The games keep coming as we reach Week Seven in the Southern League Premier Central campaign with the visit of Spalding United to Latimer Park on Tuesday kick off 19:45.

Spalding United have had a busy preseason with a plethora of new signings, including Connor Johnson and Ben Hart, joining a host of former Poppies as part of a radically changed 2025/26 squad. This fixture had to to reversed due to the fact that the new pitch being installed at the Sir Halley Stewart Field is not quite ready for competitive matches.

Fresh from a ninety fifth minute equaliser in their last match away at Stratford on Saturday and despite an opening game 2-1 loss away to Real Bedford, ‘The Tulips’ have had a good start to the season. Three wins (2-3 vs. Bromsgrove Sporting, 0-2 at Stourbridge and 0-3 against AFC Stamford) and two draws (1-1- away at Harborough Town and 2-2 Stratford) and an Emirates FA Cup 2QR win away at Ikeston, Their performance leaves them in fifth place place in the league with eleven points from a possible eighteen.

Kettering Town secured a 1-1 draw against a resilient Worcester City side on Saturday following a resounding 1-4 away win in the Emirates FA Cup a at Long Eaton. Back at home in the league, the Poppies reside in fourth place, a point behind The Bees, who drew 1-1 at home against Halesowen, on 14 points and only two adrift of league leaders Bishop Stortford, who lost on Saturday 0-1 at Stourbridge, with fifteen. With Leon Lobjoit expected to be fit and a few minor injuries in the squad, Kettering will be looking for a good performance at home especially after the 0-1 Harborough Town loss last time out. The league leaders Bishop Stortford entertain Leiston at home with unbeaten Harborough Town hosting Quorn who the Poppies play on Saturday in the Emirates FA Cup.

With the additional element of former players returning to Latimer Park together with Spalding’s excellent away record it will be a pulsating match under the lights at Latimer Park.

Enjoy the game.

UTP!

SPALDING UNITED

SINCE 2021

Season V         Comp              F-A     Att:     Poppies Scorers

2021-22           A         FAC2Q            1-1       562      Ofosu

                        H         FAC2QR         2-0       582      Ofosu, Sheriff

2024-25           H         PISLPC           4-0       898      York.2, Wilson, Fifield

                        A         PISLPC           1-1       935      Johnson

SINCE 1931-32      (27)

POPPIES WINS:      19                                            GOALS FOR:                       95

TULIPS WINS:          6                                            GOALS AGAINST:             38

DRAWS                      2

Most goals in a game for the Poppies v Spalding United (4)

Fred Starmer & Harry Loasby (1932-33)

Most Career goals v Spalding United (8)

Alex Linnell

Played for both clubs (45)

Goalkeepers

Ken Price, Keith Alexander, Steve Appleby, Glen Beech, Brett Chittock, Stephan Dancy, Daniel French, Francis Green, Robert Greetham, Danny Holyoak, Mark Hone, Craig Hopkins, Neil Horwood, Lee Hudson, Troy Johnston, Carl Shutt, Jim Kabia, Luke McShane, Matt Murphy, Younes Tajer, Steve Williams, Elliot Dent, Lee Clarke, Rudy Misambo, Josh Moreman, Avelino Vieira, Jake Newman, Joe Curtis, Spencer Weir-Daley, Sam Cartwright, James Clifton, Elliott Sandy, Lewis Elsom, Jordan Graham, Stephan Morley, Callum Westwood, Wilson Carvalho, Sam Bennett, Lamine Sherif, Lewis White, Tyrone Lewthwaite, Keiron Dawes, Nile Ranger, Nathan Fox, Connor Johnson.

Managers (4)

Dominic Genovese (both clubs), Mark Hone, Pat Rayment, Elliott Sandy.

Assistant Manager (2)

Alan Biley (both clubs), James Clifton.

Club Debuts (2)

Daniel Emovon           13:08:24 (h)

Alex Brown                18:09:21 (a)    FA Cup 2QR

Kettering Town players sent off against Spalding United (1)

Connor Johnson

SPALDING UNITED

Manager                                Jimmy Dean

Ground                                   Sir Halley Stewart Field

Nickname                               The Tulips

Position in League                5^th (11 points from 6 games – all away)

THE TULIPS SO FAR…