This Saturday is derby day as Hinckley AFC welcome Nuneaton Town for a mouthwatering local clash at Kirkby Road against the United Counties Premier South leaders.
For the first time since Boxing Day 2011, Hinckley will be at home to Nuneaton in a competitive game – three tiers lower in the pyramid than that last meeting in the Conference North.
But despite the difference in level and time, both squads this weekend will have connections to that fixture – in the form of Nuneaton player/coach Justin Marsden and Hinckley’s new defensive signing Alex Dean, who both played in those derby matches 14 years ago.
The parallels of both towns’ footballing journeys since then are evident – the demise of both of the old clubs, reformation under fan-led new dawns and both won the Midland League Division One in consecutive seasons to end up meeting again this campaign.
And that points to the fact that both squads know each other well. Nuneaton duo Brandon Bache and Dec Somel both played in Hinckley’s title-winning side before moving up the A5 and Callum Carsley played under the AFC management team at Atherstone, while Hinckley’s Luke Jones and Alex Lock both featured for Boro earlier in the season.
The opposition
Nuneaton’s ambition to go for back-to-back titles was evident early on and they have backed up that ambition by soaring to the top of the table, leading the way by five points with two games in hand.
Boro have scored the most goals and conceded the joint-fewest, and are on a five-match winning run which has lifted them clear of closest challengers March. In those wins, they have scored 15 goals and conceded just two.
But what may keep March interested in a title possibility is that Nuneaton still have to play a number of tricky away games, with visits to six of the 10 sides closest to them still to come.
They possess the league’s top goalscorer in Kyle Jardine, who signed in the summer after two bumper years at step six with Heather, while Eesa Sawyers, another summer signing from a Midland League Division One club in Bilston, has 10. Somel and James Harrison are also closing in on double figures.
From the dressing room
“We do feel like we owe Nuneaton a performance to prove how good we are. We were miles off it in the reverse fixture back in October but we’ve come a long way since then. Games between Hinckley and Nuneaton don’t need much ramping up, the excitement is there for everyone. They’re big games, draw in some big crowds, and we’ll come into this wanting to win and gain the bragging rights.”
Adam Davies
Key information
Kirkby Road has a large, free on-site car park, but spaces will go quickly with a bumper crowd expected. Once it gets full, please park courteously in the surrounding areas.
We advise arriving early to avoid any potential queues closer to kick off. We have both cash and card turnstiles available. Hinckley AFC members gain £1 discount on the admission prices below.
Adults: £8
Concessions: £6
Under 16s: £2 (FREE with a Hinckley AFC Junior membership card)
