Leek Town vs Bootle: Match Preview
By Brendan Doyle
Today Alan Morgan and his squad travel down the M6 to Staffordshire to take on Northern Premier League Premier Division side Leek Town in the first round of the FA Trophy.
The Bucks head into the tie full of confidence following an excellent run of results. Bootle secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Shifnal Town in their most recent outing, adding to wins against Chasetown and Stalybridge Celtic. With goals coming from across the side and the defence continuing to deliver important clean sheets, Bootle have demonstrated the consistency and attacking threat needed to make an impact in cup competition. They will now be aiming to carry that momentum into Staffordshire and book their place in the next round of the FA Trophy.
Leek Town, provide a stern test for The Bucks, with the Staffordshire outfit competing in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and undefeated in their last five outings with four wins and one draw. Managed by Josh Brehaut, Leek arrive following a 2-1 away victory against Lancaster City, having also recorded draws against Ashton United and Warrington Rylands earlier in October. With captain Liam Buckley among their squad, the hosts will be looking to use their experience and home advantage to progress in the competition. Bootle will need to be at their best to overcome a side capable of posing problems going forward.
Club History:
Founded in 1946 as Leek Lowe Hamil, Leek Town are a Staffordshire-based football club nicknamed The Blues, who play their home matches at Harrison Park. Although some trace football in the town back to 1876, the history of the modern club began in the aftermath of the Second World War. The club adopted the name Leek Town in 1951 and quickly established itself in local football, winning the Manchester League title in its first season under the new name.
Leek continued to progress through the non-league pyramid, winning the Cheshire County League in 1974/75 before becoming founder members of the North West Counties League in 1982 and the Northern Premier League First Division in 1987. The 1989/90 season proved a landmark campaign, as the club won promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division and reached the FA Trophy final at Wembley, where they were beaten 3-0 by Barrow. They also enjoyed an impressive FA Cup run the following season, defeating Scarborough in the First Round Proper before taking Chester City to a replay in the Second Round.
The club reached another major milestone in 1996/97, winning the Northern Premier League Premier Division title and earning promotion to the Football Conference, the fifth tier of English football at the time. However, their spell at that level lasted just two seasons, and subsequent relegations saw the club rebuild and fight its way back up the non-league pyramid.
More recently, Leek endured several frustrating promotion campaigns, including play-off defeats and seasons curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic while challenging near the top of the table. Their persistence finally paid off in 2023/24, when they won the Northern Premier League Division One West title under manager Josh Brehaut, securing promotion back to Step 3 after an 18-year absence. The Blues finished 15th in their first season back in the Northern Premier League Premier Division in 2024/25, before improving to eighth in 2025/26.
Today, Leek Town remain an established name in Northern Premier League football, with a proud history of developing through the non-league pyramid, memorable cup runs and a loyal local following at Harrison Park.
Form Guide:
Leek Town 2 Hyde United 1, September 22nd 2026
Worcester City 0 Leek Town 2, September 26th 2026
Leek Town 2 Warrington Rylands 2, October 6th 2026
Leek Town 2 Ashton United 2, October 10th 2026
Lancaster City 1 Leek Town 2, October 17th 2026
Manager:
Josh Brehaut has built his reputation primarily as a coach, working within the academy systems at Port Vale and Stoke City before moving into senior non-league management. He had two spells as assistant manager at Kidsgrove Athletic, including during their run to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup in 2018. He joined Leek Town as joint assistant manager in June 2023, working under Neil Baker, before being appointed first-team manager in September 2023 following Baker's departure.
Brehaut made an immediate impact, guiding Leek Town to the Northern Premier League Division One West title in the 2023/24 season. The achievement secured promotion to Step 3 for the first time in 16 years, with Leek enjoying a remarkable 23-game unbeaten run during the campaign. His side also enjoyed a memorable FA Cup run. In 2026, Brehaut was named Northern Premier League Manager of the Month for April after leading Leek to five consecutive victories, helping them finish eighth in the Premier Division.
Key Player:
Skipper Liam Buckley plays primarily as a right-back, although he is also capable of operating on the left side of defence, he began his footballing journey in the youth ranks at Chester City, where he developed before making the step into senior football.
Buckley moved to Welsh Premier Division side Cefn Druids, gaining valuable experience in senior football before returning to England to join 1874 Northwich. His performances earned him a move to Leek Town in the summer of 2023, ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
His first season at Harrison Park proved hugely successful, as he played an important role in Leek's Northern Premier League Division One West title-winning campaign. An attacking full-back, Buckley impressed with his ability to contribute going forward while providing defensive solidity, earning both the Northern Premier League Rising Star award and Leek Town's Management Team Player of the Season award.
Since joining the Blues, Buckley has continued to develop into an important member of the squad, featuring during the club's return to the Northern Premier League Premier Division. His versatility, attacking instincts and experience gained at a young age have made him a valuable asset for Leek Town, where he has also taken on the responsibility of captaincy.
At just 23 years old, Buckley remains a relatively young defender with considerable experience across the English non-league pyramid and Welsh senior football, having already been part of one of the most successful seasons in Leek Town's recent history.
Club Fact File:
Founded: 1946
Ground: The F Ball Community Stadium (Harrison Park)
Capacity: 3,600 (625 Seated)
Recent Honours:
Northern Premier League Division One West Champions 2023/24
Non League To Pro:
Adam Yates
Jack Sanders
Anthony Malbon
