A club with a long and successful history in non-league football, for many years at the top level, but Kettering have fallen on “hard times” in recent seasons. Having finished bottom of the Conference National last season, they were not allowed, due to financial issues, to take their place in Conference North this season and were required to play in the Southern League starting with a ten point deduction.

Having lost the lease on their Rockingham Road Ground, their home for 124 years, Kettering started the season at Nene Park, the former home of Rushden & Diamonds. This seemingly brought financial problems to a head and they looked like going out of business with unfulfilled fixtures for a number of weeks. However, survival seems to have been achieved, at least in the short term, and they are now groundsharing at the more modest Steel Park, home of Corby Town.

On the field it has not surprisingly been a very difficult season. Even without the ten point deduction they would still be bottom of the table. Nevertheless they did have a run of three consecutive wins back in late December/early January which gave hope that a “miracle” escape from another relegation might be on. This burst of form coincided with a loan spell of striker Lewis Wilson from Northampton Town who scored seven goals in just a few games. However, with him returning to Northampton, Kettering have lost their last three games, albeit they have been against very good sides and Kettering manager Alan Doyle will be looking at tomorrow’s game as an opportunity for them to start another run of victories which might revive their hopes of the “great escape”

A familiar name to Banbury supporters who is likely to be in the Kettering Town squad is that of Robbie Maddox who joined the Poppies in December. He made 23 appearances for Banbury in season 2010/11.

The only player likely to be in the Banbury squad who has played for Kettering is Nabil Shariff who played one game for Kettering Town earlier this season down at Bideford.

Banbury manager Edwin Stein will be looking for his side to continue the sort of form they showed on Saturday when convincingly beating Chippenham Town 2-0 away, United’s first ever win at Hardenhuish Park, having failed in ten previous attempts.

Kick off at the Spencer Stadium is 7.45pm.

Admission: Adults £9, Over 60s and Students £5, Under 16s £1

Hot Food available.

Free Parking

Free to sit in the Stand.

Programme: 50 pence. There will be (subject to my printer not breaking down) a 16 page statistical update for 50 pence. A copy of the original professionally printed programme for the postponed game will be given free with this whilst stocks last (150 available) though, as this was a double issue over Christmas with the Leamington game, many Banbury supporters will already have this and may decide they do not want another copy of the original programme, though they will still be required to pay 50p for the update. I know this is complicated, it has done my head in!!