Following the release of the 2025/26 fixtures Scott Kelly has looked at the key dates across the season.
Opening Day – Saturday 9th August
Bamber Bridge (A)
24/25 League Position: 13th
24/25 Meetings:
- 3-1 01/01/2025
- 0-1 05/10/2024 (FA Trophy)
- 3-2 26/08/2024
The Lions have won their last three visits to The Brig and have not lost at their ground in over 20 years.
Boxing Day – Friday 26th December
Gainsborough Trinity (H)
24/25 League Position: 7th
24/25 Mettings:
- 0-2 21/04/2025
- 2-0 26/12/2024
These sides also met on Boxing Day last season, with Guiseley winning 2-0 in Lincolnshire. This clash is at Nethermoor however, and the Trinity have won on their last four visits.
New Year’s Day – Thursday 1st January
Stocksbridge Park Steels (A)
24/25 League Position: 3rd (promoted via Northern Premier League Division One East play offs)
24/25 Meetings:
N/A
It was a case of third time lucky for The Steels as they won promotion via the play offs after three play-off campaigns since 2016/17. Former Lion Oliwier Grzelak will face off against his former side after joining last summer.
August’s meeting at Nethermoor will be the first between the sides since 2010.
Final Day – Saturday 18th April
Ashton United (A)
24/25 League Position: 5th
24/25 Meetings:
- 1-0 01/03/2025
- 4-2 19/11/2024
- 3-0 31/08/2024
The Robins were beaten by eventual play off winners Worksop Town in the play off semi-final at the end of last season. The Lions have lost just one of their last four visits to Ashton Under Lyne.
The Newbies
Cleethorpes Town
24/25: Champions of Northern Premier League Division One East
- Home: 15/11/2025
- Away: 28/02/2026
- Round trip: 192 miles
This is the highest level the Owls have ever played at having only been founded in 1998.
Hednesford Town
24/25: 2nd (Promoted via Northern Premier League Division One West Play offs)
- Home: 01/11/2025
- Away: 14/03/2025
- Round trip: 236 miles
The Staffordshire side won promotion last season and haven’t played at a higher level than this since 2016. The trip to Keys Park is only 15 miles shorter than the Lions longest trip of the season, Workington.
Rushall Olympic
24/25: 22nd (Relegated from National League North)
- Home: 17/08/2025
- Away: 28/03/2026
- Round trip: 232 miles
The Pics were relegated after two seasons in National League North, the highest level the club has ever played.
Stocksbridge Park Steels
24/25: 3rd (Promoted via Northern Premier League Division One East Play offs)
- Home: 26/08/2025
- Away: 28/03/2026
- Round trip: 72 miles
This is the highest level the Sheffield club have played at since 2014. Founded in 1986, the highest the club has ever finished was 4th in the Northern Premier League back in the 2000-01 season.
