All you need to know for the trip to the Shay
WHO? FC Halifax Town, aka the Shaymen. Remember these boys are FC Halifax Town, not just your bog standard Halifax Town. The old club folded and reformed as FC Halifax in 2008.
HOW THEY DOING? Very well. Halifax have stormed through the divisions since reforming, and won the Conference North Play-Offs last season. At the time of writing Neil Aspin’s side lie in seventh place, just one point outside the Play-Offs.
FORTRESS SHAY. Halifax have just lost once at home in the Skrill Premier this season. To Woking. What is it with those Cards and winning away from home? Halifax have won 14 of their 19 home fixtures but have struggled away from the Shay, winning just three matches from 19 matches on the road.
GOALS. Only the Town have scored more goals at home than Halifax this season. The Shaymen have scored 50 times in front of their own supporters – with top goalscorer Lee Gregory scoring 18 of those.
ON THE ROAD. The Hatters, meanwhile, have the best away record in the division and will be aiming to record their 10th success away from home on Saturday. The Town are unbeaten in 15 away matches in the Skrill Premier, since the 2-0 defeat at Wrexham back in September.
HOW TO GET THERE. Take the M1 north before taking the M62. From the M62 motorway, take the A629 at Junction 24 and follow the signs for Halifax. The ground is on the right-hand side after about three miles. Parking at the stadium is limited (£3), however there is some street parking to be had, but only if you arrive early. Otherwise it is a case of parking in one of the town centre car parks.
GETTING IN. It’s pay on the day for Town supporters at the Shay with the option to sit or stand. Click here for further details.
SUPER SHAY. The Town have only ever lost once to Halifax in 13 games, winning nine of them. The Hatters have won three of their last four visits to the Shay, including their last – a 4-2 win in October 2001. The Hatters also clinched promotion at the Shay with a 1-0 win in 1968 thanks to a Bruce Rioch goal. Halifax’s sole win over the Town came at the Shay in May 1966 with a 3-0 victory.
HOT SHOTS. The two leading goalscorers in the Skrill Premier go head-to-head at the Shay on Saturday. The Town’s Andre Gray and Halifax’s Lee Gregory both have 26 goals this season. Halifax’s next top goalscorer is Josh Wilson with six.
EX-FACTOR. The Town have former Shayman Jon Shaw among their number whilst Halifax have ex-Luton defender Simon Ainge in theirs. Shaw netted 20 goals in 37 league appearances for the Shaymen in 2007/08. Ainge, meanwhile, left Kenilworth Road in the summer after 27 appearances in Town colours.
STILL SAYS: “It’ll be tough…but they all are!”
TEAM NEWS. The Town will continue to be without the services of Jonathan Smith, Luke Guttridge and Danny Fitzsimons but John Still could recall Jake Howells to the squad after the midfielder was rested for Tuesday’s game at Grimsby. Halifax have no injury worries ahead of the game and will include Scott Spencer in their squad after signing from Hyde this week.
LIVE & DIRECT. We’ll have all the news as it happens from the Shay. Pre-match build-up, team news, live text and audio commentary, a report, reaction, photographs and interviews. Remember to keep it lutontown.co.uk, Hatters Player and check out our ever-growing Facebook and Twitter feeds. And keep an eye on our Instagram, Vine and YouTube accounts too for good measure #COYH.