Match Preview: Kidsgrove Athletic (A)

By Brendan Doyle

After going on a four game run without a defeat, Bootle look to make it five games unbeaten and three consecutive league wins at the end of their trip to Staffordshire as they face fourteenth placed Kidsgrove Athletic at Hollinwood Road.

Despite a shock defeat on Tuesday night at Jericho Lane to MSB Woolton via a penalty shootout, it still remains that Bootle are undefeated in their last four league outings and have won two consecutive games in that run, including a blistering 5-1 win away at Mossley last weekend which consisted of a Courtney Duffus hat trick and a brace from Ste Edmundson including a very hard to beat contender for goal of the season. Another win for Bootle today would see a huge change in fortunes since their 6-0 away defeat to Chasetown in their first November fixture as many Bootle fans would’ve possibly thought a run like this was unthinkable at the time.

Kidsgrove Athletic only have one win in their last five league fixtures and have picked up only four points from them, however a dominant and clinical 6-1 away win to Uttoxeter Town on Tuesday night in the Staffordshire Senior Cup could very well be a confidence booster for The Grove ahead of this fixture. A win is needed for Matt Rhead and Tom Pope’s side as they look to get further away from the bottom half of the division.

Kidsgrove Athletic Form Guide:

• Bury 2 Kidsgrove Athletic 0, November 1st 2025

• Kidsgrove Athletic 2 Atherton Collieries 1, November 8th 2025

• Mossley 3 Kidsgrove Athletic 3, November 15th 2025

• Shifnal Town 3 Kidsgrove Athletic 2, November 22nd 2025

• Uttoxeter Town 1 Kidsgrove Athletic 6, December 2nd 2025

The Manager:

Tom Pope and Matt Rhead have been joint player managers of Kidsgrove Athletic since February 2025. Matt Rhead started his playing career at Norton United and joined Kidsgrove Athletic in 2004 but before he resigned for The Grove twenty years later, his career path consisted of Eastwood Town, a loan spell at Kidsgrove Athletic, Nantwich Town, Congleton Town, a return to Eastwood Town, Corby Town, Mansfield Town, Lincoln City, Billericay Town, Boreham Wood and Alfreton Town.

Tom Pope was appointed player manager alongside teammate Matt Rhead back in February but as a player his CV is quite impressive, his youth career began at Crewe Alexandra and then he switched over to Hanley Town. Although it would be Biddulph Victoria that the club Pope would start his professional career at but then just after a season at the club, Crewe Alexandra resigned Pope. Whilst still registered at Crewe, Pope ventured out on loan to Lancaster City, Stafford Rangers and Barrow. Pope would then sign for Rotherham United for almost two years but was signed on a month loan by Port Vale in January 2011 but would then sign for the club the following summer and went on to play for Port Vale until 2015, in 2013 he was part of the Port Vale squad that gained automatic third placed promotion from the EFL League Two to the EFL League One.

Key Player:

Player-manager Matt Rhead offers plenty of experience upfront for Kidsgrove Athletic, as mentioned he has experience from playing in the EFL and is very influential on and off the pitch for the club. Despite being 41 years of age, Rhead still contributes to give his all for The Grove.

Club Fact File:

Founded: 1952

Nickname: The Grove

The Ground: Hollinwood Road

Capacity: 2,000

Recent Honours:

• Staffordshire Senior Cup Winners 2011/12

Players Who Played For Both Clubs:

• Joe Woolley

• Mason Fawns