Belper Town reached the play-off final after a closely fought semi-final game against Basford United, which was a fitting reward for never having been out of the top five all season.

However they were unable to reach Step 3 for what would have been the third time in in twelve years after losing to Racing Club Warwick on penalties in front of a 1,700 plus crowd.

Crowds have flocked to see Belper’s campaign this season and they topped the average home attendance table for the NPL Midlands with an average of 629 and their last league game against Bourne Town attracted 877 fans.

Belper had a great start to the season, losing just once in a busy August, that defeat being to Kidsgrove Athletic in the FA Cup

It would be October until they lost in the NPL, at home to Carlton Town but by then the FA Trophy campaign was also over as Rugby Town staged a fantastic second half comeback.

One defeat led to two, away to Coleshill Town but the ship was then steadied with wins over Anstey Nomads and AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

November was an outstanding month for the Nailers, seeing four wins and a draw, and defeat at home to St. Neots Town on the 20th of December was a first in nine matches.

Long Eaton United away on Boxing Day saw a Nailers horror show and heavy defeat and 2026 started with a mixed bag - a win, draw and defeat all at the Raygar Stadium.

February saw only one win as revenge was gained on Rugby Town with a comfortable NPL win but the next three matches were a struggle and Belper didn't win any of them.

After another win in Rugby, this time at Borough, a disappointing home defeat to Sutton Coldfield Town came next.

A great win at AFC Rushden & Diamonds was followed by another reversal at the Raygar Stadium, Lichfield City winning comfortably.

Further defeats at Shepshed Dynamo and Boldmere St. Michaels followed but some confidence was restored with a home win over Long Eaton United on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Nailers slipped to defeat at Loughborough Students but bounced back to winning ways, Diego De Girolamo scoring one of the goals of the season in a 2-1 win at Mickleover.

The regular season concluded with a 4-3 home victory over Bourne Town on Saturday which was enough to finish in fourth place and earn a trip to Basford which they won after extra time and penalties.

In the final Kevin Bastos put the Nailers in front late in the first half but Racing Club Warwick hit back immediately to level the scores. Extra time couldn’t separate the two sides and unfortunately the Nailers lost out on penalties (7-6), and it is the Racers who will move up to Step 3 next season.

Kevin Bastos won the race for the internal ‘Golden Boot’ with sixteen goals while Curtis Burrows can boast having played in every match this season and made it a remarkable fifty following his selection against Racing Club Warwick.

The Ladies Team have also enjoyed success, achieving their highest ever league finish - fifth in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League North - and securing the
Derbyshire County Plate with a comfortable win over Long Eaton United’s Development side.

Luke Jackson led the side for the first half of the season after which long standing player and committee member Emma Varnam took the reins, with a new manager to be announced during the close season.

Congratulations to the Belper Town (Yellow) Academy team who completed a double success by winning the Education and Semi Professional Football Academy (ESPFA) cup with a 2-0 victory over Rushall Olympic.

They then secured the National Championship final with a convincing 4-0 victory over Runcorn Linnets with both finals taking place at Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park stadium.

The Yellow Academy team topped the West Division of the ESPFA while the Black team finished third in the East.

Off the field, progress continues at the Raygar Stadium with Chairman Ian Woodward always looking for the next ground development to maintain the venue as being the envy of many sides at Step 4 and beyond.

There is also a thriving Club Shop open on matchdays and with online sales through the club website and a small army of valued volunteers ensure that everything runs smoothly both between and during matches.

Preparations are already underway towards next season with the Raygar Stadium pitch improvement works already underway.