The Opposition - Key Facts
Full name: Racing Club Warwick Football Club
Nickname: The Racers
Founded: 1919
Ground: Townsend Meadow
Capacity: 2,100 (200 seated)
Chairman: Gary Vela
Manager: Scott Easterlow (since May 2017)
Last season: 11th/21 (NPL Midlands)
Journey distance: 70 miles

The Opposition - History
They were formed in 1919 under the name of Saltisford Rovers and played in various local leagues including the Warwick League, Leamington & District League and the Warwickshire Combination until 1967.
During this period the club won a number of honours, including the Birmingham Alliance Senior Cup when they defeated Birmingham City in the final at St. Andrews.
In 1967 the club joined the West Midlands (Regional) League. Three years later they changed to their current name (which came from the fact that their ground is by Warwick Racecourse) and soon afterwards switched to the Midland Football Combination, where they were champions in 1988 and runners-up in 1989.
After the latter honour they gained promotion to the Southern League where they remained until 2003 when they finished bottom of the Western Division and dropped into the Midland Football Alliance.
They remained in the Midland Football Alliance until the end of the 2008–09 season, when they were relegated to the Midland Football Combination Premier Division, now the Midland Football League Division One.
At the start of the 2016–17 season the club began huge infrastructure renovations following the arrival of local businessman Chairman Gary Vella and the new committee members the previous year, including new changing rooms, floodlighting, stands and artificial training area.
The club's record win is 15–0 recorded on 26 December 2016.
They gained their first promotion for 30 years in 2018-19 as runners-up in the Midland Football League Division One.
The club installed a 3g pitch in the winter of 2020 in order to expand their community activity and provide a broad spectrum of football to include women's and disability amongst other community groups.
Racing Club Warwick made it to the final of the 2023-24 Birmingham Senior Cup before losing 9-0 against Aston Villa U21.
(Source - Wikipedia)

The Opposition - This Season
The Racers opened up with an FA Cup win over Droitwich Spa and then, after opening their NPL campaign with a draw and win, defeated Lye Town and Kidsgrove Athletic to reach the Second Qualifying Round where they lost to Evesham United in a replay.
Their league form suffered during this period, slipping to three consecutive defeats and seven from nine overall.
The end of September saw them score four goals each in each of three successive matches but after three more wins on the bounce in November they lost back to back matches without scoring.
January and February didn’t bring too much joy, with only a single victory but then came a seven match unbeaten run.
After losing at Anstey Nomads, they finished the season with three wins to enter the playoffs, and like Belper they won their away semi-final on penalties four nights ago.

League (3rd/22): P 42 W 18 D 11 L 13 F 62 A 56 Pts. 65
Cups: P 7 W 3 D 1 L 3 F 11 A 12
FA Cup: Exited at Second Qualifying Round (Evesham United)
FA Trophy: Exited at First Qualifying Round (Rugby Town)
County Cup: Lost to Stourbridge

Top goalscorers (NPL only): James Harding (19), Archie Hamp (14)
Most appearances (NPL only): Ryan Moore (42), Various (40)
Biggest victory: 4-0 vs. Carlton Town (30th September) and Long Eaton United (4th October)
Heaviest defeat: 0-5 vs. Shepshed Dynamo (23rd August)
Highest home attendance: 548 vs. Shepshed Dynamo (4th April)
Average home attendance (NPL): 290 (11th/22)
Most consecutive wins: 3
Most games without a win: 7
Most consecutive defeats: 3
Most games without a defeat: 7

The Nailers
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.
Three weeks ago 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.
On Tuesday a remarkable game of football at Basford United saw the Nailers win on penalties and set up this final against RC Warwick.
Appearances wise, only Curtis Burrows can lay claim to have played in every match this season - and he will bring up 50 if selected - with Kieran Preston missing just the one.
In terms of goals, Kevin Bastos leads the way with 15 while Liam Moran and Jacob Gratton have ten. Jonathan Wafula sits on six alongside Diego De Girolamo with nine players on five goals or fewer.

Head to Head
The two sides have met only twice before - this season’s encounters.
Back in October at Townsend Meadow, the Nailers took an early lead thanks to an early Liam Moran goal. Strikes from Taylor and Harding put the hosts ahead but Jacob Gratton's injury time free kick meant Belper came away with a point.
Back at the Raygar Stadium in March it finished goalless.

Form Guide (all competitive matches)
Belper Town: LWLWWD
Racing Club Warwick: DLWWWD

Team News
Full team news will be announced at 2:15pm

Permutations
The winner of the tie will be promoted to the NPL Premier Division.

If the scores are level after 90 minutes, extra time (2 x 15 minutes) will be played and a penalty shootout if still level after that.

Match details
Belper Town vs. Racing Club Warwick
Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands Division - Playoff Final

Saturday, 2nd May 2026 - 3:00pm kick off

Raygar Stadium
Bridge Street
Belper
Derbyshire
DE56 1BA

Admission prices: Adults £11, Concessions £7, U11s £1
Please note U16s must be accompanied by a paying adult if they do not hold a BTFC Season Ticket or Youth Membership.

Follow the match
Full coverage of the match:

• Audio commentary with Tom and Joey 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)

NPL Midlands fixtures
Playoff Final
Belper Town vs. Racing Club Warwick