Get the lowdown on tomorrow’s opponents: Solihull Moors.
The Opposition
Solihull Moors celebrate ten years in the National League this season, and will be looking to finally end their decade-long stint in the fifth tier after an indifferent time of it last term.
Currently led by former Wealdstone boss Matthew Taylor, the ex-Luton Town, Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers midfielder is the eighth man in the Damson Park dugout since their promotion from the National League North in 2015/16, and will be keen to follow in their footsteps of predecessors Neal Ardley and Andy Whing, who both guided the Moors to the play-off final in which they lost to Grimsby Town and Bromley respectively, while Tim Flowers secured their highest ever league position in the fifth tier back in 2018/19, with a second place finish.
After the departure of Whing to Barrow in January, the Moors had to scramble for a replacement and opted to appoint Taylor, who arrived from fellow National League club Wealdstone after half-a-season at Grosvenor Vale, and endured a difficult start to life in Birmingham before eventually guiding them to safety.
The goals of Connor Wilkinson (15) and Jack Stevens (14) were key to Solihull’s season, scoring almost 50% of all their goals throughout the season, while Alex Whitmore was a reliable presence in the Moors team with 46 appearances throughout the campaign, completing 90 minutes in all but three games.
Heading into his first full season at Damson Park, Taylor will be hoping to guide the Moors up the division, and will be boosted by the arrivals of Tyler French (Sutton), Ben Worman (Gateshead), Dan Creaney (Tamworth), Oscar Rutherford (Dagenham & Redbridge), Callum MacFarlane (Fulham), Darius Lipsiuc (Stoke City) and Boston United duo Brad Nicholson and Cameron Green.
The Manager
Matthew Taylor
Matthew Taylor departed National League rivals Wealdstone in order to replace Andy Whing in the Damson Park dugout at the end of January, who had exited Birmingham to join Barrow.
Having turned out for Luton Town, Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United, Burnley, Northampton Town and Swindon Town as a player, the former defensive midfielder began his coaching career with the latter when he was named interim manager in 2018, and later transitioned into a player-coach role following the appointment of Phil Brown. The 43-year old had previously worked alongside Luton’s Under-15’s and Under-16’s while he earned his coaching badges whilst at West Ham, and later took on his first full time coaching role following his retirement from football in 2019, taking charge of Tottenham Hotspur’s Under-18’s.
He would later go on to take charge of Walsall and Shrewsbury Town, winning League One Manager of the Month whilst with the former, prior to joining Wealdstone in May 2024.
Taylor subsequently spent almost a year at Grosvenor Vale, guiding the club away from the drop zone to secure a fifth successive season at fifth tier level, but opted to depart for pastures new when Whing left Solihull for League Two side Barrow.
The 43-year old was unveiled as the Moors’ new Head Coach a week later, and despite a difficult start to life at the ARMCO Arena, guided the Moors to safety last term, before kicking off the current campaign with a positive draw against Forest Green Rovers.
Photo Credit: Solihull Moors Football Club
One to Watch
Dan Creaney
A man who has so far epitomised the spirit of rising through the depths of non-league, Dan Creaney has fast become one of the most dangerous forwards in the division after a superb spell at Tamworth, before joining Solihull Moors in the summer.
An experienced forward, Creaney began his career at Atherstone and went on to turn out for a handful of clubs towards the bottom end of non-league football, including three years at Bedworth United, before loan spells at Coalville and Stratford Town preceded his move to Tamworth in 2019.
Joining the then-Southern League Premier Division Central side, the striker went on to contribute to a second place finish in a maiden campaign that was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before notching 16 goals as the Lambs had to contend with a mid-table finish in 2021/22.
An impressive feat indeed, Creaney more than doubled his tally the following season, firing Tamworth to the Southern League Premier Central title with a whopping 35 goals, including more than 40 in all competitions, before helping the Lambs defeat all the odds by gaining back-to-back promotions, with Creaney netting a further nine as they won the National League North in 2024.
He then took to fifth tier football like a duck to water, scoring 19 goals last term as the Lambs secured an impressive tenth place finish, and despite entering the National League at the age of 30, looks set for bigger and better things at the twilight years of his career, joining National League regulars Solihull in the summer.
Photo Credit: Solihull Moors Football Club
Recent Form
Solihull Moors 1-2 Everton U21
Solihull Moors 2-2 Forest Green Rovers
Kidderminster Harriers 1-2 Solihull Moors (Pre-Season)
Solihull Moors 2-4 Derby County (Pre-Season)
Bromsgrove Sporting 4-1 Solihull Moors (Pre-Season)
Banbury United 0-4 Solihull Moors (Pre-Season)
Last Time Out
Solihull Moors fell to a narrow defeat in their opening National League Cup group fixture, as two late goals from Everton U21s turned the game on its head at Damson Park.
The Moors made a dream start, with Fin Holmes opening the scoring after just nine minutes. The midfielder produced an absolute stunner from outside the box, curling his strike beyond the Everton keeper and into the top corner – a goal that had the home crowd on their feet.
Matt Taylor’s side looked disciplined and organised, limiting the visitors to few clear chances, and they carried their slender lead deep into the second half. But the young Toffees struck back on 76 minutes, when Braiden Graham found space in the area to level the score.
In a dramatic finale, Graham popped up again in the 90th minute to tap home the winner.
