FC United aiming for Christmas cheer against Bradford Park Avenue and Hednesford

There are nine points up for grabs this Christmas as FC United face Bradford Park Avenue twice in the Vanarama National League North, either side of a visit from Hednesford Town to Broadhurst Park.

Weather and pitch inspection permitting, the Reds will meet old rivals Bradford at the Horsfall Stadium on Boxing Day for what promises to be a tough encounter.

Two days later, on Bank Holiday Monday, FC United will entertain Hednesford before then hosting Park Avenue on Saturday 2nd January for the third and final game of the festive period.

Karl Marginson’s side currently find themselves 15th in the old Conference North after winning promotion last season as champions of the Northern Premier League. Victories over league leaders Nuneaton Town and highly rated Stockport County looked to have kickstarted the Reds’ league campaign after a torrid time in the autumn. However, a 2-1 defeat to Gloucester City last Saturday means FC United need to pick themselves up again.

Whilst United have been stuttering, Bradford have been enjoying a nine game unbeaten run, which includes five straight victories in their last five outings. The West Yorkshire outfit sit five points ahead of the Reds in the league table and last Saturday they beat Lincoln City of the division above in the FA Trophy.

If current form wasn’t enough of a warning, Bradford are one of the few sides to have regularly got the better of FC United over the years too. Having met 14 times between 2007 and 2012, Park Avenue have the upperhand in the fixture with seven victories compared to FC United’s four. Reassuringly, the men from Manchester have enjoyed some impressive wins over the years with scorelines of 5-2 twice and 2-0 twice.

Sandwiched in the middle of the matches with Bradford, FC United take on The Pitmen of Hednesford. The Reds have already beaten the West Midlands club once this season, 3-0 back in August at Keys Park. They will be looking for more of the same on Monday.

Hednesford have been struggling so far this season and find themselves in the relegation zone but a good Christmas could change all of that, such is the closeness of the league. The Pitmen have just appointed former Chelsea and Leicester City defender Frank Sinclair as manager.

Sinclair will be taking charge of his first game on Boxing Day against Telford and will be hoping to get Hednesford back to winning ways and up the table after five games without a win saw them sack former manager Bernard McNally.

FC United will be without the injured Sam Madeley and Jerome Wright until the New Year but they hope to have Liam Brownhill and Rory Fallon available. Chester FC loanee George Thomson has had his spell with the Reds extended until 20th January after five impressive displays and three goals in his first month at the club.

All three matches are pay-on-the-gate, so why not get yourself to those football grounds?