HISTORY will be made this weekend when Rugby Town host Rugby Borough in the first-ever competitive meeting between the two clubs.
Town and Borough endured mixed fortunes last term as the former side suffered relegation while the latter team celebrated promotion.
However, a late reprieve from relegation saw Town remain in the Northern Premier League Midlands this season.
And Borough’s promotion to Step Four via the United Counties League Premier Division South play-offs ensured both teams would play in the same division in the 2025/26 campaign.
The fixture is expected to draw a large crowd as Town and Valley meet for the first time ever in a league game.
Borough sit three places above Town in the table heading into the fixture although both teams have struggled in recent weeks.
Town go into the clash winless in their last four matches in the league after suffering a 2-0 defeat at AFC Rushden and Diamonds in midweek at Hayden Road.
Goals after the break from Tyler Winters and Bruno Andrade condemned Valley to back-to-back league defeats at Hayden Road.
Valley also lost 3-1 away at the division’s bottom club Bedworth United last weekend following victory against a young Coventry City side in the Birmingham Senior Cup.
Town surrendered an early lead against Bedworth at The Oval courtesy of Sam Tye’s goal after just six minutes.
However, goals from Elliott Parrott, Ryan Boothe and Charlie Gordon left the visitors stunned.
Elsewhere, Borough have failed to win any of their last five matches after conceding late on to draw 1-1 against high-flying Basford United last time out.
A first-half goal from Leo Stone put Rugby ahead only for Lynden Joyce to equalise for the visitors deep into injury time at Kilsby Lane.
Borough broke the deadlock on 36 minutes when Stone cut in from the left and curled a shot into the bottom right corner.
However, Basford drew level eight minutes into injury time at the end of the second half as Joyce headed in a corner from the right when left unmarked in the box.
Borough found themselves competing at the top end of the division early in the campaign only to drop down the table in recent months.
Town endured a difficult start to the campaign, winning just two of their first 10 league matches.
However, a stunning run of five wins from six games in October and November propelled Valley up the table.
Current Borough boss Dave Stringer returns to Butlin Road following two spells in charge of Town.
Stringer managed Valley from 2011 to 2015 and twice guided the club into the play-offs at Step Four.
He returned to Butlin Road two years later for a one-season stint at Step Five.
Former Valley players Leo Stone, Sam Lomax, Chris Clements and Ellis Myles could all feature against their old club this weekend.
Town host Borough on Saturday, November 29 with kick-off at 3pm at Butlin Road.
