The Opposition - Key Facts
Full name: Carlton Town Football Club
Nickname: The Millers
Founded: 1904 (as Sneinton FC)
Ground: Bill Stokeld Stadium
Capacity: 1,968
Chairman: Mick Garton
Manager: Tommy Brookbanks and Mark Harvey (since May 2019)
Last season: 7th/22 (NPL East)
Journey distance: 25 miles

The Opposition - History
Carlton Town were originally formed in 1904 as Sneinton Football Club and enjoyed considerable success in their early years.
The Notts Alliance League was secured in four out of five seasons between 1905 and 1910 and in the 1920s they added a Notts Alliance Cup and Carlton and District Charity Cup as they rebuilt after losing several players during World War I.
They became champions of the Notts Spartan League in 1933 but then had to disband ahead of World War II.
Reforming in 1947, they moved to Division Three of the Notts Amateur League and a decade later they were playing in Division Two.
The 1960s saw Sneinton struggle for players and it wasn't until 1985 that they secured further silverware, winning the Notts Alliance League Division Two.
In to the 90s and the club moved to its current home, the Bill Stokeld Stadium in Gedling and joined the Central Midlands Football League.
The name change to Carlton Town came in 2002 to reflect the fact that Gedling had historically been in a parish named Carlton-le-Willows, forming part of the Carlton Urban District.
By 2007 they had reached the NPL Division One South and they have remained at that level ever since, reaching the Playoffs on two occasions but finishing in 18th or 19th in five successive seasons, avoiding relegation on one occasion due to ground grading issues at AFC Mansfield.
Last season they finished 7th in the NPL East, and were transferred to the Midlands Division along with Belper.

The Opposition - This Season
It's fair to say the Millers are having about as good a season as it is possible to have. After 28 games they sit 13 points clear at the top, with even Anstey Nomad's two games in hand looking like it won't be enough.
They started the season like they meant to go on, with three straight NPL wins and a resounding victory over Barton Town in the FA Cup.
After back to back defeats saw them exit the FA Cup then Trophy, they lost only one of their next ten.
Following defeat to Coleshill Town, they went on another 12 match unbeaten run which was only ended by Wellingborough Town last weekend, a Danny Draper goal separating the sides.

League (1st/22): P 28 W 20 D 4 L 4 F 55 A 29 Pts. 64
Cups: P 7 W 3 D 2 L 2 F 19 A 11
FA Cup: Exited at Second Qualifying Round (Matlock Town)
FA Trophy: Exited at Second Qualifying Round (Shifnal Town)
County Cup: Still in (play Clipstone Welfare in quarter-final)

Top goalscorers (NPL only): Ashley Chambers (17), Lamin Manneh (12)
Most minutes played (NPL only): Ewan Robson (2,400), Felix Annan (2,340)
Biggest victory: 6-1 vs. Barton Town (16th August)
Heaviest defeat: 0-4 vs. Racing Club Warwick (30th September)
Highest home attendance: 408 vs. Wellingborough Town (11th October)
Average home attendance: 277 (10th/22)
Most consecutive wins: 6
Most games without a win: 2
Most consecutive defeats: 2
Most games without a defeat: 11

The Nailers
Belper had a great start to the NPL campaign, not losing until matchday ten but did exit the FA Cup at the first hurdle, Kidsgrove Athletic winning in Staffordshire.
There was an early exit from the FA Trophy as well, Rugby Town coming from two goals down to win 3-2 and the league form was up and down after this match, with two wins followed by two defeats and then another two wins before a draw and a defeat!
November was much better with three wins from four matches and the concession of just a single goal.
December started well with four further matches without defeat but it ended with reversals to St. Neots Town and Long Eaton United.
The Nailers have struggled to get any momentum in 2026, with a draw at home to Basford United on New Year's Day followed by a win in the County Cup but then an NPL defeat to Corby Town.
After ending Wellingborough Town's fantastic run with victory in Northamptonshire, Belper drew at home to Coleshill Town last weekend and come into the match today with one defeat in five matches.
Appearances wise, three players still have a 100% record this season.
In terms of goals, Kevin Bastos and Jacob Gratton lead the way with nine while Liam Moran has eight. 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
This fixture has become a regular one in recent years, having been played 28 times despite the first meeting being as recently as 2007.
Belper enjoyed the better of the early encounters, winning 7 out of the first 11.
This included, in the 2011/12 season a 4-2 Doodson Sports Cup victory which was followed up just over a week later with a 5-4 FA Trophy victory, a match where the Nailers were 2-1 down at half time but battled back in the second half.
After this the Millers went on a five match unbeaten run against us, ending in 2017. Carlton won heavily at the Bill Stokeld in February 2018 but Belper won the next four.
In April 2022 Carlton threatened to derail Belper's promotion push (but didn't) and two seasons ago a Cam Johnson goal wasn't enough to stop the points staying in Nottinghamshire before later in the season the Nailers ran out 4-0 winners at the Raygar Stadium.
Last season, a Harry Draper double saw the Nailers win 2-1 in Nottingham in October but the Millers took their revenge at the Raygar in February, winning comfortably 3-1, this at the time being a fourth successive home defeat for Belper.
When the sides met earlier this season, a Niall Davie goal separated the sides at Belper.
Overall, from a Belper perspective the record reads: P 28 W 14 D 3 L 11 F 51 A 47.
All of those matches bar two (Cup) have been Step 4 league fixtures.

Form Guide (all competitive matches)
Carlton Town: DDWWWL
Belper Town: LDWLWD

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

Permutations
As mentioned earlier, Carlton have a 13 point advantage and it would take a remarkable run by one of the teams below for them to be caught.
The Nailers have slipped to 4th but could go back to 2nd if they win, Anstey Nomads are defeated and Basford United fail to win.
Below Belper is a five point gap to Coleshill Town and after that it becomes really congested.
All of the teams above Belper as well as the one below them are at home.

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

Saturday, 7th February 2026 - 3:00pm kick off

Bill Stokeld Stadium
Stoke Lane
Nottingham
NG4 2QS

Admission prices: Adults £10, Concessions £8, U16s £2
Cash and card accepted

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