Hinckley AFC will have three new opponents in this season’s United Counties Premier Division South – here’s what you need to them ahead of the start of the new season.
All three have connections to Hinckley football in one way or another – here’s what to expect from our new opponents…
Atherstone Town
Home colours: Red and white
Last season: 3rd in Midland League Premier Division (beaten in play-off semi-final). Just a 20-minute hop up the A5, Atherstone are the most familiar of the three new additions, having been Hinckley’s league rivals in the MFL Division One up until 2021. Hinckley were moved to the United Counties League that summer, the Adders were promoted the following season, and the sides went in different geographical directions at step five until Atherstone’s move across just now. There are about as many player connections between the sides as you could wish for – Adders manager Mitch Thomson and players Lewis Collins, Jack Edwards, Niall Rowe, Jacob Shilton, Tom Smith, Harry Walker-Donovan and Gabe Webster have all played for Hinckley AFC, Connor Gudger played for Hinckley United, and in the AFC squad, Sam Belcher, Keelan Fallows, Ky Green and Reece Massey have all worn the red and white (or grey, in Keelan’s case) at Sheepy Road. As such, it’s little surprise that Atherstone form our Bank Holiday rivalry this year, with games around Christmas and Easter.
Ground: Sheepy Road, Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 3AD
Distance from Hinckley: 10.3 miles
We’ll meet: 26th December (h), 6th April (a)
Moulton
Home colours: Black and white
Last season: 3rd in Spartan South Midlands League Division One. A promotion to step six through the play-offs sees Moulton join the UCL South as a third side based in Northampton. Just a stone’s throw away from Sileby Rangers, Moulton’s ground boasts an artificial pitch and they won 17 out of their 19 home league games last season. While the sides have never met before, there is a connection to Hinckley football – their captain is former United winger and fans’ favourite Andy Hall.
Ground: Brunting Road, Northampton, NN3 7QF
Distance from Hinckley: 33.7 miles
We’ll meet: 22nd November (h), 7th March (a)
Nuneaton Town
Home colours: Blue and white.
Last season: 1st in Midland League Division One. Another familiar opponent for Hinckley, Boxing Day derbies against Nuneaton in the Conference North used to attract upwards of 2,000 fans – although this will be the first time these latest iterations of the town’s clubs have met. The two sides are the two most recent winners of the MFL Division One, with Nuneaton coming up at the first time of asking last season after re-forming – and they’ve shown their ambition to compete at the top again with the signings of the two top scorers in that division last season. Like with Atherstone, there will be plenty of familiar faces in their side – Brandon Bache, Dom Perkins, Declan Somel and Ben Whitehead are all now with Nuneaton.
Ground: The Oval, Bedworth, Warwickshire, CV12 8NN.
Distance from Hinckley: 8.7 miles
We’ll meet: 14th October (a), 24th January (h)
