At last, we have a home game. After seventy-three days and seven games postponed since our last home game on 20 December 2025, we entertain Stratford Town in the Southern League Premier Central fixture tonight, kick off at 19:45.

The Bards, who lost 0-2 at home on Saturday to Bury Town, are having a torrid time in the league. Stratford have only managed one draw (0-0 away to Banbury) and four defeats (0-2 versus Bury Town; 1-2 at home to Harborough; 0-1 away at Real Bedford and 1-0 away at Worcester City) in the last five games. This leaves The Bards, managed by Paul Davis, one place below KTFC in thirteenth on the same number of points (42) with the former having played two games more. In the form league, they reside in nineteenth place with one point from their previous five games. However, they are in fifteenth place in the comparative away standings having achieved fifteen points from fifteen games.

For the Poppies, whilst Liam McDonald is still looking for reinforcements for the squad, especially given the hectic run-in schedule, they are seeking to maintain their strong run of form. Following a hard fought away point at relegation threatened Stourbridge on Saturday, KTFC are unbeaten in four games with three wins (1-3 away against St Ives; 1-3 away against Needham Market and 0-2 away at Bishop’s Stortford) one draw at Stourbridge and one away defeat (4-1 at Leiston) in their past five matches.

Kettering are sixth in the form table taking ten points from a possible fifteen in our past five matches but are seventeenth in the overall home form table securing eighteen points from only eleven games. The Club’s recent form leaves the club residing in twelfth place with forty-two points, ten points off the playoff places with four games in hand on current fifth placed Redditch United and four placed Quorn on fifty-three points.   

At the top of the table, the midweek action focusses on the promotion race with League leaders, Spalding United and fifth placed Redditch United without a game, Harborough Town in second place travel to Banbury United, third placed Real Bedford are at home to Needham Market and Bury Town entertain Quorn.

KTFC have to play Stratford both home and away this season and, whilst it is all square in terms of previous wins, the Poppies will be looking to take advantage of the home pitch and the visitors recent poor results to secure a win against the Bards. With thirteen games left until the playoff places are decided, the Poppies will have to secure three points to maintain any promotion aspirations this season. It’s all to play for on a welcome return to Latimer Park.

Enjoy the game.

                                                      STRATFORD TOWN            

Season        V        Comp           F-A     Att:    Poppies Scorers

2015-16        H        ESP             3-1     467     Popa, Weir-Daley, Carvalho (p)

                     A        ESP             1-2     418     Mulligan

                     A        RIC1             3-3*    132     Sandy, Baker-Richardson, Kinniburgh

2016-17        H        ESP              0-3     430

                     A        ESP              1-4     309     Baker

2017-18        H        ESP              2-0     508     Stevens, Howe

                     A        ESP              4-0     248     Solkhon (p), Richens, Stevens, O’Connor

2018-19        H        ESLSCP       5-1     660     Hoenes.2, Solkhon, O’Connor, Stanley

                     A        ESLSCP       3-1     396     Milnes, Stohrer, Kelly-Evans

                     A        CSSCC4       3-3+   116     Hoenes, Graham.2

2023-24        H        PISLPC        1-0     612     Jarvis

                     A        PISLPC        0-2     983

2024-25        H        PISLPC        1-1     912     York

                     A        PISLPC        3-3      1664  Stohrer, White, Powell.C

* lost 4-5 on penalties

+ lost 1-4 on penalties

POPPIES WINS:      6                                       GOALS FOR:                      30

BARDS WINS:        6                                        GOALS AGAINST:              24      

DRAWS                  2

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

Luke Graham, Rhys Hoenes (2018-19)

Most goals in career Poppies v Stratford Town (3)

Rhys Hoenes

Played for both clubs (25)

Will Grocott, Ben Stephens, Justin Marsden, Nabil Shariff, Lewis Wilson, Wilson Carvalho, Ross Oulton, Joel Gyasi, Michael McGrath, Mo Sebbeh, Joe Curtis, Rhys Sharpe, Kyle Perry, Liam Hughes, Harry Reilly, Andre Wright, Liam Daley, Kieron Dawes, Sidik Atcha, Harry Reilly, Aksum White, Kai Williams, Lamine Sherif, Ryan Inman, Dan Jezeph.

Managers (1)

Carl Adams.

Managed both clubs (1)

Thomas Baillie.

League debuts (7)

Liam Canavan         05:08:15 (a)

Kaid Mohamed        27:08:16 (h)

Ethan Lee               15:04:17 (a)

Kalern Thomas        09:12:17 (h)

Ibby Akanbi             09:12:17 (h)

Matthew Foy           01:09:18 (a)

Arlo Doherty            09:03:24 (h) GK

Club debuts (3)

Rafael Garcia                    27:10:15 (a) RIC1

Bleu McNeill            27:10:15 (a) RIC1

Arjan Hundal           08:01:19 (a) CSSCCQF

Kettering Town players sent off v Stratford Town (1)

Dion Kelly-Evans     2018-19 (a)

Stratford Town players sent-off v Kettering Town (1)

Finley Brennan        2024-25 (a)

Poppies players who have scored against Kettering Town (3)

Wilson Carvalho, Will Grocott, Nabil Shariff

STRATFORD TOWN

Manager                           Paul Davis

Ground                             Arden Garages Stadium

Nickname                         The Bards

Position in League           13^th – 42pts from 30 games.

Top League Scorer          9 – Owen James

FORM (last 5)

POPPIES                LWWWD      10pts

THE BARDS           LLLDL           1pt

THE BARDS SO FAR..