THE GAME
- Cleethorpes Town v Hednesford Town
- Northern Premier League Premier Division
- HPS Plant Hire Stadium, The Linden Club, Clee Road, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN32 8QL
- Saturday 18th April 2026, kick off 3pm
THE HOME SIDE
Cleethorpe’s home defeat to Hebburn Town last Saturday was their second in six games at The Linden Club and their fifth of the season at home in total. Of the 19 games they’ve played there they also have won eight and drawn six, the defeats coming against Hebburn (2-4), Whitby (0-3), Warrington Rylands (1-2), Stockton (1-2) and Gainsborough Trinity (0-1). Away from home they have won six, drawn six and lost seven giving The Owls a total of 54 points from 38 games which sees them in eighth place in the NPL Premier League table, five points adrift of the final play-off spot with two games left to play. Leading scorer is Josh Walker who has 16 goals to add to the 21 he scored in last season’s promotion run which earned him the accolade of NPL East Division Player of the Season and a place in the NPL East Team of the Season. He is followed by Nicky Walker and Bailey Conway who both have four goals.
THE PITMEN
Saturday’s 4-0 win over Morpeth guaranteed a top three finish for Hednesford and kept them in second place, level on games and points with Hebburn. Both teams have 73 points from 38 games and they are followed by FC United in third who have 71 points from 37 games. Hebburn travel to Bamber Bridge on the 18th and entertain Rushall Olympic on the 25th while FC United are at home to Hyde on the 18th, travel to play Stockton at Curzon Ashton on Tuesday 21st and are away to Ilkeston on the 25th. From their 19 away games this season Hednesford have won eight, drawn five and lost six, scoring 24 goals and conceding 23 although 11 of those 23 conceded have come in three games at Prescot Cables, Hyde and Workington. Leading scorer for The Pitmen this season is Ahkeem Rose who has 13 league goals, five in the FA Cup and one in the Staffs Senior Cup. Montel Gibson has 10 league goals and two in the Birmingham Senior Cup while Omari Sterling-James’ hat trick on Saturday took him to eight goals from 15 starts.
MANAGER’S THOUGHTS
FORM
Cleethorpes sit in seventh place in the current form table with 11 points from their last six games while Hednesford lie in fourth with 13.
- CTFC LDWWWD
- HTFC WWWLDW
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
Although this will be The Pitmen’s first visit to Cleethorpes for a league game, they have played there twice before. On 15th November 2017 they lost 1-2 in an FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round replay
despite Joey Butlin giving them a 21st minute lead and it was the same result on 7th September 2021 in an FA Cup First Qualifying Round replay despite taking the lead again this time through Andre Landell.
MATCHDAY DETAILS
The Linden Club ground has a capacity of 2,200 with 350 covered seats, 100 uncovered seats and 300 covered standing. Cleethorpes’ average attendance this season is 450 with a high of 862 against FC United and a low of 265 against Warrington Town. The team play in blue and black shirts with blue shorts while Hednesford will wear their home kit.
Admission is £12 adults, £8 concessions (65+, 16/17 years old), £4 6-15 years old, U6 free. Tickets can be purchased online via the Cleethorpes website or at the turnstiles (cash or card) where a printed programme is also available at £3. There is free parking available at the far end of the ground although fans on the supporters’ coach will get off on Clee Road and walk down to the turnstiles (around 100 yards).
After the game Rob Bywater will be playing live in the Fan Zone and both sets of supporters are welcome.
There will be match coverage by Pitmen Radio on Mixlr for any one who can’t make it over to Lincolnshire.
