Before the Second World War two clubs, the St Mary’s and the Prims, were playing in Anstey. It was after the war when the boys returned from the services, that the two clubs, Marys and the PM decided to join forces under the name of Anstey Meths and Mary’s, which formed in 1946. However, after one season it was decided that the name of the club would be changed to Anstey Nomads.

With the formation of the Nomads football in Anstey took on a higher status, for Leicestershire Senior League Football – the highest grade of amateur football in the county – came to the village.

Early successes in winning the Senior League Division 1 (1951-52 and 1953-54) were followed by heady exploits in the FA Amateur Cup. In their first attempt they reached the first-round proper losing 2-1 at Cambridge. In the second season Gedling Colliery knocked them out in the final qualifying round 2-1 a Gedling. The following season the club wrote a new page in Leicestershire amateur football history, after playing through all five preliminary rounds, their big day arrived when 400 supporters hired a train and made the journey to Gray’s in Essex to see the team win 3-1 in the 1st round proper. The 2nd round saw a crowd of 4,500 at Cropston Road with the Nomads losing 2-1 to Hayes. The club then joined the Central Alliance with little or no success. The revamping of Midlands football saw the club in the East Midlands Regional League in 1966-67 and of the six years spent there, top four places were gained in three of them. Back in the Leicestershire Senior League in 1973 and after winning Division Two in their first season the Nomads became one of the powerhouses of local football mainly under the guidance of John Perkins, Willie Wilcox and Denis Moran.

In the Ninetie’s history was created when the Leicestershire Senior Cup and Junior Cup “the double” was achieved in 1994-95. Into the Noughties and 2008-09 was the Nomads most successful season for many a day. Champions of the Leicestershire Senior League and winners of a host of local cups under Stu Deeley. Also gaining promotion to the East Midlands Counties League.

Promoted to the United Counties League, new dressing rooms and a ground overhaul, season 2021/22, with first team, under 21`s, 3 x under 18`s, women`s senior team and a further 34 junior teams together with a walking football side.

In season 2022/23 would see The Nomads promoted to step 4 playing in the Norther Premier League Midlands Division 1. Along the way during this season the club would enjoy a successful FA Cup run within its most recent history reaching the 4th Qualifying round hosting National League side at the time Chesterfield FC, in front of a crowd of 1500.

After gaining promotion, Anstey Nomads would again begin to create its own history during season 23/24. The highest league the club as ever played in and come the end of the season narrowly missing out on back-to-back promotions in the play-off final. During this season would see the Nomads again have a decent FA Cup run playing the like of Hereford FC along the way.

The 2024/25 season saw Anstey Nomads reach the playoffs for a second consecutive season as they tried to bounce back from the previous season's playoff final heartbreak. Finishing third in the league table saw Nomads host Worcester City, ultimately losing 2-0 on the night to the eventual playoff winners.

2025/26 saw the most successful season in the clubs history. A record breaking run in the FA Trophy saw Nomads reach the Fourth Round, knocking out National League side Hartlepool United 2-1 away from home in the Third Round. In the league Nomads were 11 points behind runaway leaders Carlton Town following a 2-0 home loss to the latter at the start of March. Nomads went on to claim 43 out of a possible 45 points winning 11 games in a row including a 6-1 victory away to Carlton to win the Northern Premier League Midland Division title on the final day of the season. Reaching Step 3 for the first time in the clubs history.

In addition to the first team, we now have 57 teams playing under the Nomads banner including Women, Under 18`s and Junior sides.


3	Bury Town FC	18	7
4	BromsgroveSporting	18	7
5	Kettering	15	7
6	Anstey	14	7
7	Rushall	12	7
8	Leiston	11	7
9	Needham Market	10	7

Anstey Nomads

Match Outlook

Premier Central