The Opposition - Key Facts
Full name: Wellingborough Town Football Club
Nickname: The Doughboys
Founded: 1867 (re-founded 2004)
Ground: London Road
Capacity: 5,000 (350 seated)
Chairman: Mark Darnell
Manager: Jake Stone
Last season: 8th/21 (NPL Midlands)
Journey distance: 82 miles

The Opposition - History
The origins of the club began in 1867 when they formed. It is claimed that this made it not only the oldest club in Northamptonshire, but also the sixth-oldest in the country. However, since folding, this is no longer the case. The club played originally under the part-handling code, until becoming a genuine football club in 1869, playing at Broad Green, wearing an old gold and black strip. In 1879 Wellingborough Town became the first club to play under floodlights, when they entertained Bedford at the Bassett's Close ground, using lights powered by generators at either end of the pitch.

The club joined Division One of the Southern League in 1901–02, moving to their current ground at the Dog & Duck in London Road. In 1905 the club changed name to Wellingborough Redwell but resigned at the end of the season after finishing bottom of Division One, continuing to be called Wellingborough Redwell until reverting to Wellingborough Town in 1919.

Wellingborough joined the Metropolitan League in 1968–69, finishing seventh. They won the title the following season and joined the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division, finishing third. In 1971–72, they joined the Southern League Division One North. A reorganisation of the league saw it split into Southern and Midland Divisions, with Wellingborough playing in the Midland Division. However, they struggled until in 1988–89, they were relegated to the United Counties League.

The club struggled for thirteen seasons in the UCL, narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier Division in a number of seasons. However, they could hold out no longer than 2001–02 when the club folded and they resigned from the League.

Wellingborough re-formed after two years without a senior team, with help from locals including snooker champion Peter Ebdon. They returned to the UCL in 2005–06, earning promotion to the Premier Division. Financial struggles and frequent managerial changes followed, though notable signings like Trevor Benjamin boosted morale. Survival was secured in 2013 after a poor start, and Jason Turner’s return saw renewed success. Despite setbacks—including a fire destroying the clubhouse and a near-eviction from the Dog & Duck ground—the club endured. In 2023–24, Wellingborough won the UCL Premier Division South and were promoted to the Northern Premier League Midland Division.

The Opposition - This Season
The Doughboys started the season with a comfortable FA Cup win at Deeping Rangers and picked up four points from their first three NPL matches including victory at Bourne Town who had ended their FA Cup run the previous midweek.
An agonising penalty shootout loss to Sporting Khalsa proved the end of the FA Trophy road and was followed by back to back defeats in the league but they bounced back with three wins out of four.
After this however came a run of six games without a win, scoring only two goals which was ended with a home win over Racing Club Warwick.
Since a 1-0 defeat at Shepshed Dynamo on the 22nd of November, they have won five and drawn two and come into the match top of the NPL Midlands form guide. They are also yet to lose a game by more than two goals.

League (7th/22): P 27 W 12 D 5 L 10 F 45 A 42 Pts. 41
Cups: P 3 W 1 D 1 L 1 F 5 A 3
FA Cup: Exited at Preliminary Round (Bourne Town)
FA Trophy: Exited at Preliminary Round (Sporting Khalsa)
County Cup: Still in (play Corby Town in semi-final)

Top goalscorers (NPL only): William Jones (10), Danny Draper (8)
Most minutes played (NPL only): Danny Draper (2,235)
Biggest victory: 4-0 vs. Bedworth United (15th November)
Heaviest defeat: 0-2 vs. Rugby Town (12th August) and Sutton Coldfield Town (25th October)
Highest home attendance: 553 vs. St. Neots Town (1st January)
Average home attendance: 261 (11th/22)
Most consecutive wins: 4
Most games without a win: 6
Most consecutive defeats: 2
Most games without a defeat: 7

The Nailers
Belper started the season with back to back wins before coming unstuck in a home FA Cup tie against Kidsgrove Athletic.
After this came a six match unbeaten run, ended with another cup defeat, this time an FA Trophy reversal at Rugby Town.
Once again Lee Attenborough got the response he wanted, with back to back NPL wins being secured.
After this however they lost two on the spin before flipping their form back on its head again to defeat Anstey Nomads and AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
A draw at Racing Club Warwick followed before two late Corby Town goals consigned us to defeat on the road.
That was the last time Belper tasted defeat, with five wins and three draws since in all competitions.
A Jacob Gratton penalty and thunderbolt finish from James Tague secured the points at Bourne Town.
The following Tuesday saw the Nailers progress to the quarter-finals of the Derbyshire Senior Cup with 4-2 home win over Belper United while four days later Tague was on the scoresheet again as we shared the points at Bedworth United.
The next match was another draw at home to Shepshed Dynamo but after getting back to winning ways against Coventry Sphinx, St. Neots Town took the points away from the Raygar Stadium the following Saturday.
After successive defeats to St. Neots Town and Long Eaton United, the ship was steadied with a New Year's Day draw at home to Basford United.
The following match was postponed but the Nailers won their next match, a midweek County Cup game against Long Eaton United.
Last weekend saw a disappointing home defeat to Corby Town.
Three players can still lay claim to have appeared in every match so far.
Goals wise, Kevin Bastos leads the way with nine while Jacob Gratton and Liam Moran have seven. Jacob Fenton collected five before his move away from the Raygar Stadium while Jack Broadhead, Ben Rhodes and another departed player James Tague have scored four. A further six players have three goals or fewer.

Head to Head
There are just three meetings in the history books.
The first two took place all the way back in 1956, a two-legged League Cup semi-final, with the Doughboys taking the first leg 4-0 and despite first half goals in the return match from Lakin and Fox, the Nailers couldn't find any further goals and Wellingborough progressed.
The sides would not cross paths again until September 2025 when an early Jacob Gratton goal was enough to secure three points for Belper.

Overall record for Belper: P 3 W 2 D 0 L 1 F 3 A 4
(1 x NPL, 2 x League Cup)

Form Guide (all competitive matches)
Wellingborough Town: WWWWDW
Belper Town: WLLDWL

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

Permutations
The playoff race, which realistically is Belper's aim now is starting to really hot up with eight points separating 2nd from 13th.
Belper will remain in 2nd spot if they better Anstey Nomad's result, with the Nailers only currently ahead of the Leicestershire side on goals scored.
A draw would mean that Basford United could also leapfrog us while defeat cannot dump us out of the top four, with Racing Club Warwick three points back but those two sides facing each other.
For Wellingborough, victory could propel them into the top five for the first time this season and cap a remarkable rise from 18th position after matchday 15.
As mentioned above, the table is very congested and anything less than a win could in theory see them drop into the bottom half of the table.

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

Saturday, 24th January 2026 - 3:00pm kick off

Dog & Duck Stadium
London Road
Wellingborough
Northamptonshire
NN8 2DP

Admission prices: Adults £12, Concessions £9, 13-16 £3, U12 £0 (with paying adult)

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
There are some intriguing fixtures with two of the three sides immediately below Belper facing each other as Basford United entertain Racing Club Warwick.
Corby Town welcome Anstey Nomads in another top six battle.

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