Darren Acton and Russell Dodd, lifelong friends from a 1981 under‑10s match, now steer Nuneaton Town into the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands. In only their second season together, the pair secured a second straight promotion, a feat unmatched since the club rebirthed after Nuneaton Borough collapsed in January 2024.

Acton, a former goalkeeper who logged nearly 350 appearances for the Boro, and Dodd, who has managed ten lower‑division sides, built a squad from scratch. Their season yielded a 38‑game campaign with 27 wins, four losses and an impressive 93 goals, clinching the United Counties League title with a 3‑0 win over Northampton Sileby Rangers.

Despite operating from Bedworth United’s Oval ground, attendances around 600, a figure that club director Lee Hayward says will rise with more local derbies. Hayward’s £35,000 merchandise sales over two seasons illustrate the club’s lean, fan‑owned model, which has raised £100,000 of the £150,000 needed for a new 49‑year lease in the Vale View area.

The duo’s chemistry, forged in school and across youth academies, has translated into a disciplined side that can outscore rivals. With a clear goal of returning to Nuneaton, the club plans to build on this momentum, secure the new ground by 2029‑30, and focus on consolidation rather than chasing another upcoming promotion for the season.