The Opposition - History
Founded in 1886 as Auckland Town, they were a founding member in 1889 of the Northern League - the second oldest football league in the World.

In 1893 they changed their name to Bishop Auckland and three years later won their first silverware, the Amateur Cup. They won their first Northern League title in 1899 and the same season picked up their second Durham County Challenge Cup.

Two more Amateur Cup titles followed and in 1931 they completed another double. In 1939 they extended it to a treble, Bob Paisley playing at right-back as they won the Northern League, Durham Cup and FA Amateur Cup.

They won the Northern League three years in a row at the start of the 1950s and the Amateur Cup in three successive seasons towards the end of the decade, their true glory days.

The 1960s saw one Northern League title whereas 'only' the League Cup was secured in the 1970s, a comparative lean decade.

The League and County Cup double was secured in both 1985 and 1986 and 1997 saw their highest ever league finish - 2nd in the NPL Premier Division.

Recent years have seen them back in the Northern League, which they won last season to secure promotion back to Step 4.

Manager Leon Carling took over in November 2024.

A journey of around 130 miles awaits them today.

The Opposition - This Season
The Two Blues were inconsistent at the start of the season, winning one and drawing one in the NPL and progressing in the FA Cup.
They went 10 games without a win between 17th August and 5th October but turned it around to go undefeated in 10, a run ended by defeat at home to Grimsby Borough.
They conceded exactly four goals in three of their next four games to slip down the table but bounced back with three wins in a row.
Recent weeks have seen them slide down the Form Guide, they come into today without a win in five.

League (11th): P 33 W 11 D 9 L 13 F 52 A 58 Pts. 42
Cups: P 5 W 1 D 2 L 2 F 5 A 5

Top goalscorers: Louis Johnson (15), Joe Bartliff (8)
Most appearances: Joe Bartliff (35), Jordan Fielding and Samuel Hodgson (33 each)
Biggest victory: 4-0 vs. Heaton Stannington (30th November)
Heaviest defeat: 1-5 vs. Carlton Town (24th August) and 0-4 vs. Emley (28th September)
Highest home attendance: 738 vs. Newton Aycliffe (26th August)
Average home attendance: 374 (6th/22)
Most consecutive wins: 3
Most games without a win: 10
Most consecutive defeats: 3
Most games without a defeat: 10

The Nailers
Belper had a dream start to the season, winning their opening two NPL games and FA Cup opener against Lutterworth Town.
Defeat at Emley was just a minor blip as the Nailers bounced back with wins over Bridlington Town and Sherwood Colliery.
An exit from the FA Cup followed at the hands of Bromsgrove Sporting and then after a fine performance and win at North Ferriby it was disappointment in a home defeat to Cleethorpes Town.
This kickstarted a five game winning run which ended with two poor home performances against Brighouse Town and today's hosts, both matches were lost 2-0.
After a win at Carlton Town came a penalty shootout exit from the FA Trophy at Chasetown and then a crazy 6-4 win over Consett.
This began another good run of four wins in a row but following this Belper failed to win in four.
More back to back wins followed, four again but that run ended on the 14th of January and the Nailers then lost five out of six and conceded 17 goals.
Three weeks ago saw a thrilling 3-3 draw at Newton Aycliffe while the following Tuesday it was a first goalless draw for nearly a year, at Pontefract.
Two weekends ago the points were shared for the third game in a row as ten-man Belper returned from Consett with a 1-1 draw while March begun with a much needed home victory over Garforth Town.
Harry Draper is well clear as leading goalscorer with 24 while Luke Rawson picked up 10 before re-joining Stocksbridge and Curtis Burrows sits on eight.

Head to Head
The sides have met on eight occasions, with Belper undefeated in the fixture.
The most memorable fixture was that played in September 2003 when a Sean Gummer brace helped secure a 4-2 win at Christchurch Meadow.
Today will be a first meeting since April 2006.
Record for Belper: P 8 W 5 D 3 L 0 F 19 A 11 (6 x NPL, 2 x Challenge Cup).

This match was originally scheduled for 23rd November, being called off because of a frozen pitch.
The reverse fixture in the north-east will be played on Saturday, 29th March.

Form Guide (all comps)
Belper Town: WLDDDW
Bishop Auckland: WLDLDL

Team News
The Nailers are still struggling with injuries and suspensions, full details will be announced on the day.

Permutations
Belper can climb back to 2nd in the table with victory but this will also require defeat for Emley and a point or less for Dunston.
North Ferriby will leapfrog the Nailers if they better our result.
For the visitors, they are stuck in 11th for the afternoon, being six points from 10th placed Carlton and three ahead of Consett, but with a superior goal difference of 14.

Match details
Belper Town vs. Bishop Auckland
Northern Premier League Division One East

Saturday, 8th March 2025 - 3:00pm kick off

Raygar Stadium
Bridge Street
Belper
Derbyshire
DE56 1BA

Admission prices: Adults £11, Concessions (under 16 and 60+) £7, Under 11 (with paying adult) £0
Cash and card accepted on the turnstiles.

Follow the match
Full coverage of the match:

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

NPL East fixtures
Game of the day is probably the battle between two sides in the relegation zone as Liversedge entertain Sheffield.
The top four are all at home , with Cleethorpes having the highest ranked opponent in 8th placed Bradford (Park Avenue).

(4th) Belper Town vs. Bishop Auckland (11th)
(10th) Carlton Town vs. North Ferriby (5th)
(1st) Cleethorpes Town vs. Bradford (Park Avenue) (8th)
(12th) Consett AFC vs. Bridlington Town (19th)
(3rd) Dunston vs. Ossett United (16th)
(2nd) Emley AFC vs. Ashington AFC (14th)
(18th) Heaton Stannington vs. Grimsby Borough (15th)
(20th) Liversedge vs. Sheffield (22nd)
(6th) Newton Aycliffe vs. Garforth Town (9th)
(13th) Pontefract Collieries vs. Stocksbridge Park Steels (7th)
(21st) Sherwood Colliery vs. Brighouse Town (17th)