THE GAME
- Hednesford Town v Leek Town
- Saturday 24th January 2026, kick off 3pm
- Northern Premier League Premier Division
- Keys Park Stadium, Keys Park Road, Hednesford, Staffordshire WS12 2D2
THE HOME SIDE
While Hednesford were advancing into the Staffordshire Senior Cup semi-finals on Tuesday night with a penalty shoot-out win at Kidsgrove Athletic, they also found themselves relinquishing top spot in the NPL Premier Division when Hebburn Town beat Whitby Town 3-1 despite being a goal behind at half time. The result sees Hebburn in pole position with 49 points, one more than The Pitmen who are a further three points ahead of third placed FCUM. All three teams have played 25 games while Warrington Rylands, who have 42 points, and Stockton who have 40 have, played a game less. The midweek game saw the return of Elliott Johnson as a second half substitute after injury while Jonny Edwards who was sent off linked up with one of his previous clubs, St Ives on Wednesday. Ahkeem Rose notched his 15th goal of the season (nine league and six cup) against Kidsgrove.
Earlier in the week the club signed midfielder Liam Kinsella. Liam came through the youth system at Walsall before making his senior debut there, going on to enjoy an impressive career in the EFL with spells at Swindon Town and most recently Cheltenham Town. With extensive experience across League One and League Two, he now brings that quality, leadership and know-how to Hednesford Town at a key moment in the club’s journey.
THE OPPOSITION
Leek find themselves in 15th position in the NPL Premier table with 29 points from 25 games following Tuesday night’s 2-2 home draw with Hyde. From those 29 points they have picked up 17 at home with 12 coming on their travels. Victories have come at Stockton (2-1), Whitby (3-0) and Hyde (2-1) with draws at Warrington Town (1-1), Hebburn (3-3), and Prescot Cables (1-1). They have tasted defeat at Rushall Olympic (1-5), Guiseley (0-1), Warrington Rylands (0-2), Cleethorpes (0-3), Bamber Bridge (2-3) and FCUM (0-2). While they have scored 33 goals, the 40 they have conceded is only better than Workington and Hyde who have let in 43 and 48 respectively. The Blues leading scorer is Alex Heath, the former Macclesfield man has five league goals plus three in the FA Trophy and he is followed by Connor Heath with seven league goals and Lucas Weir with four league and one FA Trophy.
THE GAFFER
Gavin Hurren said ahead of the game “We need to keep driving forward, show intensity and use what worked so well in our last league away game to give ourselves the best chance of taking all three points”.
FORM
From their last six games Hednesford have nine points and a GD of +3 while Leek have five points and a GD of -5.
- HTFC: WLDDWD
- LTFC: DWLDLL
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
From the late 1970s to the early 1990s the meetings between the two teams were limited to clashes in the FA Trophy and Staffs Senior Cup. The first league meeting came in the Southern League in 1994/95 when Hednesford did the double over Leek, winning 3-1 at Harrison Park with goals for Paul Carty and Joe O’Connor (2) and 3-0 at the Cross Keys in a game that saw Hednesford become League Champions thanks to goals from Steve Burr, Steve Essex and Gary Fitzpatrick. In the Football Conference in 1997/98 Hednesford took four points off Leek with the same outcome in 1998/99. In 2006/07 and 2007/08 in the Northern Premier league Hednesford won both home games, 1-0 and 2-0 respectively but lost both away games. The last league meetings came in 2023/24 when a 0-3 reversal at Leek was followed by a 1-1 draw at Keys Park, Blaine Rowe getting Hednesford’s goal.
MATCHDAY DETAILS
Kick off is at the usual Saturday time of 3pm with turnstiles 3 (for access to Chase Suite only) and ticket office open at 12pm for anyone with advance tickets who wants to watch the West Ham v Sunderland game at 12.30pm in the Chase Suite although the rest of the ground won’t open until 1pm.
There will be parking available at the Sunflex site at a cost of £5, all proceeds going to charity.
The Matchday sponsors are ABC Leasing Hub while the Best Seats in the House winner is Adam Chidler.
Check out the fan zone situated between the Wimblebury Terrace and Heath Hayes End. A burger van and Papa John’s Pizzas will be there along with the self-serve BoltBar. There are also now four new portaloos in the area too.
Club shop is open from 1pm to 2.55pm.
Admission will be £13 adults, £10 concessions/17-18 and disabled (non-wheelchair access), £5 U16 and free for U10s. All U16s must be accompanied by a paying adult and should be under their supervision at all times. Get your match tickets from the ticket office or online via Fanbase.
The matchday programme will be on sale, cash payments to the programme sellers or by card from the club shop and will feature an article on The Pitmen’s 1994/95 Championship winning season.
