Match Preview: Smethwick Rangers, Saturday 19th April

Date: Saturday 19th April 2025
Time: 3pm
Opponent: Smethwick Rangers FC
Venue: The Oval, Coventry Road, Bedworth, CV12 8NN
Admission Prices: Adults £8, Concessions (65+) £6, Young Adults (16-18) £6, Children FREE
College / Sixth form students (16-18): Free admission, please show your College/ Sixth form pass or ID, or recent correspondence from your College / Sixth form at the turnstile.

So here we are, after a tumultuous 15 months since the demise of Nuneaton Borough, reformation as Nuneaton Town from nothing, no team, ground or management, it's time to lift the first of a possible two trophies this month as Town round out a record breaking campaign in the Midland League Division 1 with the league title.

A large crowd is expected as Town wave goodbye to the division at home to Smethwick Rangers, and prepare for the Midland Floodlit Cup final 11 days later at Walsall FC's Poundland Bescot Stadium, and Step 5 next season.

It has been a long wait for a league title, 26 years since Nuneaton Borough lifted the Southern Premier Division title in 1999.

Despite a campaign in which Town have amassed 31 wins, 7 draws and just 3 defeats, the third of those only coming last Saturday away at Saffron Dynamo, with the title already won, scoring a total of 100 points, and 118 goals, Nuneaton have been pushed all the way by a quality Heather St John's side, who may reach 98 points themselves on Saturday. Indeed if it wasn't for Heather's defeat to Ingles which sealed the title for Town, the race may have been going to the final day. So it hasn't been a walk in the park for what is the most well followed side in the division by some margin, and credit must go to Heather for making Town work very hard for the trophy they lift on Saturday afternoon.

Smethwick Rangers and Nuneaton Town last met all the way back on 31st August 2024, where a last minute goalkeeping error lead to a 1-1 draw that could have put a bump in Town's season, instead Nuneaton responded with 6 wins on the bounce before drawing with Heather.

At the time Smethwick were also challenging for the title, but a mid-season drop off in form meant that play offs were out of reach in the end. However 6th is still to play for on Saturday for them, and will represent a huge improvement on 18th last season.

Can Town end the season with 103 points and a 32nd win in 42 games?

Note: After the game, the players will briefly return to the changing room before returning to the pitch to be presented the league trophy and medals in front of the Clubhouse so that fans can view across the length of the pitch and raised areas outside the bar. Once the players have changed, fans will be able to have photos taken with the Trophy in the bar area.

Fans are reminded that they should not climb on barriers nor enter the pitch as this will result in the presentation not taking place.