The Opposition - History
The original Lichfield City joined the Birmingham Combination in 1923, but left after two seasons. The modern club was established in 1970 as Lichfield Football Club and joined Division One B of the West Midlands (Regional) League in 1976. They were placed in Division One the following season when the league was reorganised and remained in the division until being relegated to Division Two at the end of the 1985–86 season. The club were Division Two runners-up in 1989–90, earning promotion back to Division One. In 1994 they were renamed Lichfield City. Their first season under the new name saw the club finish as runners-up in Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division.

Despite finishing in mid-table in their first season in the Premier Division, Lichfield resigned from the league and became a Sunday league team. They returned to Saturday football when the club joined Division Three of the Midland Combination in 2008. Despite only finishing fifth in the division in 2008–09, they were promoted to Division Two. In 2010–11 the club won the league's Challenge Vase with a 2–1 win over Continental Star Reserves in the final. They also finished fourth in the division, earning promotion to Division One. Another fourth-place finish the following season led to them being promoted to the Premier Division.

In 2014 the Midland Combination merged with the Midland Alliance to form the Midland League, with Lichfield placed in Division One. In 2021 the club were promoted to the Premier Division based on their results in the abandoned 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons. They won the JW Hunt Cup in 2022–23, defeating OJM 3–0 in the final. They retained the cup the following season, beating Wolverhampton Sporting 3–1 in the final. The club were also runners-up in the Midland League Premier Division, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating Highgate United 3–1 in the semi-finals, they lost 3–1 to Darlaston Town (1874) in the final.

The 2024–25 season saw the club crowned Midland League Premier Division champions, winning promotion to Step Four for the first time in the club's history.

(Source - Wikipedia)

Manager Ivor Green took over in March 2020.

A journey of around 30 miles awaits the Nailers this evening.

The Opposition - This Season
Lichfield started their competitive season with a disappointing early exit from the FA Cup.
The NPL campaign also started with defeat as Anstey Nomads won at the Tyre Trade Community Stadium
They got their season up and running on Saturday when an early Jude Taylor goal secured three points away to Bedworth United.

League (14th): P 2 W 1 D 0 L 1 F 1 A 1 Pts. 3
Cups: P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 F 1 A 3

Top goalscorers: Tom Brown & Jude Taylor (1)
Most appearances: Various (3)
Biggest victory: 1-0 vs. Bedworth United (12th August)
Heaviest defeat: 1-3 vs. Hanley Town (2nd August)
Highest home attendance: 263 vs. Anstey Nomads (9th August)
Average home attendance: 263 (13th/22)
Most consecutive wins: 1
Most games without a win: 2
Most consecutive defeats: 2
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 Three 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 with a hard fought 3-1 win at St. Neots Town, Bastos (2) and Rhodes on the scoresheet.
Last Tuesday goals from Jack Broadhead and Jonathan Wafula ensured it was six points from six following victory over Loughborough Students.
However Saturday saw injury time heartbreak as Kidsgrove Athletic won at the Raygar Stadium in the FA Cup.
Kevin Bastos and Ben Rhodes are joint top goal scorer with two each while Jack Broadhead and Jonathan Wafula have one apiece.

Head to Head
This will be a first meeting between the sides.
The return fixture is scheduled for Saturday, 28th March 2026.

Form Guide (all competitive matches)
Lichfield City: LLW
Belper Town: WWL

Team News
Full team news will be announced sometime after 7:00pm. There are no major injury concerns or suspensions.

Permutations
The Nailers will go top if they win by two clear goals. If the score is 2-0 they will go joint top with Carlton, any other two goal win will send Belper top on goals scored. A draw will move them up one place to 5th.
For Lichfield victory could shoot them up as high as 6th (possibly displacing the Nailers depending on the score). A draw may take them as high as 9th depending on how many goals are scored!

Match details
Lichfield City vs. Belper Town
NPL Midlands Division

Wednesday, 20th August 2025 - 7:45pm kick off

Trade Tyre Community Stadium
Brownsfield Road
Lichfield
Staffordshire
WS13 6BX

Admission prices: Adults £10, Concessions £7, Under 16 £2 (free with paying adult)

Cash and card accepted on the turnstiles.

Entrance to the Trade Tyre Community Stadium is via the turnstile on the car park at the Brownsfield Road side of the ground.

Once inside the ground there is covered seating for 150, covered standing for 500 and an elevated viewing opposite the dug-outs.

There is a large club house that offers hot food and hot & cold drinks. Alcohol is served from the function suite bar and the lounge is open after the game has finished.

Internal and external toilet facilities are available for spectators.

There is an on site car park and spectators are advised to be mindful of neighbouring properties and not park in the local housing estates, many of which are restricted to residents parking only.

The ground is a ten minute walk from both the City Centre and Lichfield Trent Valley train station and there is a bus stop just outside the ground which will take you to Lichfield City Centre.

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
Carlton Town and Corby Town retained their 100% records with victories last night meaning Belper will need to win by at least two clear goals to go top.
At the bottom Bourne Town remain without a point following a home defeat while Mickleover chalked up their first points with a win at Boldmere St. Michaels, opponents for the Nailers on Saturday.

Tuesday
(7th) AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1-0 Bedworth United (19th)
(5th) Basford United 2-1 Anstey Nomads (16th)
(15th) Boldmere St. Michaels 1-2 Mickleover (17th)
(22nd) Bourne Town 0-1 Wellingborough Town (12th)
(4th) Coventry Sphinx 1-1 Coleshill Town (9th)
(8th) Long Eaton United 3-0 Shepshed Dynamo (18th)
(21st) Loughborough Students 0-3 Carlton Town (1st)
(10th) Racing Club Warwick 1-2 Sutton Coldfield Town (11th)
(13th) Rugby Town 1-2 Corby Town (2nd)
(20th) St. Neots Town 0-0 Rugby Borough (3rd)
Wednesday
(14th) Lichfield City vs. Belper Town (6th)