Celtic start their season for real on Saturday when we travel to Hednesford Town for the opening game of the 15/16 season (Kick off 3pm). There will be a match centre for this game.
Hednesford finished last season in a very respectable eight place having won seventeen and drawn ten earning them sixty-one points, so they finished eleven places and sixteen points ahead of Celtic. After a topsy-turvy start to the season, Hednesford managed to string a series of wins together propelling them into third spot in the table, with only eight games left. However, finishing the season with one win in ten games saw them fall rapidly out of the play-off spots. Their last win in the league was over Fylde at the start of March. Between December and March though, they were almost unbeatable, with just one loss, away at Champions Barrow.
In the two meetings we had with Hednesford last season, they beat us 5-0 at home, and we got an absolutely crucial 2-1 win at their place with a late goals from Aidan Chippendale, and a season saving last ditch goal from Chris Simm, giving us the lead with seconds on the clock after Ben Bailey had scored almost from the kick off connecting with a long throw. That win was our first in Hednesford since 1995 when we won 1-0 in the Conference National. We have visited six times, and Hednesford have won three and drawn one (in 2005).
Hednesford have had a decent pre-season, beating most of the teams from leagues below and losing twice to teams above. They played Stafford Rangers twice, winning at home, and most recently, drawing away.
They have brought in several new faces for the new campaign, with one familiar face: Paul Ennis.
Celtic do have one injury before the season even kicks off, with Alex Mudimu out for a few weeks.
Table |
P | Pts | |
| 2 | Lowestoft Town | 1 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Stockport County | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | Hednesford Town | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | Gloucester City | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | Brackley Town | 1 | 3 |
| Sat 08 Aug 2015 | Stalybridge Celtic | 2-1 |
Goal Scorers | H | A | 1st | 2nd | Total | |
| 1 | Tilt, Curtis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1= | Modest, Jake | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Home win | Never won at home | ||
| Away win | Never won away | ||
| Home defeat | Never lost at home | ||
| Away defeat | Never lost away | ||
| Home score | Never played home | ||
| Away score | Never played away | ||
| Games Since... | Overall | Home | Away |
| Last Scored | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Last Conceded | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Last Won | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Last Drew | n/a | n/a | n/a |
From the M67 join the M60 towards Stockport.
After 7 miles, leave the M60 at Junction 4 (Chester, M6) to join the M56 Stay on the M56 for 7 miles, coming off at junction 7 (Northwich, M6) to join the A556.
The roundabout can be avoided by using the slip road.
Stay on the A556 for 5 miles to the roundabout with the M6.
Join the M6 southbound (Birmingham) avoiding the roundabout by using the slip road.
Stay on the M6 for 48 miles to junction 12 (Telford, A5).
At the roundabout at the end of the slip road, turn left (exit 1 of 4) onto the A5.
After 2.
5 miles there is a roundabout (Longford Island) with the A4601 - go straight across (exit 2 of 5) to stay on the A5.
After 1 mile there is a roundabout (Churchbridge Island) just after going under a railway bridge.
Turn left (exit 1 of 5) onto the A34/A460 (Walsall Road) towards Rugeley.
Immediately, there is a second roundabout.
Go straight across (exit 2 of 3) onto the A460 (Eastern Way).
Stay on the A460 for 1.
5 miles across 4 more roundabouts.
At the fifth roundabout (with a McDonald's beside it), turn right (exit 3 of 5) onto Hemlock Way.
Go to the end of Hemlock Way (about three quarters of a mile) to a roundabout (Cross Keys Island) - go straight across (exit 2 of 4) onto Keys Park Road.
After 250 yards there is another roundabout - turn right (exit 3 of 4).
The ground is on the left.