The Opposition - Key Facts
Full name: Boldmere St. Michaels Football Club
Nickname: The Mikes
Founded: 1883
Ground: Boldmere Community Stadium
Capacity: 2,500 (230 seated)
Chairman: Ralph Simmons
Manager: Ben Roberts (since 2025)
Last season: 14th/22 (NPL Midlands)
Journey distance: 41 miles

The Opposition - History
Boldmere St. Michaels FC was founded in 1883 as a church youth team, playing friendlies until joining a league in 1912. They progressed through local leagues, winning the Birmingham AFA Senior Cup in 1928–29 and Junior Cup in 1933–34. In 1937 they entered the Central Amateur League, finishing runners-up in 1938–39 and champions in 1946–47.

In 1947–48 they reached the FA Amateur Cup semi-finals, losing 2–0 to Barnet at Highbury before 26,000 fans. That season they were league runners-up, shared the AFA Senior Cup, and later hosted the Indian Olympic team. They won the Central Amateur League again in 1948–49, then joined the Birmingham & District League. Remaining amateur in a semi-pro league led to poor results, finishing near bottom in 1952–54.

After league mergers, they entered Division Two, later the West Midlands (Regional) League, before dropping to the Worcestershire Combination in 1963. Renamed the Midland Combination in 1968, the club won cups in the late 1970s. Promoted to the Premier Division in 1983, they won titles in 1985–86 and 1988–89, then achieved a 1989–90 treble of league, League Cup, and Tony Allden Cup, retaining both cups in 1990–91 and winning again in 1991–92.

In 1994 they became founder members of the Midland Alliance, finishing runners-up in 2013–14. After the league merged into the Midland League, they joined the Premier Division, finishing runners-up in 2021–22 to earn promotion to Division One Midlands of the Northern Premier League.

The Opposition - This Season
The Mikes had a generally poor pre-season, playing seven matches and winning only the one, away to Sutton United.
Before that they had suffered heavy defeats against Knowle and Gornal Athletic and after it they drew two and lost two including their final friendly at home to Chasetown.

In competitive football however they have made a flying start, winning all three games without conceding a goal.
They started with a comprehensive victory at Gresley Rovers in the FA Cup before thumping Carlton Town 5-0 at the Boldmere Community Stadium.
On Saturday they saw off Long Eaton United 2-0 to progress in the FA Trophy.

League (8th/22): P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 5 A 0 Pts. 3
Cups: P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 5 A 0
FA Cup: Still in (play Chasetown in Preliminary Round)
FA Trophy: Still in (St. Ives Town in First Qualifying Round)
County Cup: N/A

Top goalscorers (NPL only): Various (1)
Most minutes played (NPL only): Various (90)
Biggest victory: 5-0 vs. Carlton Town (11th August)
Heaviest defeat: N/A
Highest home attendance: 116
Average home attendance (NPL): 116 (20th/22)
Most consecutive wins: 3
Most games without a win: 0
Most consecutive defeats: 0
Most games without a defeat: 3

The Nailers
Belper's results improved as pre-season went on.
Beginning with a defeat at Sheffield, back to back 2-2 draws followed at Matlock and Heanor before Belper United secured the inaugural Belper Memorial Cup.
After four matches without a win, the Nailers won the last three against Gresley Rovers, Congleton Town and last weekend's comprehensive victory against Kidsgrove Athletic.
The NPL campaign began with a goalless draw at Shepshed and continued with another at Loughborough the following Tuesday!
This represented Belper's first back to back goalless draws for nearly 25 years.
Saturday saw a third successive game without scoring as Coventry United took the points from the Raygar Stadium.
Most appearances: Various (3)
Top goalscorers N/A

Head to Head
The sides have met on four occasions.
In November 1996 the Mikes dumped the Nailers out of the FA Vase, an early exit for Belper after two successful seasons in the competition.
The next fixture wouldn't arrive until early in the 24/25 season when Belper won 2-1 at the Raygar Stadium in the FA Trophy.
Paired together in the Midlands division last season, Belper won 3-0 at home but revenge was obtained at the Boldmere Community Stadium as the hosts won 2-0.
Overall record for Belper: P 4 W 2 D 0 L 2 F 6 A 6

The return fixture from today is scheduled for Saturday, 9th January 2027.

Form Guide (all competitive matches)
Belper Town: DDL
Boldmere St. Michaels: WWW

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

Permutations
The Nailers are four points off top spot. There are five teams on maximum points from two games so the highest Belper can climb to is 6th.
The Mikes are three points from the summit but cannot reach it as two of the teams above them are playing each other.

Match details
Belper Town vs. Boldmere St. Michaels
Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands Division

Tuesday, 18th August 2026 - 7:45pm kick-off

Raygar Stadium
Bridge Street
Belper
Derbyshire
DE56 1BA

Admission prices: Adults £11, Concessions £7, U11s £0
Please note our Under 16s entry policy

Directions and Parking
Information for first time visitors to the Raygar Stadium can be found here

Follow the match
Full coverage of the match:

Audio commentary with James and Archie on Belper Town Live
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
At least two 100% records will go tonight, with Bedworth United hosting Rugby Borough while Wellingborough Town travel to Boston Town.
At the other end of the table, at least one of Bourne Town and Corby Town will get their season up and running, they meet with neither having picked up a point yet.

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