Kettering Town Preview

Just seven seasons ago Kettering Town were playing in the Conference National Division. However, after losing their Rockingham Road ground in 2011, the club went into administration finishing bottom of the Conference National in 2011/12 and due to their financial turmoil were then demoted two divisions to the Premier Division of the Southern League. They then finished bottom of the Southern League Premier Division the following season and were relegated to Division One Central. Having used Nene Park, Rushden, and Corby’s Steel Park since losing Rockingham Road, Kettering then groundshared with Burton Latimer at Latimer Park from season 2012/13, and are still there. Their stay at Southern League Division One level was for just two seasons as they won the Central Division Championship in 2014/15 to return to the Premier Division. Last season they qualified for the play-offs with a fourth-place finish but lost 3–1 to Slough Town in the semi-finals.

Kettering Town have had a very good first half to this season as they are serious contenders for the Premier Division Central Championship which will ensure promotion to the National League North. They have led the table for most of the season and though knocked off the top on Tuesday by Stourbridge following the Worcestershire side’s 0-0 draw at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium, they do have three games in hand. A 3-0 home defeat to St Ives Town was a huge shock two weeks ago but they seemed to put that behind them, as if it was a temporary blip, with an impressive 3-0 home win over Lowestoft Town last Saturday.

As for ourselves, the 0-0 draw at home to Stourbridge on Tuesday evening means it is now six games without a defeat. Supporters have been full of praise for the performance on Tuesday evening, justifiably so, for it was just a goal or two which was missing with many claiming it was our best performance of the season. There should thus be no lack of confidence as we take on another high-flying team and bookies odds-on favourites for the Premier Division Central Championship tomorrow.

Matchday Tickets (pay at turnstile)
£10 – Adult
£7 – Senior Citizens - 60+
£5 – Students (aged 19+, proof required).
£1 – 18 and under

Programme £2.

Away supporters are advised to use OX16 5AB for their Sat-Nav as the club’s official postcode may well take you elsewhere! Please note that the A422 is closed between Brackley and Banbury at Farthinghoe, If travelling South from Northampton on the A43 you are advised to turn off onto the B4525 at Syresham and follow this road to Banbury.

Full directions here >>>

It is free to sit in the stand

Hot Food available in the Clubhouse.

Free parking at the ground

The old Chiltern Railway car park on Tramway Industrial Estate is available for use, free of charge. It would be very helpful to the club if local supporters who know their way around were able to use this facility.

Banbury United Christmas draw tickets will be on sale around the ground. £250 top prize.

And have a go on the club’s 50/50 draw! One big prize and this has been over £150 at recent Saturday games – you have to be in it to win it!!

Why not pay a visit to the Club Shop. Some fantastic items which will make great Christmas presents now in stock.

At tomorrow’s match there will be a collection for Zibi Modrzejewski, the owner of our neighbours, Modlen Garage, who suffered a serious injury on the afternoon of our game against Lowestoft which led to the Air Ambulance using the pitch. The most recent news is that he is in intensive care in the JR in Oxford but is responding well to medication. Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues at this distressing time. We will be having a separate collection for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance at the Rushall Olympic game on Saturday week.