August Preview
By Matt Jones
Nuneaton Town begin their season with a very packed August, as they make a start in 3 competitions. Returning to the FA Cup this season they will look to better last seasons defeat in the Extra Preliminary Round. Nuneaton make a return to the FA Trophy after a two season absence, and also make their debut in the Northern Premier League Division 1 Midlands after two successive league titles and promotions. Nuneaton have had a strong preseason and both last seasons remaining squad and the new additions look fired up and ready to go.
Saturday 8th August
The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Westfields (a)
Address: Wildmarsh Common, Allpay Park, Hereford, HR4 9NA
First up, and unusually we start with a cup game, and it's already one of our longest trips of the season as we take on Hereford based side Westfields in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round.
Westfields play in the Hellenic League Premier Division, one level below Nuneaton, and a familiar face will be in the squad we face on Saturday as Michael McGrath recently signed for the club. Westfields have already started their league campaign, a 2-1 win at Malmesbury Victoria on Saturday, and are playing Longlevens on Wednesday night, with Saturday's FA Cup clash their first home game.
Tuesday 11th August
Pitching-In Northern Premier League Division 1 Midlands
Mickleover (h)
We start our league campaign on the 11th at home to Mickleover.
The Derby based side finished 15th last season, and only played Nuneaton Borough 3 years ago in the Southern League Premier Central. Well known faces in the squad include Kane Richards and Cieron Keane, and they also have former football league striker Stuart Beavon on their books.
Saturday 15th August
Pitching-In Northern Premier League Division 1 Midlands
Carlton Town (a)
Address: Bill Stokeld Stadium, Stoke Lane, Gedling, Nottingham, NG4 2QS
Our first away league trip is possibly our most tricky as we travel to Nottingham to face last season's runners up Carlton Town.
Carlton were long time leaders of the division last season, but a terrific run from Anstey Nomads saw them reel in Carlton's lead and pip them to the title. The league favourites will be looking to right that this time around.
Tuesday 18th August
Pitching-In Northern Premier League Division 1 Midlands
AFC Rushden & Diamonds (a)
Address: Hayden Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 0HX
Our 3rd away game in 4 to start the season takes us down the A14 to Rushden to face familiar foes AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
A midtable finish for the Diamonds sees the fan owned phoenix of the former Rushden & Diamonds solidify in Step 4 where they start a fourth season after relegation from the Southern League Premier Central in 2023, where they last faced Nuneaton.
Like ourselves, Rushden & Diamonds lost their ground and club recently, and the phoenix club shares with local side Rushden & Higham United, whilst they look into their new home.
Saturday 22nd August
Pitching-In Northern Premier League Division 1 Midlands
Grantham Town (h)*
*subject to FA Cup progress for either side
Our second home game is scheduled to be Grantham Town on Saturday 22nd, a team that will be familiar to us having played the Gingerbreads in the United Counties League Cup last season in a thriller. Grantham Town won the play offs of the United Counties League Premier Division North last season, to make an immediate return to this division having been relegated from it the previous season.
New Nuneaton forward Terry Atem was with the Gingerbreads last season.
Should Nuneaton progress in the FA Cup on Saturday at Westfields, (or Grantham at home to Lincoln United) the game would be moved to later in the season and, if we progress, be replaced with a trip to the winners of Sporting Club Inkberrow or Rugby Borough.
Tuesday 25th August
Pitching-In Northern Premier League Division 1 Midlands
Coleshill Town (h)
Following either the Grantham home game or the potential FA Cup Preliminary Round game, Coleshill Town make the short trip to Bedworth to face us at The Oval.
Plenty of familiar faces sit across the two squads, with Alex Graham, Taylor Carter-Byrne and Tristan Dunkley, who all featured for Nuneaton last season, in the Coleshill side, while James Harrison finished his season with Coleshill last season after completing a second league title with Nuneaton. Coleshill would just miss out on the play offs, but are expected to be strong again this season.
Saturday 29th August
Isuzu FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round
Lincoln United (a)
Address: Ashby Avenue, Lincoln, LN6 0DY
Nuneaton make a return to the FA Trophy on 29th August, and it's another long cup trip as they face Lincoln United.
The two clubs have met just once, with Lincoln springing a surprise away win at Liberty Way back in 2016 in an FA Cup clash, winning 2-1. It was Lincoln's 3rd best FA Cup run as they reached the 4th Qualifying Round before losing out to Spennymoor Town.
Monday 31st August
Pitching-In Northern Premier League Division 1 Midlands
Sutton Coldfield Town (a)
We finish off a jam-packed August with the first of four bank holiday derbies, which sees us make the trip to Sutton Coldfield Town, a team we are facing in the league for the first time since 2010.
Nuneaton make a second trip to Sutton Coldfield in two months having faced Sutton United in preseason. We'll also make another visit later in the season to face Boldmere St Michael's.
Sutton Coldfield finished a solid 11th last season and will be looking to build upon that for this season.
