AFC Telford
vs
Worksop Town
Match Preview
"Bucks aiming to earn their stripes against the Tigers"
Match Date : October 25th, 2025 3:00 pm
Competition : National League North
Ground : New Bucks Head
Kick Off : 15:00
The Bucks take on fellow playoff winners Worksop Town at the SEAH Stadium this weekend.
A founder member of the Conference North, Worksop regained their Step 2 status this year for the first time since 2007. The Nottinghamshire club have endured some tumultuous times during their absence from Step 2. Financial issues led to relegations and the loss of their Sandy Lane ground, but happier times started returning following Worksop 2018-19 Northern Counties East League title win. The club has since regained ownership of Sandy Lane and won the Division One East title in 2023, before going to pick up a third promotion in six years by winning the Northern Premier League playoffs this May. The Tigers finished 26 points behind runaway leaders Macclesfield, but they went on to beat Ashton United and Guiseley in the playoffs to clinch promotion.
The man who has overseen much of Worksop’s rise is Craig Parry. Having previously led Pontefract Collieries to back-to-back promotions, Parry joined the Tigers in May 2020 and the club has not looked back since. Town have a solid start to life back at Step 2, picking up 15 points from 13 games to currently sit in 13th. However, ten of those points were earned in August and, other than a notable 3-2 at Fylde, the Tigers form has dipped since September – Worksop have lost five, drawn two and won one of their last eight games.
Parry has largely stuck by the squad that earned the Tigers promotion. Key men for Town include goalscoring midfielders Vaughan Redford and Aleksandrs Starcenko, experienced creator Joe Leesley, and forward Liam Hughes, who has scored 94 goals in 142 games for the Tigers including six this season. Notable summer additions included defenders Bailey Gooda (Scarborough) and ex-Shrewsbury man Luke Waterfall, while former Buck Kai Williams arrived from Hereford at the start of October.
Worksop certainly know where the goal is, with only Bedford having successfully locked up the Tigers. However, having conceded 22 times this season, they also have the division’s joint-3rd worst defence.
Saturday’s game is the first meeting between AFC Telford and Worksop, and the Bucks will be looking to build on their strong home record. Kevin Wilkin’s men have won five of their eight games at the SEAH Stadium so far this season, including last Saturday’s 4-1 thumping of high-flying Scarborough Athletic. The Bucks will also be looking to extend a current three-match unbeaten run, and a win on Saturday would see Wilkin’s men leapfrog Worksop in the table.
MATCHDAY INFORMATION
Tickets are available online in advance, or from the ticket office on matchday. Please note that a £1 admin charge applies for adults and concessions when buying on matchday.
