The Opposition - Key Facts
Full name: Sutton Coldfield Town Football Club
Nickname: The Royals
Founded: 1879
Ground: Coles Lane
Capacity: 2,000
Chairman: Nick Thurston
Manager: Jemiah Richards (since October 2025)
Last season: 12th/21 (NPL Midlands)
Journey distance: 36 miles

The Opposition - History
Sutton Coldfield Town FC was founded in 1879, playing its first match against the 2nd XI of Birmingham F.C. on 1 February that year. In its early years, the club played in Sutton Park and competed in various local leagues, including the Central Birmingham and Suburban Leagues. By the 1930s, now based at Coles Lane, they played in the Birmingham Alliance and Combination with limited success.

After World War II, as Sutton Town, they joined the Birmingham & District League in 1954 but struggled financially after a fire at their ground. In 1964, they moved to the Worcestershire Combination, winning the title twice before rejoining the West Midlands (Regional) League in 1979, immediately winning promotion. A strong run in the early 1980s saw them move to the Southern League, where they briefly reached the Premier Division before returning to the second tier, remaining there until 2010 when they joined the Northern Premier League Division One South.

In 2011, Sutton won their first Birmingham Senior Cup, defeating Nuneaton Town 1–0, and installed a new 3G pitch soon after. Manager Chris Keogh resigned in 2012 and was succeeded by Neil Tooth, who led the team to promotion to the Premier Division in 2015. The club was relegated again in the 2017–18 season.

The Opposition - This Season
The Royals won four of their first six matches before defeat at Lichfield City.
After drawing 2-2 in the FA Cup with Abbey Hulton United twice, they ultimately won the replay on penalties then picked up three further victories, two of which represented further cup success.
After victory over Bourne Town a run of three without a win followed and then after defeating Long Eaton United they lost three more before beating Shepshed Dynamo.
Good wins over Wellingborough Town and AFC Rushden & Diamonds were collected at Coles Lane but they come in to the match today without a win in two - trips to Coleshill Town and Mickleover.

League (13th/22): P 16 W 6 D 3 L 7 F 29 A 30 Pts. 21
Cups: P 9 W 5 D 2 L 2 F 18 A 14

Top goalscorers: Data not available
Biggest victory: Two goal victories on seven occasions
Highest home attendance: 379 vs. Stamford (27th September)
Average home attendance: 154 (20th/22)
Most consecutive wins: 3
Most games without a win: 3
Most consecutive defeats: 3
Most games without a defeat: 4

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.
The Nailers bounced back well from these setbacks, with an impressive victory at Anstey Nomads being followed by a comfortable home win over AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
Two weekends ago a last gasp free kick from Jacob Gratton secured a point at Racing Club Warwick before a late, late show from Corby Town condemned us to defeat the following Wednesday.
Last weekend back at the Raygar it was a 1-1 draw with Rugby Borough.
Five players have appeared in every match so far.
Kevin Bastos leads the goalscoring charts with six, while Liam Moran and Jacob Fenton have four. Jonathan Wafula, Jacob Gratton and Ben Rhodes have three. Jack Broadhead has two while a further four players have a single goal to their name.

Head to Head
The two sides have met on 13 occasions.
The Royals won the first five but the Nailers have been victorious in seven of the last eight including the last six in a row!
All have taken place since 2010 with Sutton Coldfield's largest margin of victory being 4-1 while Belper's is a 7-1 win in October 2020.
The last meeting was in February 2022, Belper winning at Coles Lane.

The return fixture is scheduled for Saturday, 21st March 2026.

Form Guide (all competitive matches)
Sutton Coldfield Town: WLWWLD
Belper Town: LWWDLD

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

Permutations
Belper have slipped six points behind leaders Carlton Town and so need a victory just to retain 2nd place, this will happen as long as Anstey Nomads don't overhaul the goal difference (this is only two).
A draw or less leaves the door open for four teams to leapfrog us.
The hosts can only jump one place with a win and this would take a goal difference swing of four.
They could drop as low as 19th if defeated and other results go against them.

Match details
Sutton Coldfield Town vs. Belper Town
Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands Division

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

Dominos UK Arena
Coles Lane
Sutton Coldfield
B72 1NL

Admission prices: Adults £10, Concessions £7, U18 £3

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