Emley face a massive game this weekend when we make the trip to Derbyshire to face Belper Town in a crunch game at the top of the Northern Premier League Division One East.

Both sides have been front runners for most of the season, both for the title and automatic promotion and for the play offs, with Cleethorpes pulling away and almost secured the title it's now down to the play offs in which the next 4 will look for a shot at promotion.

Emley and Belper have both led the table at stages of the season and have both been in the play off mix all season, but now, with things hotting up, and both sides suffering dips in form, one of the sides could lose out altogether.

Currently, Belper are 4th and Emley 3rd with Dunston leading the chase of Cleethorpes for the league title, but with Carlton Town now only 6 points behind Emley in 8th, it's going to be a battle to the wire for the next 3 remaining sports between the 7 teams currently scrapping it out.

Belper Town were formed in 1883 and based in Belper, Derbyshire and are nicknamed 'The Nailers due to the town's nailmaking industry, and like Emley, were founder members of the NCEL in 1982 when the Midlands and Yorkshire Leagues combined, they won promotion to the NPL in 1996-97 and have been members ever since then, mainly in the first division, both stints in the premier league ended up with Belper finishing bottom and relegated back each time.

Emley are in a dire run of form, having lost the last 3 and only picking up 11 points from the last 30 available, and lost 6 out of the last 10 games in all competitions, Belper have picked up a little, having gone through a bad run themselves in January and February but are now 9 without defeat, 7 of those have been draws though which means they are still hanging on, just 3 points inside the play off zone.

The sides met regularly in the NCEL before Emley's move to Wakefield, Emley won the corresponding fixture back in August, to knock Belper off the top of the league to cement our outstanding start, previously, a 2-1 win in 1997 was part of that famous run to the 3rd round of the FA Cup.

Last time out:
Belper 3-0 Stocksbridge PS (Gordon, Buah, Bastos) NPL D1 E, Att- 603
Emley 0-2 Bridlington Town, NPL D1 E, Att- 452.

HEAD TO HEAD:

Previous meetings: last 5
20th August 2025, NPL D1 E
EML 3-1 BEL (Parkin 2, Lawrence) Att- 405

11th October 1997, FAC 3Q
EML 2-1 BEL (Calcutt, Graham) Att- 396

29th October 1988, NCELP
EML 2-0 BEL

24th September 1988, NCELP
BEL 3-3 EML

9th January 1988, NCELP
EML 4-0 BEL

(ALL COMPETITIONS)

CURRENT FORM: Last 5
BEL: D, D, D, D, W
EML: D, W, L, L, L
CURRENT LEAGUE POSITION:
BEL: 4/22
EML: 3/22
GOALS SCORED:
BEL: 81
EML: 68
GOALS CONCEDED:
BEL: 63
EML: 32
TOP SCORER:
BEL: Harry Draper (24)
EML: Amir Berchil (16)
AVERAGE HOME CROWD:
BEL: 505 (531 league)
EML:416 (468 league)

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

WHEN? Saturday 12th April, 3.00pm

WHERE?
The Raygar Stadium
Christchurch Meadow, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 1BA

HOW DO WE GET THERE?
From M1 North: Exit junction 28 onto A38 towards Derby. Turn off at A610 (signposted Ripley/Nottingham). 4th exit at roundabout towards Ambergate. At junction with A6 (Hurt Arms Hotel) turn left to Belper. The football ground is accessed via the lane by the side of the church on the right hand side just after the first set of traffic lights.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Belper Station 0.5 mile, change at Nottingham or Derby.

OWW MUCH?
Adults £11
Concessions £6
Students (with valid ID card) £7.00
Children Under 11 (with accompanying adult) – Free