Salford City come to the Fully Charged New Lawn on 23rd October. Salford are 15th in the table with 16 points from their first 13 games. They picked up their first points away from home on the 2nd October with a 2-0 win at Colchester, but their other 4 away games have been losses. Salford’s overall record so far is 4 wins, 5 losses, 4 draws. Salford have been more successful at home so far. They have 4 losses in the 5 away games.
Salford are not prolific goalscorers – just 14 so far. But their defence doesn’t concede often – just 12 goals conceded in 13 games. Only Tranmere, at Prenton Park, have beaten them by a 2-goal margin this season.
Rovers will welcome back a familiar FGR ‘old boy’ in Liam Shephard.
Liam was with Rovers for 2 seasons between 2018 and 2020 before moving to Newport for a season. After rejecting a contract extension at Newport he moved to Salford on a 2 year deal this summer. The right-sided defender has started all the Ammies’ games this season.
Liam Shephard in his FGR days and in his current colours
Ian Henderson is the 37 year old veteran striker for the Ammies. He has netted twice in the league so far to make him the Ammies joint top scorer (along with Lund, Elliot, Eastham & Willock). Henderson has experience of playing in all 4 top leagues and has had long spells at Norwich, Colchester and Rochdale.
Salford’s main marksman netted 18 goals last campaign. But he has missed the last five matches and it is not known when he will return to fitness.
Salford possess plenty of talent in their squad. Winger Ash Hunter has impressed at this level and scored eight times in all competitions last season.
Midfielder Matty Lund is another one to watch. He won promotion from League Two with Rochdale in 2014 and has plenty of experience in League One as well as playing as high as the Championship during his career.
In Henderson’s absence, 6ft 4in Tom Elliot leads the line as a classic number 9 with good aerial ability. Elliot will have been cheered to score his first goals of the season against Hartlepool and against Colchester this month.
What do we know about Salford City? The club were founded in 1940 as Salford Central. It changed its name in 1963 to Salford Amateurs (where their nickname ‘The Ammies’ comes from) before becoming Salford City in 1989.
At each home game the team walks out to The Pogues’ cover of Dirty Old Town. The Pogues were originally called Pogue Mahone from the Gaelic phrase póg mo thóin, which means ‘kiss my a***’! Dirty Old Town is a 1949 Ewan McColl song which was inspired by the singer’s childhood in Salford, hence its connection to the club. The song opens with the lines;
I met my love by the gas works wall Dreamed a dream by the old canal I kissed my girl by the factory wall. Dirty old town, Dirty old town
In March 2014 the club was taken over by former Manchester United players Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes & Nicky Butt (the ‘class of ’92’). Later in 2014 a 50% stake in the club was sold to Peter Lim, a Singapore-based businessman who also owns Valencia CF. In 2019 David Beckham bought a 10% stake in the club from Peter Lim.
Since 2014 the club have been promoted 4 times. In 2014 the club had ambitions to reach the Championship within 15 years. They may be on schedule!
Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, David Beckham
& Gary Neville – 6 of Salford’s 7 owners. Peter Lim is owner number 7
The club’s Moor Lane ground was completely demolished in 2017 to allow for the building of 4 new stands. The ground is now called The Peninsula Stadium.
Rumours have persisted over the summer that Salford may be moving home. The AJ Bell Stadium is currently shared by Rugby Union’s Sale Sharks and Superleague’s Salford Red Devils. It may happen that the Red Devils and Salford City change places so that Salford move to the AJ Bell and the Red Devils come to the Peninsula Stadium.
The Peninsula Stadium has a capacity of just over 5,000, while the AJ Bell can house 12,000 (with capacity to increase this to 20,000). It remains to be seen whether this happens – Salford’s average gate this season is (excepting Harrogate) the lowest in the league at just over 2,000.
Salford’s Peninsula Stadium on Moor Lane
Will the AJ Bell Stadium be Salford’s new home?
