THE AWAY END - Hednesford Town

HEDNESFORD TOWN

Nickname: The Pitmen
Manager: Gavin Hurren
Stadium: Keys Park
Capacity: 6,039

Following Saturday’s goalless draw in Staffordshire, we welcome Hednesford Town to New Lodge this evening as the Pitmen make the 150-mile trip down to Essex.

Back in the Northern Premier League after a remarkable promotion last season, Hednesford produced a stunning turnaround in 2024/25. Sitting as low as 16th in late October, they lost just once in their final 20 league matches before sealing promotion through the play-offs, overcoming Vauxhall Motors in the semi-finals and then beating Congleton Town 2–0 in front of a record 4,701 crowd at Keys Park.

Life back at Step 3 has started just as brightly. Gavin Hurren’s side currently sit third in the Northern Premier League, with six wins from ten games, and are unbeaten in their last eight. They arrive at New Lodge on a run of four successive clean sheets, with the Blues the first team to keep them from scoring since 23rd August.

Central to their fine form is forward Ahkeem Rose, who has already netted nine goals this season, including five in the FA Cup. Rose bagged four in Hednesford’s 7–0 thrashing of Coleshill Town in the Second Qualifying Round, a result that followed a 3–1 win over Basford United and set up Saturday’s initial tie.

There is also a slice of FA Cup history between the sides. The clubs last met in October 2000, when a replay at Keys Park ended in heartbreak for the Blues, with an own goal in the final seconds of extra time sending the Pitmen through 2–1 after a 0–0 draw at New Lodge.


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