Between now and the start of the season, we’ll introduce our new opponents in this season’s United Counties Premier Division South.
Six of the sides provide us with local derbies, teams in Leicestershire or Warwickshire whose grounds are less than a 20-mile drive from Hinckley town centre.
We have faced two of them in the league before and one in a cup, while three will be new opponents in competitive action.
Aylestone Park
Home colours: Red
Last season: 3rd. After being UCL Division One rivals of Hinckley in 2021/22, Aylestone went on to win the division the following season and followed that up with a strong third-placed finish in their debut campaign at step five. But they were beaten in the play-off final by Racing Club Warwick. Now managed by former Birstall boss James Dodd, he took over when they were ninth and immediately took them on a 12-match unbeaten run. They were the division’s entertainers, scoring the most goals in the league while also conceding the most of anyone in the top six. Hinckley’s record goalscorer Ryan Seal scored 12 times for them last season. Over the summer, they have added two high-profile signings from last year’s play-off finalists at step four, Harborough Town and Anstey Nomads, as well as Matt Dawson from AFC.
Ground: Saffron Lane, Aylestone, LE2 6TG.
Distance from Hinckley: 13.0 miles
We’ll meet: 29th July (h)
Coventry United
Home colours: Red
Last season: 14th. United are under new management heading into the new campaign with Jamie Hood, who played three times for Hinckley last season, taking over as boss. He has brought in a handful of new additions, including Ky Green from Hinckley. The Butts Park Arena, which has a 3G pitch, was where they won 29 of their 46 points last season and they scored the most goals of any side in the bottom half. Hinckley and Coventry United last met in the league nine years ago, when the Red and Greens won the Midland League Division One title in 2015/16.
Ground: Butts Park Arena, Butts Road, Coventry, CV1 3GE.
Distance from Hinckley: 18.3 miles
GNG Oadby Town
Home colours: Navy blue
Last season: 8th. 2023/24 was a much improved season for Oadby, who rose to 8th after finishing 13th the previous campaign. They lost 7-0, 4-0 and 6-0 in consecutive games in August but quickly found their feet to finish closer to the play-offs than the relegation zone. Their ground on Braunstone Lane East is the closest of our opponents’ to Hinckley town centre. Scotland striker Che Adams started his career at Oadby.
Ground: Riverside Ground, Braunstone Lane East, LE3 2FD
Distance from Hinckley: 11.8 miles
Leicester Nirvana
Home colours: Red and black
Last season: 19th. Nirvana were bottom in January but a run of just one defeat in eight, including midweek wins over play-off pair Racing Club Warwick and March Town United, saw them clear of the drop by the time mid-April arrived. They were winless away from home all season but were tough opponents in Hamilton and finished three points above relegated Desborough. Former Hinckley full-back Drew Kear ended the season there.
Ground: Hamilton Park, Sandhills Avenue, LE5 1LU.
Distance from Hinckley: 19.5 miles
Lutterworth Town
Home colours: Orange and black.
Last season: 12th. Lutterworth looked set for a relegation battle when they lost their first six league games of last season, but they then picked up regular victories to mean they were never really under threat of a return to step six. Ex-Hinckley defender Luke Wilson played 34 times for them last season, while over the summer they have added Louis Samuels and Matt Langham from Aylestone Park. The sides have met just once before in competitive action when the Swifts, then top of the Leicestershire Senior League, beat Hinckley 2-1 in the Leicestershire Senior Cup in 2016.
Ground: Dunley Way, Lutterworth, LE17 4NP.
Distance from Hinckley: 12.1 miles
Rugby Borough
Home colours: Orange
Last season: 16th. Rugby were playing in the Leicestershire Senior League three seasons ago, but promotions from there and straight through the Spartan South Midlands Division One saw them up to a debut campaign at step five last season. Under the management of ex-Nuneaton forward Justin Marsden, they won 10 games with nine of them coming at their Kilsby Lane home, which boasts a 3G pitch. They won just one of their last 10 games, but were comfortably secure for another season at step five by then. Marsden has since left, with ex-Coalville and Rugby Town boss Dave Stringer taking charge this summer.
Ground: Kilsby Lane, Rugby, CV21 4PN.
Distance from Hinckley: 18.7 miles
