Match Preview: Rugby Borough (A - FA Cup), Sat 22nd Aug, 3pm
Date: Saturday 22nd August 2026
Time: 3pm
Competition: FA Cup Preliminary Round
Opponent: Rugby Borough FC
Venue: Nationwide Windows Arena, Kilsby Lane, Hillmorton, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 4PN
Admission Prices: £10 Adults, £5 Concessions, Under 16s free (must be accompanied by an adult)
Weather forecast: Cloudy 20°C
Please note that the ground does not allow dogs.
Nuneaton Town have their first Warwickshire derby of the season on Saturday afternoon as they take on Rugby Borough for a place in the draw for 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.
It's a first ever meeting between the 'Boro's after Rugby Borough have seen a steady rise through the leagues to become the highest ranked Rugby side for the first time this season. The two sides will clash again in the league in October and February subject to postponements.
Bradley Stretton's brace helped Nuneaton Town defeat Westfields 5-2 in the Extra Preliminary Round two weeks ago in an impressive performance, and Town will be happy to be making a shorter away journey for this round. Rugby defeated Sporting Club Inkberrow 3-0 in the previous round, and have won all three league games so far.
Can Nuneaton continue their FA Cup progress or will Rugby Borough make it 5 wins out of 5 for the season so far?
About our opponents:
With Rugby Town juniors finding it difficult to continue playing once reaching adult years, Rugby Borough was formed in 2017 to facilitate this. They sprinted through the Leicestershire Senior League Division 1 at the first attempt. They won the Premier Division the following season but failed the ground grading, denying them promotion.
They won the division again in 2021-22, earning promotion to the Spartan South Midlands League Division 1, and won the play offs the following season to be promoted to the United Counties Premier South. It took just two further seasons for another promotion, beating Aylestone Park in the play off final in 2024-25 to be promoted to Step 4 for the first time. Two Rugby derbies followed with the first played in front of 1,169 fans.
After a solid 16th place finish in their first season at this level, coupled with relegation for Rugby Town, Borough are now the highest ranked Rugby side for the first time, and looking to push for what would be a 5th promotion in just 10 seasons of existence.
Previous meetings:
None
Directions from Nuneaton town centre:
Take the A47 to the A5 via The Long Shoot. Continue on the A5 south past Hinckley, the M69 junction, and Lutterworth, until Crick industrial estate. Turn right onto the A428 towards Rugby, and after crossing over the railway bridge, turn left into Kilsby Lane, and the entrance to the ground will be on the right down a driveway. (21 miles approx 35 min)
Public transport:
Trains to Rugby run at 11 minutes past the hour. Take the 13:11 to London Euston arriving at Rugby at 13:26. Head south out of the station down Murray Road, turn right at the roundabout and then wait at the bus stop just past Bath Road. Take the D1 bus to Daventry at 13:54 arriving at Kilsby Lane at 14:04 and walk up the driveway to the ground.
Returning, catch the D1 bus back towards Rugby at 17:57, arriving Clifton Road at 18:11. Walk back up Murray Road to the train station and take the 18:42 to Crewe arriving at Nuneaton at 18:54.
