The Opposition - Key Facts
Full name: Shepshed Dynamo Football Club
Nickname: The Dynamo
Founded: 1994
Ground: The Dovecote Stadium
Capacity: 2,500 (500 seated)
Chairman: Mick Sloan
Manager: Gary Drake (since October 2024)
Last season: 13th/21 (NPL Midlands)
Journey distance: 28 miles

The Opposition - History
Football in Shepshed dates back to the late 19th century, with Shepshed Albion joining the Leicestershire Senior League in 1907 and winning titles in 1911 and 1921.

In 1975, backed by Maurice Clayton of Charterhouse Holdings, the club became Shepshed Charterhouse and began a remarkable rise. Between 1978 and 1984, they won six consecutive league titles, reaching the Southern League Premier Division and even the FA Cup First Round in 1982, losing to Preston North End. Former Nottingham Forest player Martin O’Neill briefly managed the club in 1989.

After back-to-back relegations in 1991–92, the club reverted to Shepshed Albion, then reformed as Shepshed Dynamo in 1994. They won the Midland Football Alliance in 1995–96, earning promotion to the Southern League.

Subsequent years brought fluctuating fortunes, with league restructures and financial struggles. Despite occasional reprieves from relegation, Dynamo eventually dropped to the United Counties League in 2012, later joining the Midland Football League Premier Division after a merger in 2014.

The Opposition - This Season
The Dynamo lost only two of their first nine games in all competitions but a packed September where they played seven games - all at home - saw them dumped out of the FA Cup and Trophy as well as a heavy NPL defeat to Corby Town.
October started with a good win at Bourne Town but they lost five out of the next six matches before recovering in November with home wins over Coventry Sphinx and Wellingborough Town.
The festive period started with a point at the Raygar Stadium and after losing the next two they went on a four game winning streak and six unbeaten overall.
After three defeats in four they won against Mickleover and Coventry Sphinx, sandwiched by a reversal to Corby Town but they come into the match this evening off the back of that Coventry game and Saturday's draw at home to Long Eaton United.

League (9th/22): P 36 W 15 D 7 L 14 F 42 A 36 Pts. 52
Cups: P 7 W 3 D 1 L 3 F 7 A 10
FA Cup: Exited at Second Qualifying Round (Stamford)
FA Trophy: Exited at First Qualifying Round (Anstey Nomads)
County Cup: Exited at First Round (Barwell)

Top goalscorers (NPL only): Jude Collins (12), Jesse Friend (10)
Most minutes played (NPL only): Declan Peart (3,136), Jude Collins (3,116)
Biggest victory: 5-0 vs. Racing Club Warwick (23rd August)
Heaviest defeat: 0-4 vs. Anstey Nomads (6th September) and 1-5 vs. Corby Town (23rd September)
Highest home attendance: 488 vs. Anstey Nomads (31st January)
Average home attendance (NPL): 256 (13th/22)
Most consecutive wins: 4
Most games without a win: 4
Most consecutive defeats: 4
Most games without a defeat: 6

The Nailers
Belper had a great start to the season, losing just once in a busy August, that defeat being to Kidsgrove Athletic in the FA Cup.
It would be October until they lost in the NPL at home to Carlton Town but by then the FA Trophy campaign was also over as Rugby Town staged a fantastic second half comeback.
One defeat led to two, away to Coleshill Town but the ship was then steadied with wins over Anstey Nomads and AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
November was an outstanding month for the Nailers, seeing four wins and a draw and defeat at home to St. Neots Town on the 20th of December was a first in nine matches.
Long Eaton United away on Boxing Day saw a Nailers horror show and heavy defeat and 2026 started with a mixed bag - a win, draw and defeat all at the Raygar Stadium.
February saw only one win as revenge was gained on Rugby Town with a comfortable NPL win but the next three matches were a struggle and Belper didn't win any of them.
After another win in Rugby, this time at Borough, last weekend saw a disappointing home defeat to Sutton Coldfield Town.
A great win at AFC Rushden & Diamonds a week ago was followed by another reversal at the Raygar Stadium on Saturday, Lichfield City winning comfortably.
Appearances wise, only Curtis Burrows can lay claim to have played in every match this season, with Kevin Bastos and Kieran Preston missing just the one.
In terms of goals, Bastos leads the way with ten, closely followed by Liam Moran and Jacob Gratton with nine. Jonathan Wafula has five, the same number as Jacob Fenton secured before his move away from the Raygar Stadium while four players sit on four goals. A further five players have three goals or fewer.

Head to Head
The two sides have met on 21 occasions (this includes one abandoned), all since 2004.
The Dynamo had much the better of the early meetings, going unbeaten in the first four.
Belper then won back to back games before Shepshed did the same.
The Nailers struggled to get any momentum in the fixture until they achieved three wins in a row, a run which was ended in the last meeting prior to this season when Shepshed won at the Raygar Stadium in March 2022.
Shepshed took a point from the Raygar Stadium in the most recent encounter in early December.
Belper's biggest win is 6-0 in April 2012 while Shepshed's is 3-0 in September 2008.

Overall record for Belper:
P 21 W 7 D 5 L 8 (1 abandoned) F 33 A 28
(20 x NPL Step 4, 1 x Challenge Cup)

Form Guide (all competitive matches)
Shepshed Dynamo: LLWLWD
Belper Town: LDWLWL

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

Permutations
Belper's playoff fate remains in their own hands, with a three point cushion over Wellingborough in 6th. Tonight is our game in hand.
A win would move us up to 3rd, ahead of Coleshill Town on goal difference while a draw or defeat would leave us in 5th.
Shepshed also have a game in hand on everyone except Belper (the match tonight will put everyone in the division on 37 games played).
A win would move them up three places to 7th, four points outside the playoffs.

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

Tuesday, 31st March 2026 - 7:45pm kick-off

The Dovecote Stadium
Butthole Lane
Shepshed
Leicestershire
LE12 9BN

Admission prices: Adults £10, Concessions £7, U18 £5, U16 £3, U10 £0

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
The match at the Dovecote Stadium is the only one in the division this evening and will square up all teams on to 37 games played.