It’s been a rollercoaster journey since we kicked off this season way back in August 2025 with a 3-4 win away at now relegated Royston Town under the stewardship of Simon Hollyhead. KTFC now face a ‘playoff for a playoff place’ to secure a top five finish with the last home game of season on Saturday against Halesowen Town, kick off at 15:00.

If the prospect of a playoff place was not enough, Poppies fans are in for a treat as the Kettering Town Legends are joining the event, we have the post match player presentations and there are a multitude of enthralling entertainments on the day at the poppies bar.

Despite taking a 1-0 lead late in the first half on Saturday via their top goal scorer Jason Cowley with 30 goals this season, ‘The Yeltz’ succumbed to a 1-3 defeat at home against Harborough Town who were confirmed Divisional Champions following the result. With five wins and five defeats in their last ten games, Halesowen have been knocking on the door of the playoff places. In their past five games The Yeltz have achieved three wins (0-2 versus Bromsgrove; 3-1 at home against AFC Stamford and a 3-1 victory over Bury Town) and two defeats (2-1 away at Real Bedford and 1-3 versus The Bees). This leaves Halesowen, managed by Russ Penn, a single place below KTFC in sixth place, with sixty-six points from forty games with two points separating the teams. In the form league, The Yeltz are in eighth place over the past five games taking nine points from a possible fifteen and in the comparative away standings, reside in eighth place taking twenty-seven points from twenty games.

Following a missed penalty, two injury time goals and ultimately a hard fought draw on Tuesday, KTFC have lost only twice in their last sixteen games and in our last five matches achieved three wins (2-1 at home against Worcester City; 2-1 versus Real Bedford; 2-5 away against Barwell) together with a single draw (1-1 at home to Redditch United) and a 0-2 defeat away to Stratford Town scoring ten and conceding seven.

Kettering are sixth in the form league, taking ten points from a possible fifteen in our past five matches and are sixth in the overall home table with thirty-eight points from twenty games. Following Tuesday’s last minute draw, The Poppies are fifth in the table easing into the play-off places with sixty-eight points, with just five points separating five teams all vying for the fourth and fifth place finish.   

In the contest for the remaining playoff places, round 41 of the League sees champions Harborough Town entertain Bishop Stortford, Spalding Town travel to Leiston, who defeated Real Bedford in midweek, Real Bedford who have secured a play-off place, host Alvechurch whilst there is a cracking match at Quorn where they play fourth placed Needham Market (who defeated Stourbridge 0-1 on Wednesday) and Banbury United encounter Redditch United who have dropped to seventh place.

Last time out, the Poppies achieved a tense 1-1 draw at The Grove with a goal from Andoh opening the scoring followed by a second half penalty from Jason Cowley. The Yeltz have recently lost to the top seven sides however, with their scoring prowess and attacking mentality it will be a cracking game at Latimer Park.

With two games left to play, the prospect of a playoff finish is still in our hands. Halesowen are one of the best teams in the league and the Poppies will have to be at their best if they are to get a result on Saturday before heading down the A14 to Bury Town to complete the campaign. KTFC have been slowly inching towards the elusive play off spot since the beginning of 2026. If Halesowen win then they are well placed for a top five finish as they play relegated AFC Sudbury at home in their final game. However, four points over the next two games maybe enough to add another two games onto our 25/26 campaign. We dare to dream.

So, let’s get behind Liam and the team as the exciting run in goes down to the last game.

Enjoy the game.

                                                                  HALESOWEN TOWN

Season        V        Comp           F-A     Att:    Poppies Scorers

1946-47        H        BDL              0-1     3014

                     A        BDL              2-5                Burt, Burgess

1947-48        H        BDL              4-2     4046   Henley.3, Woolhead

                     A        BDL              4-1                Lawrence, Strathie, Henley, Own goal

1948-49        H        BDL              2-0                Mitchell.2

                     A        BDL              0-4

1949-50        H        BDL              2-3     1172   Puplett, Woolhead

                     A        BDL              2-3     1000   Puplett, Woolhead

2018-19        H        ESLSPC       2-0     628    Kelly, Solkhon

                     A        ESLSPC       1-0     938    Hoenes

2023-24        H        PISLPC        2-2     905    Mellors-Blair (p), Jarvis

                     A        PISLPC        2-1     1051   Lewthwaite, Bennett

2024-25        H        PISLPC        0-0     996

                     A        PISLPC        1-2     1216   Jarvis

2025-26        A        PISLPC        1-1     1108   Andoh

POPPIES WINS:     6                                       GOALS FOR:                      25

YELTZ WINS:         6                                        GOALS AGAINST:              25

DRAWS                  3

Most goals in a game for the Poppies v Halesowen Town (3)

Burt Henley (1947-48)

Played for both clubs (47)                                                  

Manager (1)

Brendan Phillips

Managed both clubs (1)

Morell Mason

League debuts (16)

Jack Thompson       2024-25 (a) GK

Ben Hart                 2024-25 (a)

Aaron Powell           2024-25 (a)

Devon Kelly-Evans  2024-25 (a)

Sidik Atcha              2024-25 (a)

Kai Fifield                2024-25 (a)

Andi Thanoj             2024-25 (a)

Remaye Campbell   2024-25 (a)

Isiah Noel-Williams  2024-25 (a)

Tyree Wilson           2024-25 (a)

Wes York                2024-25 (a)

Harlain Mbayo         2024-25 (a)

Neo Dobson            2023-24 (a)

Dan Jarvis               2023-24 (h) scored on debut

Will Mellors-Blair      2023-24 (h) scored on debut

Gedeon Okito          2023-24 (h)

Kettering Town players / managers* sent off v Halesowen Town (1)

Jim Le Masurier*                2023-24(a)   

HALESOWEN TOWN

Manager                           Russ Penn

Ground                             The Grove

Nickname                         The Yeltz

Position in League           6^th – 66pts from 40 games (2 behind the Poppies)

Top League Scorer          30 – Jason Cowley

FORM (Last 5)

POPPIES                WWLWD      10pts

The Yeltz                WLWWL       9pts

The Yeltz (away)     LWLLW        6pts

THE YELTZ SO FAR……