Tuesday night’s 0-2 defeat at Nantwich Town meant that Stour have now suffered three successive Premier Division reverses, and have won just once in the last seven League fixtures, a run of poor form that needs to be turned around in a hurry if hopes of a play-off place are to be sustained.

The Glassboys slipped a further place in the table on Tuesday, and are now 11th, still seven points adrift of the play-off places.

Farsley, meanwhile, are currently seventh in their first season after winning promotion via the play-offs last season from Division One North, with 36 points from 23 games, an impressive start at this level, and they are very much in the promotion mix as we approach the festive period.

Like Stour, Celtic have not been in the best of form lately, having won just two of their last 12 matches in all competitions. They have enjoyed a free midweek this week, and will be equally keen to find form after successive defeats at home to relegation-threatened Sutton Coldfield Town (0-1) and then last Saturday at Hednesford Town (1-2).

A strong start to the season saw Celtic unbeaten in their first five League matches, but a mixed run of results through September including a 4-5 home loss to Stalybridge Celtic and a 0-6 defeat at Altrincham – saw them slip away from the top end of the table. Three wins on the bounce in late September and early October suggested a revival, but since then consistency has proved hard to come by.

The FA Cup and Trophy have brought no joy this season, with defeats at the first time of asking in both competitions. Stalybridge Celtic beat them 2-1 at Bower Fold in the Cup, whilst South Shields won a pulsating Trophy replay 4-3 on Tyneside.

Away from home, Farsley have won four, drawn three and lost three in the Premier Division, but they will no doubt be hopeful on Saturday of taking advantage of the Glassboys’ sketchy home form which has seen us win just three of our ten League fixtures at the War Memorial Ground so far this season.

The current Farsley Celtic FC were formed as recently as 2010, from the remnants of the former club of the same name, which was expelled from the Blue Square Conference North and subsequently folded midway through the 2009/10 season. The club had enjoyed a meteoric rise from the Northern Premier League Division One to the Conference National, with three promotions in four years, but that level of success proved unsustainable and they were relegated at the first time of asking at the end of the 2007/08 season, before going bust 18 months later.

The new club, initially known as Farsley FC began life in the Northern Counties East Premier Division (Step 5), and were promoted as champions at the first time of asking in 2010/11. They finished fourth in their first season at Step 4, missing out on promotion in the play-offs, and had to wait until last season for another serious promotion challenge, when they finished runners-up behind Lancaster City, going on to beat Colne (4-0) and Ossett Town (4-2) in the play-offs to reach the Premier Division. Along the way, Farsley adopted the former club’s name in 2015.

There have been no previous meetings in any competitive fixture to the best of our knowledge, and we are unaware of any players who have turned out for both clubs.

Saturday’s match kicks off at 3.00 pm.

ADMISSION PRICES

Our normal admission prices will apply on Saturday as follows:

Adults - £10
Over 65s - £7
12-18 years old - £5
Under 12s – Free
(With paying adult, over 65 or 16-18 year old)

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

The Glassboys are away to Leamington next Saturday, 16th December, in the Buildbase FA Trophy First Round. Kick-off at the New Windmill is at 3.00 pm.

A Supporters Coach will run to this match, subject to demand, and details can be found here.

Our next home match is on Saturday 23rd December when our visitors will be Whitby Town (3.00 pm kick-off).

YOUTH & ACADEMY

The Youth Team welcome Worcester City next Monday night, 11th December, for a MFYL fixture (7.45 pm kick-off).

We are awaiting confirmation of the Academy Team’s next fixture.

STOURBRIDGE LADIES

The Glassgirls make the very short trip to Gornal Ladies on Sunday, 10th December, buoyed by two successive League wins. Kick-off is at 2.00 pm at Mile Flat Stadium (former home of Handrahan Timbers FC), Enville Road, Kingswinford DY6 0AX. Admission is free, and your support would be welcome!

FIXTURES – SATURDAY 9TH DECEMBER

Altrincham v Shaw Lane
Barwell v Grantham Town
Halesowen Town v Nantwich Town
Hednesford Town v Buxton
Matlock Town v Rushall Olympic
Stafford Rangers v Lancaster City
STOURBRIDGE v Farsley Celtic
Sutton Coldfield Town v Marine
Warrington Town v Stalybridge Celtic
Whitby Town v Coalville Town
Witton Albion v Ashton United
Workington v Mickleover Sports