On Saturday Celtic are at home to freshly promoted side, Hanley Town. Hanley have played one game so far this season in the league, beating Wythenshawe Town 3-0. Kick-off is 3pm.

This is Hanley’s bounce back season, after a disastrous season in 2024/25, which saw them win five matches and pick up twenty-five points, they were relegated to the Midland Premier Division. Where they stormed to promotion with twenty-two wins, picking up seventy-six points, pipping Northwich Victoria to the title with a game to spare. They didn’t quite get the largest win when they beat Studley 8-0, because Dudley beat Studley 11-0.

Our last meeting with Hanley was the season before last, when we visited them and won 3-2 (Benni Smales-Braithwaite, Liam Tongue and Joe Duckworth with the goals), whilst their last visit to Bower Fold in the reverse fixture saw them draw 1-1 (Max Leonard opened, but Joel Stair got a late equaliser). The season before, we beat them both home and away to win 2-1 in both matches. Aaron Dwyer scoring in both matches, alongside Obua Mugalula and Max Harrop. Joel Stair has scored against us in three of those matches.

In Hanley’s last match, their 3-0 home win over Wythenshawe Town, they lined up as:
1. Michael Shorthouse
2. Kieran Lazenby
3. Lucas Sant
4. Jack Sherratt
5. Joel Stair
6. Tommy Van Der Laan
7. Devante Ramsey
8. Jack Van Der Laan
9. Lewis Porter
10. Jake Twyford
11. Fin Patterson

In Celtic’s last match, the 3-2 away win over Witton Albion, Celtic lined up as:
1. Charlie Monks
2. Charlie Doyle
3. Kyle Brownhill
4. Josh Granite
5. Ellis Horan
6. Jack Tinning
7. Andy Scarisbrick
8. Liam Tongue
9. Lewis Rawsthorn
10. Jack Irlam
11. Obua Mugalula

With a fresh promotion, Hanley will be a different prospect to their last visit, and Celtic will have to be strong.