Banbury arrive into Saturday’s contest fresh from the emotional highs and lows of their FA Cup run. In front of a packed crowd of 1,598 fans, the Puritans forced a 1–1 draw in the 4th Qualifying Round. Unfortunately, on Tuesday night, they bowed out to an extra-time goal away at St Albans, ending a cup journey that captured the imagination of supporters.

Assistant Manager Craig McKay gave an impassioned reflection on the exit:

“To say we’re proud of our lads doesn’t even scratch the surface. They chucked their hearts at it, put their bodies on the line and ran themselves into the ground. We’re all hurting today but the boss has put an unbelievable group of people together and that spirit and unity we’ve got will carry us a long way. We’ll be ready to go on Saturday.”

Now, all focus turns back to league business. The Puritans have been formidable on home turf this season, averaging 2 goals per game at Spencer Stadium and will be eager to carry that form forward. A convincing win here could restore confidence and maintain momentum.

Halesowen Town: The Yeltz’s Challenge

Halesowen, under Russell Penn, have endured a mixed start. After a promising opening spell, their form has plateaued: winless in their last five matches across all competitions. Their most recent test saw them beat 3–2 by local rivals Redditch United on Tuesday evening.

On the positive side, Jason Crowley, their summer signing, has hit the ground running, netting 5 league goals so far, stepping into the space left by Kieran Donnelly.

Also turning heads is the return of Josh Smile to Spencer Stadium. Previously making 26 appearances before his departure in May 2023 (and earning Andy Whing’s Player of the Season), Smile is now a central figure in Halesowen’s plans. Penn is clear about expectations:

“He certainly proved his worth last year and hopefully a year on he can take us to another level, setting the standards I expect from this team.”

This is not a side to take lightly. The Yeltz still carry menace in attack and a desire to rediscover consistency.

Head-to-Head & Historic Edge

These two clubs have fashioned one of the more compelling local rivalries in the Southern Premier Central. While it’s always scrappy, intense and keenly contested, Halesowen currently hold the psychological advantage, having won 4 of the last 5 meetings. Last season, they claimed both league fixtures by narrow 1–0 margins.

Banbury’s last victory over the Yeltz came way back in August 2018, when first-half goals from Charlie Wise and Greg Kaziboni secured a 2–1 win. The Puritans will be desperate to end that barren streak this Saturday.

Ticket Information

Adults: £13
Concessions & Students (with valid ID): £11
Under 18s: £9
Under 11s: Free with a paying adult

Spectators under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult the age of 18 or over.

Tickets can be purchased here

Please note that, this fixture is segregated.

Turnstile Information

Home Fans: Please use the main turnstile, located near the clubhouse car park.

Away Fans: Please use the Town End turnstiles — our security team or volunteers will be happy to guide you.

With both teams well backed, the turnout for this fixture should be good, supporters are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to help reduce queues and ensure a smooth entry to the ground.

Match Day Sponsor – L. Jarvis & Sons

We’re proud to welcome L. Jarvis & Sons Ltd as the official matchday sponsor. You will have noticed from our Home FA Cup Fixture, they are now the proud sponsors of the Town End. L. Jarvis & Sons is a long-established, family-run waste management, scrap metal and site-clearance business serving homes, industry and construction projects across the region.

They offer a full range of services including skip hires, scrap car disposal (with certificates of destruction), site clearances, and reclaiming ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Over the decades they’ve earned a reputation for reliability, competitive rates and fast service across Banbury and beyond. By choosing to support the Puritans on matchdays, L. Jarvis & Sons stand as a proud local business backing local sport and a reminder of the strong ties between club and community.

Let’s hope for another packed Spencer Stadium with goals, passion and Banbury putting on a show. And thanks again to L. Jarvis & Sons Ltd for backing this fixture, here’s to a fantastic matchday!