Get the lowdown on our next opponents: FC Halifax Town.
The Opposition
The resignation of manager Chris Millington brought an end to his two-year stint in charge at FC Halifax Town, having guided the club to a play-off spot last season, and has since been replaced by King’s Lynn Town boss Adam Lakeland.
The Shaymen clinched their third top seven spot in four seasons after a 1-0 win over Braintree Town on the final day of the season, embarking on another attempt at promotion. However, they fell short at the first hurdle with a 4-0 defeat to eventual winners Oldham Athletic in the eliminator round, and are set for an eighth successive year in the fifth tier after rising from the Northern Premier League in 2010.
Only four teams had a better defensive record than the Shaymen last term, who’s backline of Sam Johnson, Adam Senior, Adam Alim-Adetoro, Jack Evans and Ryan Galvin helped to concede just 46 goals, and was invaluable to their push towards the play-off places.
Meanwhile, top scorer Jamie Cooke continued to impress at the Shay Stadium with seven goals from midfield, establishing a key partnership at the heartbeat of Halifax’s team alongside Tom Pugh, while his goals helped his side remain competitive at the right end of the table alongside the likes of Andrew Oluwabori (6), Billy Waters (5), Florent Hoti (5), Zak Emmerson (4) and Angelo Cappello (3).
Oluwabori and Waters both departed mid-season for Exeter City and Oldham Athletic, however, and the Shaymen’s rebuild has already been extended from their manager to a number of key players, with Senior and Galvin joining newly promoted League Two side Barnet, while Evans has made the move across Yorkshire to join Harrogate Town.
The Shaymen have since strengthened their options though in an attempt to maintain competitiveness this season, with the likes of Cody Johnson, Thierry Latty-Fairweather, Josh Hmami, Dylan Crowe, David Kawa and Will Hugill joining the club, and they have enjoyed a respectable opening few months to the campaign.
Hmami especially has shone in Yorkshire, top scoring with six goals so far, and in all, the Shaymen sit tenth after 18 games with a four-point gap to Southend United in seventh, being propelled towards the play-off spots with an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions between September and October, though they will be looking to return to winning ways after losing their last three, including being eliminated from the FA Cup at the hands of Exeter.
The Manager
Adam Lakeland
Adam Lakeland joined The Shaymen following a successful spell at King’s Lynn Town where he secured survival in his first season before securing a play-off finish last time out.
Following a lengthy spell as manager of Blackburn Rovers Women, Lakeland joined Curzon Ashton as first team coach, where they achieved back-to-back promotions, before joining Northwich Victoria as manager in 2016, guiding them to the Northern Premier League Division One North play-off final.
A successful spell at Farsley Celtic followed as Lakeland achieved a play-off spot before winning the league to reach the National League North in 2019, before returning to Curzon Ashton in 2021, this time as manager.
Early in the 2023/24 season, Lakeland made the switch to King’s Lynn where he oversaw a mid-table finish, before reaching the play-offs last season.
However, he opted to join Halifax as Chris Millington’s successor in the summer, being joined by his assistant from both Curzon and King’s Lynn, former Shayman Sam Walker, who was a part of their first FA Trophy success in 2016, and have together guided the club to a respectable opening few months to the campaign.
One to Watch
Josh Hmami
FC Halifax Town confirmed the signing of midfielder Josh Hmami following his departure from National League North side King’s Lynn Town.
The midfielder spent time in the academies at Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley, and Accrington Stanley where he made his professional debut in 2017 against Grimsby Town.
In 2018, Hmami made the switch to The New Saints and made six appearances before joining FC United of Manchester on loan, later departing again on loan for Ramsbottom United in the Northern Premier League Division One North West. He made 25 appearances and scored 11 in all competitions that season, before making the switch to Marine permanently and made 15 appearances, scoring seven, before making the switch to Southport in July 2021.
The midfielder made over 100 appearances for the Sandgrounders before signing for King’s Lynn at the start of last season where, under manager Adam Lakeland, Hmami made 42 appearances last season, scored four, and assisted a further nine as the Linnets finished 6th.
He has since enjoyed a productive opening few months at the Shay Stadium, and is currently their top scorer with six goals.
Recent Form
FC Halifax Town 0-1 Hartlepool United
Carlisle United 2-0 FC Halifax Town
FC Halifax Town 0-2 Exeter City
FC Halifax Town 2-1 Middlesbrough
Southend United 3-0 FC Halifax Town
FC Halifax Town 1-1 Woking
Last Time Out
FC Halifax Town battled hard at The Shay but were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Hartlepool United in a game that saw plenty of attacking intent but lacked the crucial finishing touch.
Halifax started strongly, pressing early after an initial foul by the visitors. Hartlepool’s Nathan Sheron forced a save from Halifax captain Sam Johnson, while Halifax created several chances through Owen Devonport, Will Harris, and Josh Hmami, but were denied by solid defending and good goalkeeping from George Evans. Despite dominating possession and maintaining attacking pressure, Hartlepool’s defence held firm. The game flowed end to end, with few clear breakthroughs, but ended goalless at the break.
Halifax later had the chance to break the deadlock with an hour gone, earning a penalty after Angelo Cappello was fouled by Nathan Sheron, but Will Harris’ effort was scuffed and saved by Evans, and the breakthrough came soon after. Jaime Miley delivered a dangerous ball into the box, which Sam Johnson could not hold, allowing Adam Campbell to slot home and give the visitors the lead, and despite the hosts pressing for an equaliser, Halifax could not find the crucial final touch, and Hartlepool held on to claim a 1-0 victory at The Shay.
