Match Preview: Kidsgrove Athletic (H)

In our last fixture of the 2024/25 campaign we welcome Kidsgrove Athletic to the Berry Street Garage Stadium. Kidsgrove Athletic only need one point out of today’s fixture to ensure safety in the Northern Premier League West Division for next season.

By Brendan Doyle

Just days after ensuring our survival against Wythenshawe Town in a 1-0 home win by way of a penalty converted by Ben Hodkinson, Bootle travelled to the APEC Stadium on Easter Monday and managed to come away with a 3-1 victory thanks to goals from Ben Hodkinson, Michael Simpson and Courtney Duffus.

Positive signs are already showing that Alan Morgan’s ideas seem to be getting through to the squad and a final day of the season win at our home ground will leave the fans already looking forward for the following season.

Whilst this season has been far from ideal for Kidsgrove Athletic, however their survival is in their own hands as mentioned. Today is a huge chance for their travelling fans to walk away from Merseyside happy and to have an opportunity to put things right next season which involved avoiding relegation much quicker than they will have done this season if they manage to gain a point at the Berry Street Garage Stadium.

Kidsgrove Athletic can still stay up if Wythenshawe Town fail to beat fail to win away to Newcastle Town however, but Tom Pope and Matt Rhead will instil in their squad that they must do their jobs themselves if they aim to play in the Northern Premier League West Division in their 2025/26 campaign.

We’d like to thank all of the Bootle fans for your much appreciated support home and away this season, we hope you all enjoy your summer and we look forward to seeing you back here for our first home league fixture in August. Up The Bucks!

Club Fact File:

Founded: 1952

Ground: Kidsgrove Athletic host their fixtures at Hollinwood Road in the Clough Hall area of Kidsgrove which holds a capacity of 2,000.

The Managers: Tom Pope and Matt Rhead have been joint player managers at Kidsgrove Athletic since February following the departure of Anthony Malbon.

Recent Honours:

• North West Counties Premier Division Champions 1997/98, 2001/02

• Staffordshire Senior Cup Winners 2003/04, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2011/12

Avoid the queue on the turnstile this weekend by buying tickets in advance online through the link here.

Can't make it to the Berry Street Garage Stadium this weekend? Tune in to our Live Commentary from 14:55pm through the link here.