After a long trip to the east coast experiencing blocked roads, narrow lanes and an away defeat, KTFC are back at Latimer Park for this Saturday’s clash with Alvechurch kick off 15:00.

This fixture will be memorable, not for the rivalry between the two clubs, but for the fact that his is our 50^th anniversary shirt sponsorship game and there will be celebratory activities both on and off the pitch featuring Poppies players past and present together with entertainment in the poppies bar.

The Church, who narrowly lost in the FA Trophy last Saturday, are having a torrid time in the league where they have only one win in their last five Southern League Premier Central outings (2-0 at home to Worcester), one draw (at home versus Bishop’s Stortford 1-1) and three defeats (2-1 at Stratford; 1-0 away at Needham Market and 0-2 to Banbury).  Alvechurch, managed by ex Poppy Kyle Storer, are only two places below KTFC in the form league in seventeenth with four points from their previous five games. However, they are in fifteenth place in the comparative away standings having achieved eleven points from eleven games. This leaves ‘The Church’ just above the relegation zone in eighteenth place on goal difference from Stourbridge (who beat Quorn 5-0 in midweek) albeit with three games in hand. This is due in part, to their positive FA Trophy run which was ended on Saturday following a 0-1 defeat away to Yeovil.

The Poppies have shipped twelve goals in our last five games resulting in a single win (3-0 against Royston Town) two draws (3-3 at home to Bury Town and 1-1 away at Halesowen) and two defeats (away at Harborough Town 4-2 and last Saturday’s loss at Leiston 4-1).

Kettering are fourteenth in the form table taking five points from a possible fifteen points in our past five matches but are eleventh in the overall home form table securing eighteen points from eleven games. The Club’s recent form leaves the club residing in twelfth place with thirty-two points, seven points off the playoff places and eight points away from the relegation zone.  

With Rowe suspended, following his dismissal at the Flannery Stadium, KTFC are seeking additional cover for the squad especially given Fitzhugh’s loan spell ending in January, James Clifton’s return to Bedford and Coyle’s loan period currently finishing at the end of February. Nevertheless, the Poppies can be optimistic going into the match with Alvechurch as, whilst results have not always been favourable, there have been some good performances in recent games.  

Fresh from their 3-1 home win against promotion rivals Harborough Town, Spalding United travel to third place Quorn, The Bees are at AFC Sudbury, Halesowen are at home to Royston Town and Needham Market entertain Stratford.   

The fans can look forward to an exciting day on Saturday with the celebration of the 50^th anniversary of our Kettering Tyres shirt sponsorship with a bumper feast of activities both pre and post kick off. On the pitch, the Poppies will be looking for their first win of 2026, let’s get behind Liam and the team.

Enjoy the game.

COYP!       

ALVECHURCH

Season        V        Comp           F-A     Att:   Poppies Scorers

2018-19        H        ESLSPC       1-2     1567   Stanley

          A        ESLSPC       3-1     359    Hoenes.2 (1p), Towers

2023-24        H        PISLPC        2-0     783    Yussuf.2

                     A        PISLPC        1-1     321    Miller

2024-25        H        PISLPC        2-1     859    York, Noel-Williams

                     A        PISLPC        1-0     363    Miller

2025-26        A        PISLPC        0-2     643

POPPIES WINS:               4                             GOALS FOR:                     10

THE CHURCH WINS:        2                             GOALS AGAINST:               7

DRAWS                            1

Most goals in a game for the Poppies v Alvechurch (2)

Rhys Hoenes (2018-19), Adi Yussuf (2023-24)

Most goals in career against Alvechurch (2)

Rhys Hoenes, Adi Yussuf, Luca Miller

Played for both clubs (14)

Goalkeepers

Steve Stott, Nick Wright, Orrin Pendley, Michael McGrath, Kyle Perry, Khaellem Bailey-Nicholls, Dan Jezeph, Kobe Chong, Kemy Agustien, Omari Sterling-James, Sam McLintock, Kyle Storer, Connor Stanley, Archie Crowther.

Managers (1)

Kyle Storer

Poppies players who have scored against Kettering Town (1)

Archie Crowther      2024-25 (h)

Alvechurch players sent off v Kettering Town (1)

Mackenzie Lamb     2023-24 (a)

League debuts (2)

Anthony Stewart      2025-26 (a)

Micah Anthony        2025-26 (a)

ALVECHURCH

Manager                           Kyle Storer

Ground                             Lye Meadow

Nickname                         The Church

Position in League           18^th – 24pts from 21 games. Poppies 12^th 32 pts from 24 games

Top League scorer           3 – Kieran Wakefield

THE CHURCH SO FAR…

FORM – Last 5

POPPIES                DDWLL        5pts  

THE CHURCH        LWLDL        4pts