The Opposition - Key Facts
Full name: AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Nickname: The Diamonds
Founded: 2011
Ground: Hayden Road
Capacity: 2,955
Chairman: Rob Usher
Manager: Elliot Sandy (since June 2025)
Last season: 14th/21 (NPL Midlands)
Journey distance: 86 miles

The Opposition - History
The original Rushden & Diamonds was founded in 1992 after the merger of Irthlingborough Diamonds and Rushden Town. Rapid success saw them reach the Football League within nine years, but financial and managerial instability led to their expulsion from the Conference and administration in 2011.

In response, fans founded AFC Rushden & Diamonds that summer as a phoenix club. With former youth coach Mark Starmer appointed manager, the club began with an Under-18 team in 2011–12, winning the Northants Senior Youth League Knock-out Cup. A senior side debuted in 2012–13, based at Wellingborough Town’s Dog & Duck Ground, earning promotion from the United Counties League Division One at the first attempt.

Further promotions followed: the club won the UCL Premier Division in 2014–15, gaining entry to the Southern League Division One Central. Diamonds enjoyed strong FA Cup and Trophy runs, reached multiple play-offs, and lifted the Hillier Senior Cup in 2016. After league reshuffles, they secured a third promotion in six seasons in 2018 to Step 3 (Southern League Premier).

Subsequent seasons brought mid-table finishes and disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite occasional high-scoring wins, the club was relegated from Step 3 in 2022–23 after five seasons at that level.

Today, AFC Rushden & Diamonds remains a fan-owned, community-driven club, with Radio Diamonds volunteers providing live match commentary for supporters.

The Opposition - This Season
The Diamonds struggled for goals in the early part of the season, failing to register more than one goal in a game until their 8th match away to Bourne Town.
This period also included FA Cup elimination and a heavy defeat at Mickleover.
However once they found their scoring boots in the FA Trophy match at Bourne, they scored 13 goals in their next four matches including a thrilling 4-3 win at Coleshill in the FA Trophy, a competition in which they will face Harborough Town in the First Round Proper.
This match was part of a five game winning streak, ended a couple of weeks ago by St. Neots Town and they come in to the match today off the back of successive clean sheets against Racing Club Warwick and Bourne Town.

League (18th/22): P 11 W 4 D 3 L 4 F 13 A 16 Pts. 15
Cups: P 4 W 3 D 0 L 1 F 9 A 5

Top goalscorers: Data unavailable
Biggest victory: Two goal wins over Bourne Town, Basford United and Malvern Town
Heaviest defeat: Three goal defeats to Mickleover and Anstey Nomads
Highest home attendance: 781 vs. Corby Town (25th August)
Average home attendance: 434 (3rd/22)
Most consecutive wins: 5
Most games without a win: 3
Most consecutive defeats: 3
Most games without a defeat: 5

The Nailers
After an indifferent pre-season, Belper started well in the NPL with three victories in their first four matches but this early spell also saw an exit from the FA Cup at the first hurdle.
A good point was secured on Bank Holiday Monday at Basford and it was another draw against Rugby Town back at the Raygar.
The Nailers battled past Newcastle Town in the FA Trophy before defeating Bedworth United.
Rugby Town ended the FA Trophy run at the Second Qualifying Round stage but it was back to winning ways against Wellingborough Town and Coventry Sphinx.
Carlton Town won at Belper on the 7th of October to inflict a first defeat of the season and four days later it became back to back defeats as Coleshill won 2-0.
On Tuesday night it was back to winning ways with an impressive victory at Anstey Nomads.
Six players have appeared in every match so far.
Kevin Bastos leads the goalscoring charts with six, while Jacob Fenton and Ben Rhodes have three each. Jonathan Wafula and Jacob Gratton have two to their name and a further six players have one goal apiece.

Head to Head
The two sides have met twice previously.
The first was a 4-1 win for the Diamonds at Belper in October 2016, despite an early Wiggins-Thomas penalty.
The return fixture in February 2017 saw a goalless draw.

Overall, from a Belper perspective the record reads: P 2 W 0 D 1 L 1 F 1 A 4.

The return fixture from today is scheduled for Saturday, 21st February 2026.

Form Guide (all competitive matches)
Belper Town: WWLLW
AFC Rushden & Diamonds: WWLWD

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

Permutations
With a one point advantage atop the table, the Nailers will stay exactly where they are with a win.
A draw would mean Carlton Town could go top with a win while defeat would leave the door open to Coventry Sphinx and Corby Town as well, although Belper's +8 goal difference remains the highest in the division.
For the Diamonds, a win could propel them as high as 9th while even a draw could send them up as many as five places.
If defeated the lowest they can fall is 20th.

Match details
Belper Town vs. AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands Division

Saturday, 18th October 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 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
The four teams immediately below Belper are all away on Saturday and there's a tasty encounter down the A38 where 6th placed Mickleover entertain Rugby Borough in 5th.
It's also 8th vs. 7th as St. Neots Town and Lichfield City battle it out to enter the playoff places.

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