Get the lowdown on our next opponents: AFC Telford United.
The Opposition
Last season, Telford mounted a serious promotion charge in the Southern League Premier Division Central, and successfully bounced back following their relegation from the National League North the previous term.
Following the continuity of manager Kevin Wilkin and his back‑room team, the club entered the season with a clear aim of bouncing back at the first opportunity, and during their league campaign, displayed consistency across the board to seal a third place finish, before defeating Halesowen Town 3‑2 in the semi‑final and then going on to triumph over Kettering Town 4‑2 in the final to secure promotion.
Matty Stenson stood out last term, finishing as the club’s top goalscorer, as well as breaking the club record for most goals in a single season across all competitions, and was subsequently named the club’s Player of the Year. Fellow forward Ricardo Dinanga also made a significant impact before transferring out mid‑season, having amassed 12 goals in 28 appearances by January, and he has since returned to the Bucks on loan from Shrewsbury Town, having earned a move into the Football League.
Key to their success was their experience and solidity, retaining a core that allowed the side to maintain form over the long haul of the campaign, with the likes of Orrin Pendley, Remi Walker, Jimmy Armson and Rhys Hilton all contributing to the club’s promotion last term.
They have since taken momentum into the current campaign, sitting 14th in the sixth tier after a respectable four wins, four draws and five defeats, including a notable 6-0 thumping of Darlington. Wilkin’s side are currently enjoying a four-game unbeaten run, as well as losing just three of their last ten, and reached the First Round of the FA Cup after victories over Kidderminster Harriers and Evesham United in the Second and Third Qualifying Rounds.
The Manager
Kevin Wilkin
Kevin Wilkin began his playing career in his hometown of Cambridge, representing Cambridge City before moving into the Football League with Northampton Town, where he made over 70 appearances. He also played for Rushden & Diamonds, Nuneaton Borough and Grantham Town before moving into management
His managerial career began when he returned to Nuneaton as player/manager alongside Roger Ashby, before his dismissal led to Wilkin appointed caretaker manager and subsequently the permanent job in 2006.
Two years in charge at the Oval was followed by the club being liquidated at the end of the 2007/08 season, but he was appointed manager of the reformed club and guided them to a second-place finish in the Southern League Division One Midlands and promotion at the first attempt, beating Chasetown in the play-off final.
This was followed by a second successive promotion, beating Chippenham Town in the play-off final after finishing second in the Southern League Premier Division, and he completed a trio of promotions in 2012 when Nuneaton Borough finished fifth in the Conference North, before winning the play-off final after a 1-0 win over Gainsborough Trinity 1–0, guiding them back to the Conference Premier after a nine-year absence.
A successful eight years with Nuneaton preceded a move to Wrexham in 2014, leading them to the FA Trophy Final and the third round of the FA Cup, before enjoying seven successful seasons at Brackley Town, delivering consistent play-off finishes as well as triumph in the FA Trophy in 2018.
His time at St. James Park came to an end in 2022 though, before becoming manager of AFC Telford United in October of the same year. He soon reached 100 games in charge of the Bucks and earned a contract extension to 2026/27, having become renowned for developing young talent and building disciplined, competitive teams.
One to Watch
Matty Stenson
Matty Stenson returned for a second spell at the New Buck’s Head in January 2024, having spent time on loan to the club in the 2019/20 season, from Solihull Moors.
The forward began his career in Coventry City’s youth system; however, a persistent hip injury required career-saving surgery, following which he resumed his career with Hinckley United / Hinckley Leicester Road, and preceded a move to Barwell, where he found the net regularly, leading to Leamington soon snapping him up.
A blistering scoring start to the 2018/19 season saw Solihull Moors come calling, and Stenson switched to full-time football with a switch to the National League side. Unable to nail down a regular starting place though, he joined Telford for the first time in the 2019/20 campaign, a season which was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, though he did score on his debut in a 4-1 win over Guiseley.
Upon the resumption of football, the 31-year old moved north to National League side FC Halifax Town; however, injury again dogged his attempts to establish himself under manager Pete Wild, and led to loan spells at Tamworth and Kidderminster Harriers followed, before opting for a return to the semi-professional game, signing a deal with Nuneaton Borough.
A productive campaign with Boro ended in disappointment, losing the Southern League Central Premier play-off final to Rushall Olympic on penalties. Stenson later returned to Liberty Way for the 2023/24 season, but when off-field issues began to impact the club, the Bucks stepped in with an offer to bring him back to Shropshire, and he has added four goals in nine league appearances this term to take his total tally to an impressive 34 in 45 games for the club.
TELFORD COPYRIGHT MIKE SHERIDAN Matt Stenson of Telford during the National League North fixture between AFC Telford United and York City at the New Bucks Head on Saturday, October 12, 2019.
Picture credit: Mike Sheridan
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Recent Form
AFC Telford United 2-1 Worksop Town
Hereford 1-1 AFC Telford United
AFC Telford United 4-1 Scarborough Athletic
Darlington 0-6 AFC Telford United
AFC Telford United 1-3 AFC Fylde
Alfreton Town 1-0 AFC Telford United
Last Time Out
The Bucks made it seven points in eight days thanks to a hard fought 2-1 win over Worksop Town at the SEAH Stadium.
It was still against the run of play when Worksop took the lead in the 23rd minute via a fair slice of luck , as a freekick from 35 yards led to Aleksandrs Starcenko’s miss-hit shot, which fell perfectly for Jordan Burrow who calmly slotted home.
It would have been easy for heads to drop, but the Bucks kept going and were level just seven minutes later when Charlie Williams was brought down by Town keeper Tommy Taylor, allowing Matty Stenson to step up and confidently strike his penalty down the middle, past Taylor, to make it 1-1.
A double change at the break for the Tigers saw them gain the ascendency though, as they looked to exploit Telford’s makeshift defence. But with Worksop looking to grasp the initiative, it was the Bucks who re-took the lead in the 52nd minute. While Worksop might have been looking to exploit the Bucks’ left-hand side, Williams and stand-in left back Meddows were causing the visitors trouble, and when Meddows overlapped and sent a dangerous low ball into the six-yard box, Dylan Cogill couldn’t get out of the way, and he turned the ball into his own net to win the game for Telford.
