TRAFFORD FC VS STOCKTON TOWN PREVIEW
COMPETITION: Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round
DATE: Saturday 30th August, 2025
KICK-OFF: 15:00
ENTRY: £10 Adults, £6 Concessions, £2 Under-16s
GROUND: Shawe View, Shawe Rd, Urmston, Manchester M41
LIVE UPDATES: @stockton_townfc – Twitter/X
LIVE COMMENTARY: Anchors Radio (mixlr.com)
Stockton Town start their FA Cup campaign with a trip to Manchester on Saturday afternoon.
The Anchors come into the game on a high after securing a 2-0 win over Morpeth Town on Bank Holiday Monday.
Kev Hayes was at the double with a freekick and penalty to steer them past their North East rivals.
Michael Dunwell will be without Tom Coulthard who is suspended following his red card at Rushall Olympic. Michael Sweet and Jake Petitjean will both go through fitness tests.
THE OPPOSITION
Trafford currently compete at Step 4 in the Northern Premier League West Division, and are managed by former FC United manager Karl Maginson who has been at the helm since 2023. Last season they finished 9th- their highest finish since 2019. The North have made a dismal start to this season and are yet to get off the mark after four games.
On Bank Holiday Monday they slipped to a 2-1 home defeat to Wythenshawe Town.
The only joy they have had this season to date has come in the FA Cup where they beat Barnoldswick Town 2-1 in the Extra-Preliminary Round and Campion 3-0 in the Preliminary Round. It’s the furthest they have progressed in the competition since 2020 when they exited in the First Qualifying Round at Marske United.
Their best-ever run in the famous cup was to the Third Qualifying Round which they achieved in both 2012 and 2013 where they lost to Marine and Corby Town.
FORM GUIDE
Trafford FC (22nd): L L W L L
Last match: Trafford 1-2 Wythenshawe Town
Stockton Town (9th): W D L D W
Last match: Stockton Town 2-0 Morpeth Town
PRE-MATCH QUOTES
Looking ahead to the start of the FA Cup campaign, Michael Dunwell said:
“It’s a break from the league against a team we have never faced before. They (Trafford) haven’t had a good start to their league season but we know in the FA Cup that goes out of the window.”
“We go into the game on the back of an excellent win on Bank Holiday Monday and will be looking to start another good cup run following last season’s”
