Trafford FC are recruiting a Reserve Team Manager for the 2026-27 season and beyond.
The team plays in the Cheshire League, finishing 10th in League 2 last season. Home games are played at our Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, mostly on Saturday afternoons with some midweeks.
During the 2025-26 season, twelve players who’d progressed via our reserves squad represented the first team – making a combined total of almost 150 appearances between them.
Our reserve team is a key part of the club’s player development pathway, and the Reserves Manager will liaise closely with the First Team Manager to help identify and integrate players who it is felt can make the next step in semi-professional football.
Please send an application letter together with CV via the form below.
Author: Paul Delaney
Simon Heaton Joins Trafford
Trafford FC are pleased to confirm that Simon Heaton has joined the first-team management staff for the 2026/27 season.
After Tom & Keil committed their futures to the club and with Lee Rick moving on, it was important a third man was brought in to help Trafford push for promotion out of the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.
Simon on joining the club:
I am delighted to join Trafford as part of the 1st team management I met up with Tom and within minutes I wanted to work with him the club want to bounce back and hopefully I can help with that. we have started working straight away and recruitment has been positive already. I’m Looking forward to the season ahead working with Tom , Keil and the Trafford staff and supporters.
Manager Tom Baker added:
After the departure of Lee Rick in the summer to West Didsbury & Chorlton, it was really important that I looked to recruit a third man to work alongside me and Keil, I always like working as a three management team. I think it’s really important to have a couple of opinions throughout the season in regards to various things, I think the important thing for me was that we got the right man with the right attributes, I think between the three there’s many boxes that you need to tick as a management team, from coaching, recruitment, knowledge of the level etc.
I felt it was really important going to a new level as in the north-west counties is a level that myself and both Keil don’t have a great level of experience with regards to the other teams and in regards to players at that level I felt the key factor to who we brought in was going be someone who’s been at that level before I think Simon ticks that box.
He spent 2 to 3 seasons at Abbey Hey working under a strict budget and kept them in the division. He spent a few years before that at New Mills again in the same division working as a three man team with Mike Norton and David Birch, he knows the level really well. He knows the other teams, knows players at the level.he’s a really good guy. He’s really hungry to be successful and be a part of something this season so I once I sat down and met with him it was quite clear that he was the right guy to bring in to work alongside me and Keil and looking forward to the new season.
Welcome to Trafford Simon!
Trafford FC Begin New Era In The NWCFL Premier Division
A New Chapter For Trafford FC
After a difficult 2025/26 campaign which ended in relegation from the Northern Premier League West Division, Trafford FC begin a new era back in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.
For supporters of Trafford, the drop to Step 5 is disappointing, but it also presents an opportunity. Trafford return to a league rich in local rivalries, strong travelling support, historic non-league grounds and clubs with genuine ambition. The 2026/27 season promises packed terraces, derby atmospheres and plenty of competitive football as the club looks to regroup and challenge near the top end of the table once again.
Trafford’s home, the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium in Urmston, will once again host some of the best-supported clubs in the North West non-league scene. The league features former Football League names, ambitious community clubs, long-standing rivals and several teams Trafford know extremely well from previous NWCFL and Northern Premier League battles.
2026/27 Season Preview
The Opponents
Trafford FC return to the North West Counties Football League Premier Division with a campaign full of local derbies, familiar rivals and new away days.
Abbey Hey
The Abbey Stadium, Goredale Avenue, Gorton, Manchester, M18 8WH
AFC Liverpool
Marine Travel Arena, College Road, Crosby, Liverpool, L23 3AS
Atherton LR
Crilly Park, Spa Road, Atherton, Manchester, M46 9JQ
Barnoldswick Town
Silentnight Stadium, Greenberfield Lane, Barnoldswick, BB18 6LW
Burscough
Victoria Park, Mart Lane, Burscough, Lancashire, L40 0SD
Chadderton
Andrew Street, Chadderton, Oldham, OL9 0JT
Charnock Richard
Mossie Park, Charter Lane, Charnock Richard, Chorley, PR7 5LZ
Droylsden
Butcher’s Arms Ground, Market Street, Droylsden, Manchester, M43 7AY
Euxton Villa
Jim Fowler Memorial Ground, Runshaw Hall Lane, Euxton, Chorley, PR7 6HQ
FC St Helens
Windleshaw Sports Ground, Windleshaw Road, St Helens, WA10 6TD
FC Isle of Man
The Bowl, Pulrose Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 1RB
Glossop North End
Surrey Street, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 7AJ
Irlam
Silver Street, Irlam, Manchester, M44 6HR
Longridge Town
Recycling Lives Ground, Inglewhite Road, Longridge, Preston, PR3 2NA
Nelson
Little Wembley, Seedhill Road, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 0EU
Litherland REMYCA
Boundary Rd, Litherland, Liverpool L21 7LA
Prestwich Heys
Adie Moran Park, Sandgate Road, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 6QF
Ramsbottom United
Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Acre Bottom, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 0BS
South Liverpool
Jericho Lane Sports Hub, Jericho Lane, Liverpool, L17 5AR
End of Season Awards 25/26
After our last home game we had our end of season awards.
It’s been a tough season on & of the pitch but the club is alive and we must recognise our collective and individual achievements. After the Bootle (last home) game on Saturday we held our end-of-season presentations. Here’s Players AND Supporters #PotY Harry Norris (c)🧱
Manager Tom Baker and his assistant/coach Keil O’Brien and Lee Rick chose Ollie Southern as their Player of the Year.
For our reserves team, Manager paul Barrow presents Player’s PotY to Dec McGloin, and Management PotY to Kian Wallace.
Without our Volunteers, of whom there are dozens, we would not exist. Here are just some of our Tea/Bar & hospitality staff who work so hard serving supporters and staff alike throughout the season…….. 🤍
After a vote amongst his fellow staff, our “Volunteer of the Year” is ANDY “SNIFFER” McGRATH – the second time he’s won this award in 4 seasons!!! 👏👏👏👏👏
A special award was presented to Mark “Brooko” Brookes of our Supporters Club, who has raised so much money over the last 4 or 5 years – money which has helped pay for the new Graham Foxall stand at the Pennybridge Lane End of our stadium🤍👏👏👏👏👏
Speaking of Supporters, Vinny and Hannah have been chosen as Supporters of the Season! Dad & daughter attend pretty much every game home & away, and their passion for the team is unrivalled!! 🤍👏👏👏👏👏👏
Last but never least, our Groundsman Adrian Halliwell leaves us this summer. Adrian has worked hard on our pitch for 13 years, first under Foxxy then as Head Groundsman himself. Thank you Adrian for your commitment & dedication to the Club across all those years!! 🤍👏👏👏👏👏👏
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Reserves at Shawe View – Cup Quarter Final
Our Reserves team continue their cup run on Saturday (14th March) kick off 2pm against Barnton Town Reserves.
It’s FREE ENTRY! the gates are open at 12pm, and our facilities will be open!
Take a trip down Pennybridge Lane (down the side of The Bird I’th Hand).
Runcorn Linnets Date Change
Trafford’s home fixture on 4th April against Runcorn Linnets has been re-arranged, will now kick off at 3pm on Friday 3rd April.
We look forward to welcoming Runcorn Linnets to Shawe View.
New Signing – Kyle Worsley
Trafford FC are delighted to announce another NEW signing
Kyle Worsley is a forward that previously played for 1874 Northwich, playing 26 times & scoring 9 goals in Midland Football League this season.
Kyle, spent his youth with Wigan Athletic where he made it through their ranks up to the under 18’s set up.
After leaving Wigan, Kyle spent a season playing football in Dubai with TFA Dubai FC.
When asked about Kyle’s arrival, manager Tom Baker said:
I felt like we needed to strengthen in the attacking areas of the pitch, goals and assist have been hard to come by hopefully Kyle will help with that. He’s a good age and has good pedigree and shown a desire to come in and help us out. Another lad that has worked with Lee Rick previously. He can play either as a wide player or a 10 and will give us good completion for places
Kyle is available for this Saturday’s game at away to Nantwich Town.
Welcome to Trafford Kyle, we’re delighted to have you here!
New Loan Signing – Harvey Bardsley
Trafford FC are delighted to announce the loan signing of Goalkeeper Harvey Bardsley from Blackpool until 22nd Mar 26.
Manager Tom Baker said:
Thanks for Blackpool entrusting us with Harvey who is a really promising young professional. He has already had a loan spell at Runcorn early season and done really well so we’re looking forward to working with him. He’s has good size and presence and is highly thought of at Blackpool
Trafford FC Club Secretary, Paul Delaney also added:
Great support from another local football league team, provided all the paperwork needed to register Harvey, the support to part time members of a non league club are valuable, thanks to Nick Horne at Blackpool for supporting me.
Harry is in the squad for the weekend game against Lower Breck.
Welcome to Trafford Harvey, we’re delighted to have you here!
Lower Breck Date Change
Trafford’s home fixture on against Lower Breck has been re-arranged due to the recent postponement, will now kick off at 7:45pm on Tuesday 17th March.
We look forward to welcoming Lower Breck to Shawe View.
Mossley Kick-off Time Change
Trafford’s home fixture on against Mossley on the 31st Jan will now kick off at 2:00pm, brought forward from the original 3:00pm start.
The change has been mutually agreed between both clubs and management due to a floodlight issue to ensure the game can be played.
We look forward to welcoming Mossleyto Shawe View.
