There’s never a dull moment being a Poppies fan and this week’s events both on and off the pitch have continued this trend. Our continued autumn away travels see us visit the Valley Stadium, the home of Redditch United, for a difficult fixture on another 3G surface.

Last Saturday’s results, together with midweek action for the teams vying for playoff glory, have witnessed a significant change in the league positions. With Harborough Town engaging in midweek Emirates FA Cup action, losing 0-3 to Altringham after extra time, they are home to fourteenth placed Bromsgrove; Second placed Spalding United, who trounced Bishop Stortford 1-4 away  are also at home to lowly AFC Sudbury; Quorn sitting in fifth place are at home to improving Bury Town and Alvechurch in third, who lost 3-4 to Quorn on Tuesday, are away at St Ives. Bishop’s Stortford in fourth are away to relegation candidates Worcester City. Only four points separate the top eight in the league.

Redditch, fresh from their 3-1 away win at Halesowen Town reside in eighth place on the same number of points as Kettering (17) albeit that the latter have a game in hand. Still in both cup competitions, Redditch have won three (2-3 vs Halesowen; 0-1 Cleethorpes FA Trophy; and 3-1 at home against Stourbridge) and lost two (3-2 away to Bishop Stortford and 0-3 away at Harborough Town)of their last five games.

With the last grasp winner for Alvechurch last Saturday, four captains since the start of the season and twenty-five players played in red and black, the Poppies squad have been rocked this week by the  departure of Nile Ranger, Brandon Barker, Jamar Loza and loanee Kai Field. The saved funds can be invested back into the core squad to build on the improved performance that the KTFC faithful witnessed on the slope of Lye Meadow.  

Kettering Town, have now only won three games in our last ten in all competitions and of our record in the past five league games has been patchy with two losses (Alvechurch 2-0 and 2-4 Spalding United) two draws (Stamford 1-1 at home and away at Worcester 1-1) together with a single win (3-1 versus Bishop’s Stortford). Our recent series of away fixtures and the disruption in the first team squad will have contributed to Simon Holyhead’s pre match preparations.

However, our previous matches against ‘The Reds’ have always been competitive affairs and this one will be no different.

Enjoy the match.

UTP

REDDITCH UNITED – Since 2000

Season            V         Comp               F-A     Att:     Poppies Scorers

2001-02           A         FAC2Q            0-0       660

                        H         FAC2QR         2-0       1044    Collins, Watkins

2004-05           H         NCN               1-0       929     Gould

                        A         NCN                3-2       402     Brown, Difante 2

2005-06           H         NCN                4-0      911     Midgley, Elding, Own goal, Black

                        A         NCN                1-2       752     Gould

2006-07           H         NCN                3-1       1080    Marna, Howe, Boucaud

                        A         NCN                4-4       670     Howe, Demspter, Solkhon, Boucaud

2007-08           H         BSN                2-0       879     Rawle, Solkhon

                        A         BSN                2-0       414     Westcarr, Galbraith

                        H         FAC2Q            3-1       1072    Bridges, Burton, Westcarr

2009-10           H         FAC4Q            1-1       1403    Ashikodi

                        A         FAC4QR          1-0       1101    Marna

2012-13           H         ESP*              0-1       487    

                        A         ESP                 1-4       610     Griffiths

2013-14           H         RIC3**           4-5       216     Gooding, Jepson, Moreman.2

2015-16           H         ESP                 0-0       626

                        A         ESP                 1-2       453     Carvalho (p)

2016-17           H         ESP                 1-2       343     Brighton

                        A         ESP++             3-1       212     Westwood, Weir-Daley.2

2017-18           H        ESP                 1-0       606     Meikle
                        A         ESP                 0-0       467

2018-19           H         ESLSPC          4-4       453     O’Connor, Kelly-Evans, Holman.2

                        A         ESLSPC          4-1       379     Meikle, Hoenes.2, Holman

2023-24           H         PISLPC           1-2       704     Lewthwaite

                        A         PISLPC            0-2       324

2024-25           H         PISLPC           3-1       1846    Ranger (p), Edwards.2

                        A         PISLPC           2-3       521     Kelly-Evans, Noel-Williams

+Played at Stourbridge

* Played at Corby Town

** Played at Latimer Park

++ Played at Bedworth United

Since 1975-76

POPPIES WINS:  8   GOALS FOR:   67 REDS WINS:    10   GOALS AGAINST:  47 DRAWS   8

Most goals in a game for the Poppies v Redditch United (3)

Jim Conde (1975-76)

Most goals in career Poppies v Redditch United (3)

Jim Conde

Played for both clubs (40)                                                               

Managers (3)

Denis Mortimer, Liam McDonald, Ian King.

Kettering Town players sent off v Redditch United (3)

Mark Osborn               2006-07 (a) GK

Lewis White               2023-24 (a)

Harlain Mbayo            2024-25 (h)

Own goals v Redditch United (1)

Marcel McKie             2006-07 (h)

Own goals v Kettering Town (1)

2005-06 (h)

Poppies players who have scored against Kettering Town for Redditch Utd (2)

James Dance, Exodus Geohaghon

Poppies players who have made their 100^th Club appearance against Redditch United (1)

Luke Graham              22:04:08

REDDITCH UNITED

Manager                                Mike Fowler

Ground                                   The Valley Stadium

Nickname                               The Reds

League position                     8^th – 17pts from 11 games

Leading league scorer          6 – Alex Cameron

League form last 5                DWLLW       

THE REDS SO FAR…