All you need to know ahead of the Town's game with Nuneaton - which could see the side make history
WHO? Nuneaton Town Football Club of course, the side that reformed in 2008 after the previous guise of the club went into liquidation. The club first formed in 1889 as Nuneaton St Nicholas. They will make the trip to Luton from their Liberty Way ground – or the Sperrin Brewery Stadium, to give it its full title.
WHERE’S YOUR BORO GONE? Don’t be confused if you hear the away support chanting “come on Boro”. Nuneaton used to be known as Nuneaton Borough until 2008, reverting to Town when they reformed. However, they kept their Boro nickname. Confusing, eh?
LONG TIME NO SEE. Saturday will the two sides go toe-to-toe for the first time this season. Nuneaton are currently the only Skrill Premier side the Town have yet to play. It was 5th March the last time to the two clubs met in what was John Still’s second game in charge. That game ended goalless.
HOW THEY DOING? Last season Boro finished the campaign strongly to avoid relegation and finish in a respectable 15th place. This term Kevin Wilkin’s side started the season on fire and led the table after run of nine games without defeat, winning seven of those. However, a run of nine games without a win followed to puncture their promotion chances. Four wins on the spin followed that run to reignite those hopes. After a 1-0 win over Hereford in earlier December Boro then went six games without a win in all competition but they got back to winning ways once more last weekend with a 1-0 over Macclesfield. Boro lie in eighth place in the table and just one point off the top five.
ON THE ROAD. Boro have been inconsistent on the road this season, as their record of five wins, five defeats and four draws shows. The victories have come at Macclesfield, Dartford, Hereford, Welling and, most impressively, at Grimsby. The Boro, however, have lost their last two matches away from home, 1-0 at Southport and 2-1 at Gateshead.
LAST TIME HERE. The Town met Nuneaton twice at Kenilworth Road last season, once in the league and once in an FA Cup first round tie. Two superb goals from Alex Lawless in the last five minutes helped the Hatters to a 2-0 win in the Conference meeting in early October before another late goal – this time from Scott Rendell – earned the Town a replay in the cup a month later. Rendell scored twice in the replay at Liberty Way in a 2-0 win.
EX FACTOR. While there are no current connections between the Town and Nuneaton, a number of players have played for both clubs in the past. The two most well-known are defenders Trevor Peake and Kirk Stephens. Going further back Arthur Nelson and Billy Hails played for both sides and, more recently, James Dance spent a short spell on loan with Boro last term.
RECORD BREAKERS. If, if, if, if, if, if, if, if the Town avoid defeat against the Boro then a new record of league matches unbeaten will be broken. The Hatters equalled the current record of 19 with a 0-0 draw at Lincoln three weeks ago. The Hatters lasted tasted league defeat at Wrexham back on 13th September. The Town went 19 games unbeaten between 20th January 1968 to 24th April the same year in Division Four (losing at home to Bradford ending the run), and went 19 games without defeat between 8th April 1969 to 7th October 1969 (losing away to Doncaster). The latter run was spread across two seasons.
TOWN TEAM NEWS. The Hatters could give debuts to centre-half Fraser Franks and midfielder Cameron McGeehan against the Boro. Andy Parry and Alex Lacey are also making progress in their recuperation from injuries and the duo are now back in full training.
BORO TEAM NEWS. Nuneaton sold their highly-rated goalkeeper Kelle Roos to Derby County on Thursday so Kevin Wilkin will make a change in goal. The Hatters will need to be aware of leading goalscorer Louis Moult, who has 12 goals this season after signing permanently in the summer from Northampton.
TICKET NEWS. Tickets for Saturday’s game are on sale now and will be right up until kick-off. It’s always best to buy directly from the ticket office by either phoning 01582 416976 or online at www.eticketing.co.uk/lutontown. You can then collect, hassle-free, on the day from the ticket office’s collection window.
LIVE & DIRECT. We’ll have all the news as it happens from Kenilworth Road. Pre-match build-up, team news, live text and audio commentary, a report, reaction, photographs and interviews. Remember to keep it lutontown.co.uk, Hatters Player and check out our ever-growing Facebook and Twitter feeds. And keep an eye on our Instagram, Vine and YouTube accounts too for good measure #COYH.