The Opposition - Key Facts
Full name: Basford United Football Club
Nickname: The Lions, The Ambers
Founded: 1900
Ground: Greenwich Avenue
Capacity: 2,400
Chairman: David Lilley
Manager: Gary Setchell
Last season: 3rd/22 (NPL Midlands)
Journey distance: 18 miles

The Opposition - History
Basford United was founded in 1900 at the Old Pear Tree Inn, starting in the Notts Combination before joining the Notts Alliance, where they won several early league titles. They spent much of the 20th century moving between divisions, with relegations and promotions in the 1970s–90s, and lifted the Notts Senior Cup in 1947 and 1988. After briefly withdrawing in 2005–06, they returned stronger, finishing runners-up twice before switching to the Central Midlands League.

Success followed with back-to-back titles in 2011–13, leading to promotions up the non-league pyramid. Basford claimed the Midland League Premier Division title in 2014–15, alongside more Notts Senior Cup wins, and reached the Northern Premier League Division One South play-offs the following season.

In 2017–18 they won Division One South to move into the Premier Division, again securing county cup honours. League restructuring saw moves between the Northern Premier and Southern Leagues, before relegation to Division One Midlands followed a second-bottom finish in 2024–25.

The Opposition - This Season
The Lions have had a somewhat mixed start to the campaign.
After opening with a 1-0 win at Barwell, they conceded five goals in each of their next two matches against Rugby Borough and Wellingborough Town before slipping to a third successive defeat at home to Shepshed Dynamo.
However they come in to the match today unbeaten in two matches, with clean sheets in both.

League (17th/22): P 4 W 1 D 0 L 3 F 5 A 11 Pts. 3
Cups: P 2 W 2 D 1* L 0 F 1 A 0 *won on penalties
FA Cup: Still in (play Halesowen Town in First Qualifying Round)
FA Trophy: Still in (next round not yet drawn)
County Cup: N/A

NPL Stats
Top goalscorers: Nyle Blake (2), three players on one goal
Most minutes played: Three players on 360 minutes

Overall stats
Biggest victory: 1-0 vs. Barwell (8th August) and Corby Town (22nd August)
Heaviest defeat: 1-5 vs. Wellingborough Town (15th August)
Highest home attendance: 281 vs. Shepshed Dynamo (18th August)
Average home attendance: 243 (12th/22)
Most consecutive wins: 1
Most games without a win: 3
Most consecutive defeats: 3
Most games without a defeat: 1

The Nailers
The Nailers began with successive 0-0 draws, the first time this had occurred for 25 years.
Defeat at home to Coventry United followed but the Nailers got a goal and their first three points on the board three days later against Boldmere St. Michaels.
After a 4-1 win at Rugby Town in the FA Cup, Sutton Coldfield put in an impressive counter-attacking display last Tuesday evening to take the points from the Raygar Stadium.
Saturday saw an exit from the FA Trophy at Wellingborough.
Most appearances: Nine players have appeared in all seven matches so far, with three of them playing every minute
Top goalscorers Harry Draper (3), five players on one goal

Head to Head
The two sides have met on 11 occasions, with the Nailers winning just once, a fantastic 4-2 FA Cup victory at Greenwich Avenue in 2016.
The list also includes a 7-1 Basford win in April 2017 and a 5-5 League Cup draw later that year at Belper.
Last season in the NPL saw both regular season matches drawn, 0-0 at Basford on a boiling hot Bank Holiday in August and 1-1 at Belper on a not so warm New Year's Day, Diego De Girolamo on the scoresheet for the Nailers.
The Nailers returned to Greenwich Avenue for the playoff semi-final. The game finished 2-2 after extra time, with Belper prevailing 4-3 on penalties.
Overall record for Belper: P 11 W 1 D 5 L 5 F 14 A 25.
(9 x NPL, 1 x FA Cup, 1 x League Cup

The return fixture is scheduled for Saturday, 2nd January 2027.

Form Guide (all competitive matches)
Basford United: WLLLWD
Belper Town: DLWWLL

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

Permutations
The Nailers are seven points from the top and the highest we can reach today is 6th but this would require a win and favours elsewhere.
18th is the lowest place we can end the afternoon.
Basford can climb as high as 6th but are in danger of falling in to the relegation zone if things don't go their way.

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

Monday, 31st August 2026 - 3:00pm kick-off

Greenwich Avenue
Basford
Nottingham
NG6 0LD

Admission prices: Adults £10, Concessions £7.50, U16s £1, Family of Four £17.50

Directions and Parking
From Belper, head to Ripley and join the A610 at Sainsbury's towards Codnor.
When the road splits, bear left and stay on the A610.
Follow the A610 all the way until you pass Phoenix Park then take the first exit at the Cinderhill roundabout.
Turn right on to Pagnall Road then the fifth left on to Greenwich Avenue. The ground is straight ahead of you.

Parking is available within the ground.

Follow the match
Full coverage of the match:

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