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.
This match was part of a five game winning streak, ended by St. Neots Town in early October.
Before heading to the Raygar Stadium they had kept back to back clean sheets but an excellent Nailers performance saw a 3-0 win.
They conceded nine goals in the next two matches as they went through a run of two wins in nine matches.
They recovered towards the end of November but December saw only one win.
The New Year brought improved fortunes, with wins over Corby Town and Sutton Coldfield Town and after dropping points in their next three matches they won four on the bounce to shoot up the table.
The final match in that run - a win over Coventry Sphinx on 10th March remains their last and they come into the match tonight off the back of three games without a win.
On Saturday they were defeated 3-0 by Loughborough Students and saw two of their own players sent off for fighting on the pitch.
Both have since been released by the club.

League (9th/22): P 35 W 14 D 9 L 12 F 50 A 51 Pts. 51
Cups: P 6 W 3 D 0 L 3 F 10 A 12
FA Cup: Exited at Extra Preliminary Round (Grimsby Borough)
FA Trophy: Exited at First Round (Harborough Town)
County Cup: Exited at First Round (Northampton O.N. Chenecks)

Top goalscorers (NPL only): Bruno Andrade (21), Tyler Winters (12)
Most minutes played (NPL only): Tyler Winters (3,008), Bruno Andrade (2,747)
Biggest victory: 3-0 vs. Coleshill Town (29th November) and Rugby Town (7th March)
Heaviest defeat: Three goal defeats on five occasions
Highest home attendance: 781 vs. Corby Town (25th August)
Average home attendance (NPL): 413 (3rd/22)
Most consecutive wins: 5
Most games without a win: 4
Most consecutive defeats: 3
Most games without a defeat: 5

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 and slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Carlton Town the following Saturday but then in midweek came a comprehensive win at Rugby Town.
Five weeks ago the Nailers thought they had won it with an Ioan Evans header in the 85th minute but a Martyn Waghorn penalty for Anstey Nomads secured them a point. A County Cup exit to Ilkeston Town followed.
The following two weekends saw postponements and the Nailers returned to action with a goalless draw at the Raygar Stadium.
A week last Saturday saw an Evans header secure the points at Rugby Borough but at the weekend nine-man Sutton Coldfield Town left Belper with three points.
Appearances wise, two players - Kev Bastos and Curtis Burrows - have appeared in every match this season.
In terms of goals, Bastos leads the way with ten, closely followed by Liam Moran and Jacob Gratton with nine. Jacob Fenton scored five before his move away from the Raygar Stadium while five players sit on four goals. Four players have three goals or fewer.

Head to Head
The two sides have met three times 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.
Earlier this season, a Jack Broadhead goal and late brace from Liam Moran saw Belper to a 3-0 win at the Raygar Stadium.
Overall, from a Belper perspective the record reads: P 3 W 1 D 1 L 1 F 4 A 4 (All NPL Step 4)

Form Guide (all competitive matches)
AFC Rushden & Diamonds: WWWLDL
Belper Town: WDLDWL

Team News
Full team news will be announced at 7:00pm.

Permutations
The Nailers will move up to 4th with a win, with Coleshill Town being three points ahead but Belper's goal difference 11 higher.
This is one of two games in hand on Coleshill.
The only other match taking place tonight sees the top two face each other - Carlton Town and Anstey Nomads - so anything other than a win and we'll stay exactly where we are. A draw would mean our playoff position would be secure over the weekend unless Racing Club Warwick win tomorrow and Saturday and make up 16 goals.
For the Diamonds, a win would put them up to 6th, one place behind Belper while a draw would mean 7th.

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

Tuesday, 24th March 2026 - 7:45pm kick off

Hayden Road Sports Ground
Hayden Road
Rushden
Northamptonshire
NN10 0HX

Admission prices: Adults £12, Concessions £9, U18 £5, U12 £0.

Parking at the Meadows is payable via the Poppay app and Belper Town have no control over this car park.

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
Tuesday
(9th) AFC Rushden & Diamonds vs. Belper Town (5th)
(1st) Carlton Town vs. Anstey Nomads (2nd)
Wednesday
(13th) Corby Town vs. Racing Club Warwick (8th)