On Saturday, Celtic travel to Liverpool to face high-flying Bootle. Bootle are currently top on twenty-four points with a one hundred percent record. Kick-off 3pm.
Bootle’s start to this season has been incredible. Five away games, three home games and they have won them all. And won them convincingly. Four games have seen them scored four goals, beating Newcastle and Witton 4-2, and Lower Breck and Vauxhall 4-0. Over the start of this season Bootle have scored twenty-two goals, and conceded four, with their last five games all clean sheets (six in total), only Witton and Newcastle have scored against them this season, so their confidence will be sky high. Ben Hodkinson is on seven goals already this season, with nine other players chipping in. They are scoring at a rate of 2.7 goals per game (2.3 at home), whilst conceding at a rate of 0.5 goals per game (0.7 at home).
Since dropping into the NPL First Division, we’ve met Bootle six times, just about edging the results, with three wins, two losses and a draw. In three visits, we’ve won two and lost one. Our last meeting was a 3-1 win for Celtic with Liam Tongue, Jack Irlam and Ellis Horan giving Celtic a comfortable lead, marred only by a late stoppage time consolation. However, in the previous visit, Bootle took advantage of an injury-ravaged Celtic to pummel us 5-2, and though Celtic twice pegged them back with goals from Joe Duckworth and Greg Wilkinson, Bootle looked good for the win. Our first league visit was a 4-0 win for Celtic, with an Aaron Dwyer brace, a Darius Palma penalty and a Jack Tinning header. Further back, we have knocked them out of the FA Cup in 1993 in a replay, and out of the FA Trophy in 2021, needing a late goal from Matty Jones to make it 3-3 and a penalty shoot-out.
In Bootle’s last match, the 2-0 home win over Nantwich, Bootle lined up as:
1. Joe Mason
2. Jay Roberts
3. Michael Simpson
4. Matty Fenton
5. Tom Hannigan
6. Lewis Doyle
7. Jack Lenehan
8. Sam Hughes
9. Jack McGowan
10. Ryan Beigan
11. Ben Hodkinson
In Celtic’s last match, the 2-2 away draw at 1874 Northwich, Celtic lined up as:
1. Charlie Monks
2. Charlie Doyle
3. Kyle Brownhill
4. Jack Byrne
5. Fortune Maphosa
6. Cam Fogerty
7. Ellis Horan
8. Liam Tongue
9. Ruben Jerome
10. Jack Irlam
11. Lewis Rawsthorn
Table |
P | Pts | |
| 1 | Bootle | 8 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Stafford Rangers | 8 | 21 |
| 3 | Prescot Cables | 9 | 21 |
| 4 | Hanley Town | 9 | 19 |
| 5 | Shifnal Town | 9 | 18 |
| Tue 29 Sep 2026 | Nantwich Town | 2-0 |
| Tue 22 Sep 2026 | Congleton Town | 1-0 |
| Tue 15 Sep 2026 | Vauxhall Motors | 4-0 |
| Sat 05 Sep 2026 | Kidsgrove Athletic | 1-0 |
| Mon 31 Aug 2026 | Lower Breck FC | 4-0 |
Goal Scorers | H | A | 1st | 2nd | Total | |
| 1 | Hodkinson, Ben | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | Fenton, Matthew | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | McGowan, Jack | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 3= | Lenehan, Jack | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 3= | Daniels, Declan | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Home win | Newcastle Town | 4-2 | Sat 15th Aug |
| Away win | Vauxhall Motors | 0-4 | Tue 15th Sep |
| Home defeat | Never lost at home | ||
| Away defeat | Never lost away | ||
| Home score | Newcastle Town | 4-2 | Sat 15th Aug |
| Away score | Witton Albion | 2-4 | Tue 18th Aug |
| Games Since... | Overall | Home | Away |
| Last Scored | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Last Conceded | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Last Won | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Last Drew | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Take the M60 to junction 12 and join the M62, stay on the M62 for 20 miles to junction 6 and join the M57 towards Southport and Docks.
Stay on the M57 for 10 miles to the end, and turn left onto Dunnings Bridge Road A5036.
After a mile turn left onto Park Lane.
At the end of the road turn right onto Bridle Road, then take the immediate left onto Vesty Road.
The club is here.