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: 12th/22 (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 have had an impressive start to the season, suffering just one defeat in the FA Trophy at Chasetown.
It started with a 5-0 hammering of Kimberley Miners Welfare in the FA Cup where they were four up before half-time.
Their NPL campaign began with three draws from the first four matches but Cup progress continued with victories over Long Eaton United (penalties) and Desborough Town.
A narrow win over Grantham Town was followed by two draws in the league but then another 5-0 win, Rugby Borough the opponents this time.
After a further Cup win over Braintree Town they won a thriller at Long Eaton United before a famous win on Saturday over National League North side Morecambe which took them to the First Round of the competition. 1,875 fans packed in to Hayden Road.
Monday's draw saw them pitted against Burton Albion of League One.

They remain undefeated in the league, with identical home and away records (W2 D3).
They have the third tightest defence in the division.
Due to their Cup progress, they have only played 10 games in the NPL, leaving them with five games in hand on some teams.
Their average attendance of 433 is bettered by only three sides.
68% of their goals have been scored in the first half which is way above the league average, while second half goals fall below it.
They do however tend to start the second half well, with 31% of their goals coming between the 46th and 60th minute.

League (13th/22): P 10 W 4 D 6 L 0 F 22 A 13 Pts. 18
Cups (90 minutes): P 8 W 5 D 2 L 1 F 18 A 8
FA Cup: Still in (will face Burton Albion in First Round)
FA Trophy: Eliminated by Chasetown in First Qualifying Round
County Cup: TBC

NPL Stats
Top goalscorers: Bruno Andrade & Jordan O'Brien (6), James Clifton (5)
Most minutes played: Charlie Woods (990), Sidik Atcha (974)

Overall stats
Biggest victory: 5-0 vs. Rugby Borough (26th September)
Heaviest defeat: 1-3 vs. Chasetown (29th August)
Highest home attendance: 1,875 vs. Morecambe (17th October)
Average home attendance: 433 (4th/22)
Most consecutive wins: 4
Most games without a win: 3
Most consecutive defeats: 1
Most games without a defeat: 11*

The Nailers
Belper started out with successive goalless draws before slipping to defeat at home to Coventry United.
A first win came against Boldmere St. Michaels and this was followed up by a comfortable FA Trophy victory at Rugby Town.
However, four successive defeats followed before a resounding win at Boston Town in mid-September.
Rugby Borough took the points from the Raygar Stadium three days later but the Nailers are undefeated since then, with two wins and three 1-1 draws.
A fortnight ago saw a comprehensive win at St. Ives Town and last weekend an impressive performance to defeat Nuneaton Town.

Most appearances: Four players have appeared in all 17 matches so far, with two playing every minute (Kieran Preston and Louis Keenan)
Top goalscorers: Harry Draper (6), Louis Keenan & Tav Kuleya (3), two players on two goals and seven players on one goal.

Head to Head
The two sides have met on four previous occasions.
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.
Last season, a Jack Broadhead goal and late brace from Liam Moran saw Belper to a 3-0 win at the Raygar Stadium.
In the return fixture on a rainy March evening at Hayden Road, the Nailers won 2-1 with all three goals involving goalkeeper errors.
Overall, from a Belper perspective the record reads: P 4 W 2 D 1 L 1 F 6 A 5 (All NPL Step 4)

The return fixture is scheduled for Saturday 6th March 2027.

Form Guide (all competitive matches)
Belper Town: DDWDWW
AFC Rushden & Diamonds: DWWWWD

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

Permutations
The Nailers can climb in to the playoff places with a win - 6th is the highest place in which we can finish the day, while if defeated a drop of five places to 16th is possible.
For the Diamonds, they can end the day just outside the playoffs in 8th if they win, while 17th is the lowest they can drop. It is of course worth bearing in mind that they still have multiple games in hand on the rest of the league due to their FA Cup run.

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

Saturday 24th October 2026 - 3:00pm 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 Joey and James 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
(18th) Barwell vs. Corby Town (21st)
(16th) Basford United vs. Grantham Town (14th)
(8th) Bedworth United vs. Long Eaton United (20th)
(11th) Belper Town vs. AFC Rushden & Diamonds (13th)
(6th) Boldmere St. Michaels vs. Nuneaton Town (5th)
(3rd) Shepshed Dynamo vs. Sutton Coldfield Town (2nd)
(22nd) St. Ives Town vs. Coventry United (17th)
(1st) Wellingborough Town vs. Coleshill Town (15th)