The Opposition - History
Founded in 1920 as Loughborough College, the club joined the Leicestershire Senior League in 1966 before leaving in 1972.
They returned in 2007, winning the Midland Combination Premier Division in 2008–09 and moving to Holywell Park.
Success followed with League Cup wins in 2011 and 2012.
After managerial changes, they narrowly avoided relegation in 2015 and 2017.
In 2019, they joined the United Counties League, later losing the Senior Cup final to Coalville Town.
Jamie Clapham became Head Coach in 2021, leading the team to a BUCS National title and FA Vase semi-final.
In 2023–24, they earned promotion to Step 4 via a 7–0 playoff final win and finished runners-up in the County Cup.

Manager Jamie Clapham took over in May 2021.

A journey of around 29 miles awaits them today.

The Opposition - This Season
The Students have already played three competitive games this season.
The campaign started with a 1-1 draw at home to Barton Town in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round, with Loughborough conceding an equaliser five minutes into injury time.
This meant a replay at Barton which the hosts won 2-1.
Their NPL season started on Saturday with another 1-1 draw, this time at home to Wellingborough Town. Connor Keene gave the hosts a dream start but Wellingborough salvaged a point in the second half.

League (11th): P 1 W 0 D 1 L 0 F 1 A 1 Pts. 1
Cups: P 2 W 0 D 1 L 1 F 2 A 3

Top goalscorers: Ashden Shortland (2), Connor Keene (1)
Most appearances: Various (3)
Biggest victory: N/A
Heaviest defeat: 1-2 vs. Barton Town (5th August)
Highest home attendance: 226 vs. Barton Town (5th August)
Average home attendance: 170 (10th/22)
Most consecutive wins: N/A
Most games without a win: 3
Most consecutive defeats: 1
Most games without a defeat: 1

The Nailers
Belper began pre-season with a draw against their cross-town rivals Belper United.
Defeat to Step 3 Barwell followed on a scorching Leicestershire evening before another draw with the Burton Albion Academy.
The Nailers picked up a victory at the fourth time of asking away to Gresley before back to back 4-1 defeats against Matlock Town and Chasetown.
The final friendly saw a late Keaton August goal secure a win over Congleton Town.
The league season started last weekend with a hard fought 3-1 win at St. Neots Town, Bastos (2) and Rhodes on the scoresheet.

Head to Head
This will be a first meeting between the sides.
The return fixture at the Loughborough University Stadium is scheduled for Saturday, 11th April 2026.

Form Guide (all comps)
Belper Town: W
Loughborough Students: DLD

Team News
Full team news will be announced at 7:30pm, there are no major injury concerns or suspensions.

Permutations
The Nailers could end the evening top of the table with a win, they are one of seven teams on three points (Racing Club Warwick went top last night on four points) so it will all come down to goal difference.
The Students would require a freak set of results to go top and are equally unlikely to finish the night in the relegation zone.

Match details
Belper Town vs. Loughborough Students
Pitching In Northern Premier League Division One Midlands

Tuesday, 12th August 2025 - 7:45pm 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 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)

NPL Midlands fixtures
Monday
(8th) Coleshill Town 1-2 Racing Club Warwick (1st)
Tuesday
(6th) Anstey Nomads vs. Boldmere St. Michaels (16th)
(15th) Bedworth United vs. Lichfield City (19th)
(2nd) Belper Town vs. Loughborough Students (12th)
(5th) Carlton Town vs. Bourne Town (18th)
(22nd) Mickleover vs. Long Eaton United (20th)
(13th) Shepshed Dynamo vs. Basford United (9th)
(10th) Sutton Coldfield Town vs. Coventry Sphinx (3rd)
(14th) Wellingborough Town vs. Rugby Town (17th)
Wednesday
(7th) Corby Town vs. St. Neots Town (21st)
(4th) Rugby Borough vs. AFC Rushden & Diamonds (11th)