The Opposition - Key Facts
Full name: Rugby Town Football Club
Nickname: The Valley
Founded: 1956
Ground: Butlin Road
Capacity: 5,000
Chairman: Brian Melvin
Manager: Grant Joshua (since May 2025)
Last season: 19th/21 (NPL Midlands - reprieved)
Journey distance: 56 miles

The Opposition - History
Rugby Town FC began in 1956 as New Bilton Juniors, soon renamed Valley Sports and progressing through local leagues before becoming VS Rugby in 1969. After several ground moves, they settled at Butlin Road in 1973. Under manager Jimmy Knox from 1981, the club enjoyed its greatest success, winning the 1983 FA Vase, claiming league and cup honours, and reaching the FA Cup second round in 1987/88. A highlight came in 1991 with a 1–0 win over Manchester United in a testimonial.

After Knox’s departure, financial struggles saw the club enter receivership in 1992, but supporters rescued it and promotion soon followed. Name changes to Rugby United (2000) and Rugby Town (2005) proved contentious. In the 2010s, Dave Stringer twice led the team close to promotion via play-offs, before a period of managerial changes and eventual relegation to the Midland Football League in 2017.

Stringer briefly returned, then Carl Adams took over in 2018. The club’s best FA Vase run since 1983 came in 2021–22, and in 2022–23 Rugby secured promotion back into the Northern Premier League system.

The Opposition - This Season
The Valley, like Belper lost at the first hurdle in the FA Cup, in Rugby's case this was the season opener away to Coton Green.
The NPL campaign started with defeat at home to Carlton Town but they won their first away game at Wellingborough Town.
After this came a run of three successive defeats, ended with a draw at the Raygar Stadium at the end of August.
They come into the match today unbeaten in three - that match at Belper followed by a comfortable win over Racing Club Warwick in the last round of this competition and a 2-2 draw at Loughborough Students last weekend.

League (19th): P 7 W 1 D 2 L 4 F 8 A 11 Pts. 5
Cups: P 2 W 1 D 0 L 1 F 5 A 3

Top goalscorers: Caine Elliott (5), Rivel Mardenborough (3)
Most appearances: Various (8)
Biggest victory: 4-1 vs. Racing Club Warwick (6th September)
Heaviest defeat: 1-3 vs. Anstey Nomads (23rd August)
Highest home attendance: 358 vs. Corby Town (19th August)
Average home attendance: 322 (7th/22)
Most consecutive wins: 1
Most games without a win: 4
Most consecutive defeats: 3
Most games without a defeat: 3

The Nailers
Belper have had a great start to the season, with just one defeat so far.
It started with victory on the road at NPL new boys St. Neots Town before a further three points back at the Raygar Stadium against Loughborough Students.
Next up came a setback as Kidsgrove won at Belper in the FA Cup with the last kick of the match but after a draw at Lichfield City the Nailers found winning form again at home to Boldmere St. Michaels.
A goalless draw away to Basford United on Bank Holiday Monday was followed by another draw against Rugby Town.
Belper have won both games since then, both 2-1 at HQ, with Newcastle Town (FA Trophy) and Bedworth United (NPL) the opponents.
Kevin Bastos is top goalscorer with six, while Ben Rhodes has three. A further six players have one goal each.
Eight players have appeared in every match, with three (Keenan, Evans and Preston) having played every minute of the season to date.

Head to Head
The sides have met on six previous occasions, the first five all within an 18 month period when both sides were in the NPL South.
The first match was a goalless draw before Rugby won a League Cup encounter by the odd goal in seven.
They also secured a win in the next encounter at Belper but the Nailers then secured three points in each of the following two meetings without conceding a goal.
The last meeting was earlier this season when Louis Keenan's opener was cancelled out and the points were shared at the Raygar Stadium.
Overall record for Belper: P 6 W 2 D 2 L 2 F 8 A 7.
(5 x NPL, 1 x League Cup)

Form Guide (all competitive matches)
Rugby Town: LLDWD
Belper Town: WDDWW

Team News
Full team news will be announced at 2:15pm. There are no major injury concerns or suspensions.

Permutations
The tie will be decided on the day, going straight to penalties if level after 90 minutes and the winners will enter the draw for the Third Qualifying Round.
The prize money for the winning side will be £2,250 while the losing side will collect £575.

Match details
Rugby Town vs. Belper Town
Isuzu FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round

Saturday, 20th September 2025 - 3:00pm kick off

Butlin Road
Rugby
Warwickshire
CV21 3SD

Admission prices: Adults £10, Concessions & Under 18s £5, Under 12s £2
Cash and card accepted on the turnstiles.

Follow the match
Full coverage of the match:

• Audio commentary with Tom on Radio Belper Town
• Full text coverage on X and Facebook
• Match reports on the website (all matches) and in the Non-League Paper (Saturday matches only)

FA Trophy fixtures involving NPL Midlands sides
Bedworth United vs. Anstey Nomads
Coleshill Town vs. AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Corby Town vs. Sutton Coldfield Town
Matlock Town vs. Basford United
Rugby Town vs. Belper Town
Shifnal Town vs. Carlton Town