"Fans return as Bucks look to banish the Blues"

Match Date : December 26th, 2020 3:00 pm
Competition : National League North
Ground : New Bucks Head
Kick Off : 15:00

Bucks fans will make a long-awaited return to the New Bucks Head on Boxing Day, as Gavin Cowan’s men kick off a festive double-header against promotion hopefuls Chester.

It’s over nine months since the Telford faithful were last able to watch the Bucks in the flesh, so we’re delighted to be able to welcome you back to the New Bucks Head this weekend.

This Saturday’s visitors are 5th-place Chester.

After the arrival of joint managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley in the summer of 2018, many people believed Chester were destined for promotion. But while that hasn’t yet happened, Johnson and Morley are steadily improving the Blues – finishing 9th and then 6th in their two seasons in charge.

Like the Bucks, Chester have made a good if not inconsistent start to the current campaign. In fact, the two teams have both picked up 18 points so far and go into the game side-by-side in the table in 5th and 6th respectively – the Blues above the Bucks on goal difference.

Under Johnson and Morley, Chester have tended to fair better at home than on the road. The Blues suffered just three home league defeats in each of the last two seasons, and they have picked up an impressive 12 points from 15 at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium this term. In contrast, Chester have won just one of seven league outings on the road (a 2-1 opening day win over Kidderminster Harriers), although all of those games have been against sides in the current top 12.

The Chester squad remains largely the same as last season. Notable additions include tenacious midfielders Declan Weeks and Paddy Lacey and lively winger John Johnston, who arrived from Altrincham in January. Meanwhile, eight-goal Danny Elliott is Chester’s dangerman-in-chief, while former Telford title-winning captain, Simon Grand, skippers the Blues.

This fixture has finished 3-1 in both of the previous two season – Chester winning last season’s clash with the Bucks coming out on top back in August 2018.

The Bucks also won 3-1 when fans were last allowed to attend a game at the New Bucks Head. That was against Kettering Town back in March, and the Bucks will no doubt want to put in a similar performance as supporters once again fill the terraces.

Away fans are not permitted to attend this fixture.

 

Tickets and new matchday procedures

Tickets for our game against Chester will remain on sale up until kick off on Boxing Day. You can purchase your ticket here.

We have produced a list of Frequently Asked Questions to assist supporters in explaining some of the key changes on matchdays at the New Bucks Head. Please watch this short video before coming to the ground to make sure that you are aware of the procedures and to make the matchday experience more efficient and smooth for everyone.

 

Live stream

You can watch a live stream of the game on Telford United TV. For more information, read our step-by-step guide on how to watch live.