FC United begin new season at Brackley Town with a host of debutants

FC United of Manchester’s 13th season begins with a trip to Brackley Town in Northamptonshire on Saturday afternoon with a whole host of players expected to make their competitive debuts for the Reds.

It’s been a summer of change for Karl Marginson’s squad with numerous departures and arrivals at the club. Long serving players such as former captain Jerome Wright and Matthew Wolfenden have moved on with the best wishes from everyone at the club. Meanwhile, Margy has brought in no fewer than 10 new faces to the first team squad.

Goalkeeper Lloyd Allinson looks set to make his competitive debut and he will have a new centre-back pairing in front of him, quite possibly fellow debutant Matty Hughes and January signing Jordan Fagbola.

Tom Brown, Scott Kay and Nathan Lowe may provide some more familiar faces in midfield and Craig Lindfield may start after being in fine pre-season goal-scoring form since returning to the club. Forwards Callum Nicholas, Jason St Juste and Connor McCarthy will be hoping to make their debuts. As will experienced defenders Danny Wisdom and Danny Brady.

After finishing 13th twice in our first two seasons in the Vanarama National League North, the Reds have asserted that they can survive comfortably at this level. However, everyone at the club will be keen to keep improving and will want to see the Reds make their way into the top half of the table. There is an added incentive this year because the teams that finish in sixth and seventh position gain play-off places in a newly launched format.

With this in mind, FC United will be keen to get the season underway with a good result at Churchill Way. However, Brackley have become a bit of a bogey team for United, beating the Reds on three of the four occasions the two sides have met in the last two years.

Margy said: “I’ve been very pleased with how the pre-season has gone. We had to make some difficult decisions and let some good players go but the club has to keep moving forward. The new lads have come in and worked really hard. There’s buzz around the club and everyone’s champing at the bit to get going.???


Scott Kay is suspended for the first 3 matches of the season, and Matty Hughes and Danny Brady have family/work commitments so will not be available for selection for our trip to Brackley.

Connor McCarthy and Richie Baker have slight knocks, but could be fit for tomorrow’s trip to Brackley.