Promotion to the Northern Premier League Midlands Division was secured following an emphatic 7-0 victory over Skegness Town in the United Counties League play-off final last April in front of a crowd of 672 at the University stadium.
Jamie Clapham, Head Coach, and his staff have been busy preparing for the new challenge ahead and are assembling a squad of players ready to compete at the highest level that the Scholars have ever played at.
The NPL Midlands Division includes many of the top clubs in the Midlands area, so the Scholars' debut season at this level is expected to be a tough test.
Joining the Students as newcomers to the Northern Premier League Midlands Division are several teams:
- Wellingborough Town, promoted as champions of the United Counties League Premier South.
- Racing Club Warwick, play-off winners of the United Counties League South.
- Darlaston Town, play-off winners of the Midland Football League Premier Division.
- Worcester City, champions of the Hellenic League Premier Division.
Grantham Town has been moved laterally into the Midlands Division from the NPL East, which will reduce travel for the Lincolnshire-based team.
Long Eaton United also joins the Midlands Division this season following their relegation from the Step 3 Southern League Premier Central. Additionally, AFC Rushden and Diamonds remain in the division after receiving a reprieve from relegation to Step 5 due to the resignation of Loughborough Dynamo from Step 4 football.
The full makeup of the NPL Midlands Division is:
- AFC Rushden and Diamonds
- Anstey Nomads
- Bedworth United
- Boldmere St Michaels
- Coleshill Town
- Corby Town
- Coventry Sphinx
- Darlaston Town
- Grantham Town
- Hinckley Leicester Road
- Long Eaton United
- Loughborough Students
- Lye Town
- Quorn
- Racing Club Warwick
- Rugby Town
- Shepshed Dynamo
- Sporting Khalsa
- Sutton Coldfield Town
- Walsall Wood
Loughborough Students have yet to face AFC Rushden and Diamonds, Corby Town, and Sutton Coldfield Town in a competitive first-team fixture.
Title contenders for this season are difficult to predict due to many teams having new management and players. However, Anstey Nomads, last season's beaten promotion play-off finalists, hope to be in contention along with Quorn FC, who narrowly missed out in last season's play-off semi-final. Worcester City may also be title contenders, supported by their sizeable fan base. Shepshed Dynamo aims to improve on last season's mid-table finish under new manager Tom Hayes, who achieved a sixth-place finish with Loughborough Dynamo.
The Scholars aim to make an impression at this higher level and hope to get points on the board early in the season. In this season's FA Cup, Loughborough Students have been drawn away to Bugbrooke St Michaels FC of the United Counties League in the extra preliminary round, set for Saturday, 3rd August 2024, with a 3 pm kick-off.
This season also marks the Scholars' debut in the FA Trophy Competition, with an away game in the First Qualifying round at Sheffield FC, the oldest football club in the world, on Saturday, 7th September 2024.
With many exciting games ahead, we look forward to a memorable season and welcome both old and new supporters.