyond. This supplemented the provision of an
earlier covered stand that accommodates 300 spectators, improved spectator
terracing and perimeter barriers. The current ground capacity is 2,640.
The club has also invested
heavily in its buildings and facilities at Christchurch Meadow, by
demolishing the old clubhouse and constructing new changing rooms, function
room within a conferencing complex, in order to meet the needs of modern
game.
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