Between now and the start of the season, we’ll introduce our new opponents in this season’s United Counties Premier Division South.
Having already focused on our local derbies and our longest away trips, today we’ll focus on the sides in the middle – those in Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
Hinckley AFC have never faced any of these sides in a competitive match before…
Bugbrooke St Michaels
Home colours: White and black.
Last season: 10th. A solid mid-table season from the Badgers saw them sneak into the top-half on goals scored at Histon’s expense. Among their best results was a 4-0 win over sixth-placed Newport Pagnell, who did they the double over. They have lost their manager over the summer and a trio of players to AFC Rushden & Diamonds but have a good reputation of developing young players who go on to play at higher levels.
Ground: Birds Close, Gayton Road, Bugbrooke, NN7 3PH
Distance from Hinckley: 32.7 miles
We’ll meet: 3rd September (a), 16th November (h)
Daventry Town
Home colours: Purple
Last season: 9th. Daventry were relegated from step four in 2022/23 but their ambition to bounce straight back was evident when they signed that season’s leading goalscorer across the country at step five, Leon Lobjoit, this time last year. He then scored 29 goals in 23 games for Daventry before leaving, but by mid-September they had already lost five times in the league as well as being knocked out of the FA Cup, FA Vase and League Cup, conceding 18 goals in those three ties. They came on strong in the winter months but one win in 12 to end the season saw them finish comfortably back from the play-offs. They have appointed a new manager this summer in Jamie Forrest and made a number of signings including the ex-Hinckley forward Sam Lockley.
Ground: Browns Road, Daventry, NN11 4NS
Distance from Hinckley: 24.8 miles
We’ll meet: 24th August (h), 4th January (a)
Easington Sports
Home colours: Red and white.
Last season: 13th. Easington have finished between 11th and 14th in each of their three seasons since joining the United Counties League. They finished last season well, and their only defeat in their last six games came to Aylestone Park. Easington also won away to St Neots and drew twice with March as evidence of their ability to compete with the top sides. Leam Howards was their top scorer with 17.
Ground: Addison Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 9DH
Distance from Hinckley: 39 miles
We’ll meet: 10th August (h), 5th April (a)
Newport Pagnell Town
Home colours: Green
Last season: 6th. A third consecutive top six finish for Pagnell but they missed out on the play-offs after their introduction at step five for the first time. The back-to-back FA Vase finalists ended up 13 points back from fifth, not helped by a points deduction, while their Vase run ended in the second round, the first time in three years that they failed to reach Wembley. Only two players in the league scored more than Dan Walker’s 25 while Ben Ford, the scorer of Hinckley United’s last ever goal, has also spent the last three seasons there.
Ground: Willen Road, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, MK16 0DF.
Distance from Hinckley: 50.6 miles
We’ll meet: 12th October (h), 1st February (a)
Northampton ON Chenecks
Home colours: White and navy
Last season: 1st in Spartan South Midlands Division One. The first of two other sides promoted from step six, Chens lost just one game on their comfortable route to the SSML1 title to return to step five after a two-year absence. They scored more than 100 goals and conceded just 23 – while they also had an impressive habit of grinding out 1-0 wins, six of them in total. Lewis Irwin was their top scorer with 32.
Ground: Billing Road, Northampton, NN1 5RX
Distance from Hinckley: 40.1 miles
We’ll meet: 28th September (h), 30th November (a)
Northampton Sileby Rangers
Home colours: Red and black
Last season: 2nd in Spartan South Midlands Division One. The other promoted side, Sileby Rangers finished 17 points behind town rivals Chenecks but were elevated despite losing their play-off final due to vacancies in the pyramid. They had the second-best attack and the second-best defence in their league, again both behind Chenecks.
Ground: Fernie Fields Sports Ground, Talavera Way, Northampton, NN3 6FR
Distance from Hinckley: 44.9 miles
We’ll meet: 27th August (a), 29th March (h)
