THE GAME
Stratford Town vs Hednesford Town
Pre-season friendly
The Arden Garages Stadium, Knights Lane, Stratford CV37 7BZ
Tuesday 14th July, Kick-off: 7.45pm
THE PITMEN
Following last season’s promotion to step 2 and the transition to full-time football, Hednesford’s squad has been overhauled in the close season with 21 players now leaving with Niall Watson and Jonny Edwards joining FC United and Bedford Town respectively on season long loans, 10 staying with the club and 13 new signings coming through the door.
The new boys are goalkeeper Sam Hornby from Walsall, defenders Aaron Harper-Bailey (Oxford City), George Langston (Braintree), Lenni Cirino (Gillingham), Aaron Hayden (Carlisle), Niall Maher (Eastleigh) along with midfielders Sonny Sharples (Bolton Wanderers), Dale Gorman (Woking), Jai Curren-Nicholls (Salford City), Jamie Cookke (Halifax) and forwards Dylan Mottley-Henry (Chester), Aaron Jarvis (Yeovil) and Jay Fitzmartin (FC United).
THE OPPOSITION
After finishing 11th in last season’s SPL Central Division with 61 points from 42 games, some nine points away from the play-offs, Stratford manager Paul Davis has overhauled his playing squad with nine players remaining from 2025/26 including three ex-Pitmen in goalkeeper Jake Weaver and defenders Paul McCone and Kory Roberts who were voted Players Player of the Season.
They are joined by new signings Cuba Mitchell (Gloucester City), Harry Hawkins (Derby County), Reuben Wyatt (Tamworth), Aksum White (Bromsgrove Sporting), McKauley Manning (Halesowen Town), Kobe Hall (Kidderminster Harriers), Charlie Farr (Taunton Town), Kevin Bastos (Belper), Tali Jallow (Nuneaton), Dexter Dudley-Toole (Redditch United) and Freddie Cook (AFC Telford United).
FORM
Hednesford ran out convincing winners in their first pre-season outing at Chasetown on Saturday, winning 6-0 with goals from Niall Maher (2), Jamie Cooke (2), Aaron Jarvis and scholar Josh Mabbley in front of a crowd of 1,126.
Stratford have already played four friendlies, all at home. A 1-2 defeat at the hands of Nuneaton, former Pitman Zidan Sutherland netting as a trialist was followed by a 1-0 win over Worcester Raiders with Kobe Hall scoring.
A weekend double header saw a 3-2 win against a Coventry City X1 on Friday night and goals for Freddie Cook, McKauley Manning and another from Sutherland again playing as a trialist plus a 1-1 draw against a Stoke City XI on Saturday, Kobe Hall getting his second pre-season goal.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
The most recent meetings between The Pitmen and The Bards came in the SPL Central League in 2021/22 when Stratford won both games, 1-0 at home and 2-1 away and in 2022/23 when Stratford won 1-0 again at Knights Lane before Hednesford gained a 2-0 victory at Keys Park with goals from Lewis Ison and Leroy Lita.
MATCHDAY DETAILS
Stratford have played at Knights Lane in Tiddington since 2007/08 and their record attendance is 2,800 for a First Round FA Cup game against Shrewsbury Town in 2021.
Admission on Tuesday is £5 for adults, concessions and 12-17 year olds. Under 12s are free with a paying adult.
