Moulton travel over to Hinckley Association Football Club (Barwell Cricket & Sports Club, Kirkby Road, Barwell) on Friday 20 Feb (KO 7:45pm) in the Sports Ground Development UCL Cup - Qtr Final. Hinckley’s home colours - red shirts, blue shorts; blue and red hooped socks.

The club was formed in January 2014 when fans of the dissolved Hinckley United formed their own Community Trust football club, owned and democratically run by its supporters. Further to that in February 2014 the club's badge and playing colours were voted on. The club crest chosen represented the town's history and future, and the playing colours would be a home kit of red and blue, with away colours of violet and white. At that same meeting the working group announced a bid by a local businessman to purchase the De Montfort Park ground, and that his favoured tenant for the stadium would be Hinckley AFC. In March 2014 the working group announced that the co-operative trust had finalised its constitution. Members were informed that the club had applied to join the Midland Alliance, but would have to wait until the FA had fully scrutinised the business plan before they would make a final decision. The club were informed in June 2014 that they had been allocated a place in the newly formed Midland Football League First Division, level 6 of the Non League Pyramid.

The club won their opening league game 3-0 away at Southam United and a week later set a club record victory beating Pelsall Villa 13–0, but a run of 7 games without winning followed, leaving the club in the bottom reaches of the league table. On 18 October Hinckley AFC beat Cadbury Athletic2–1, and then proceeded to set a Midland League record of 26 games unbeaten in a season culminating with a final day victory over Southam United winning 5–1. This unbeaten run lifted Hinckley AFC into a final league position of 3rd, ahead of Bolehall Swifts by virtue of goals scored. In cup competitions, an early exit in the FA Vase losing 2-1 at Tipton Town was balanced by reaching the final of the Leicestershire and Rutland Senior Cup, finishing runners-up to Bardon Hill, losing 1–0. That on-field success continued into the start of the 2015–16 season, when they overturned a Redditch United side from three levels higher in the non-league pyramid to reach the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup in their first campaign in the competition. That season, the club finished fifth in the league and won their first piece of silverware: going one better than the previous season by winning the Leicestershire and Rutland Senior Cup with a 5–1 victory over Oakham United in the Final. The following season 2016-17 Hinckley AFC were Runners Up to Bromsgrove Sporting, though were still 19 points behind as Sporting ran away with the league. Since then a couple of mid table finishes led to a series of managerial changes, and in 2019 the appointment of Courtney Belford was confirmed, but the COVID-19 regulations of 2019 and 2020 prevented the completion of either of those seasons.

In May 2021 in the restructure of the Non League System at steps 5 and 6 of the non league pyramid Hinckley AFC were initially placed in the Midland Football League. Following a successful appeal to the FA in June 2021, the club was laterally transferred to the United Counties League Division One for the 2021/22 season. In September 2021 Hinckley AFC set a new club record score beating St Martins in the FA Vase 18–0, this score also being the biggest win in the history of the FA Vase. They finished up in 2nd place but lost out in the play-off final. For the following season (2022/23) they reverted back to the Midland Football League Division 1 where they ended up in 3rd place and again lost out in the play-off final. Seven years on from their first piece of silverware, the club lifted the Midland League Cup in May 2023, defeating higher-level Whitchurch Alport in the final. The following season (2023/24) saw the club promoted as champions of the Midland Football league Division 1 and took the decision to enter the United Counties League Premier Division South for the 2024/25 season where they ended up in 9th position with 54 points from their 36 games (16 wins; 6 draws; 14 defeats).

Since our 5-1 away win against them back in November (goals from Osoimoejiokhian, Long, Falcon, Kelly, Stevens) they have played a further 8 games but only achieved 2 wins v Bugbrooke (A) 3-0 & Lutterworth Town (A) 3-1, there last win just before Christmas; 6 defeats v March Town (A), Atherstone Town (H), Eynesbury Rovers (H), Aylestone Park (A), Nuneaton (H), Coventry (H). At present (4 Feb) they occupy 10th position in the league with 36 pts from their 28 games (11 wins; 3 draws; 14 defeats). On 7 March we entertain them at Brunting Road in the League.

They progressed into the quarter final of the Sports Ground Development UCL Cup with a 3-1 away win v ON Chenecks. They however were knocked out of the Leicester & Rutland Challenge Cup away at Ashby Ivanhoe 0-4. Back in August they also exited both the FA Vase and FA Cup losing respectively to Pershore Town on penalties and Long Eaton United 0-3.

Friday’s referee is scheduled as David Brennan, who officiated in the 2-1 home win v Newport Pagnell at the end of September.