Season: 2026-2027

Hamed Sidibe

Hamed Sidibe adds pace, power and athleticism to Trafford’s attacking options. Capable of operating anywhere across the front line, he gives Tom Baker valuable tactical flexibility and another player capable of stretching opposition defences with intelligent movement.

Although still waiting for his first competitive appearance of the season, Hamed has impressed with his attitude and commitment since joining the first-team squad. His willingness to work hard both in and out of possession makes him a valuable member of the group, while his physical attributes provide Trafford with a different attacking option when required. As the campaign progresses, Hamed will be looking to earn further opportunities and make a significant contribution in league and cup competitions.

Worsborough Bridge Athletic vs Trafford FC

Trafford progressed to the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, and a reunion with NPL outfit Runcorn Linnets, following a supremely professional performance at Worsbrough on Sunday.

Tom Baker’s side adapted brilliantly to the bone hard, bobbly and sloping playing surface, matching their opponent’s physicality and playing their neat possession football when time and space allowed it.

Trafford left back Lewis Jacklin broke down the left in the first minute but saw his low shot pushed past the near post by Owen Evans.

Three minutes later a thunderous drive by Bridge’s Lloyd Smith was spectacularly tipped past the upright by Connor Beard and Trafford striker Ryan Brooke struck a low drive that was parried by Evans, Jacklin heading the rebound wide.

Jacklin then squandered a great chance from just six yards after Luke Sephton crossed from the right but the deadlock was finally broken in the 25th minute when Dave Worrall flighted a free kick beyond the far post and Scott Sephtonvolleyed gleefully into the opposite corner from 15 yards.

The hosts came out strongly at the start of the second half with substitute Max Skelton powering a header against the crossbar following a right wing corner.

Jacob May, Scott Sephton and Ryan Brooke all went close with headers and in the 76th minute Trafford substitute Dillon Edmondson struck a great curling left footed drive against the Bridge crossbar.

Both teams had appeals for penalties turned down but in the 87th minute the tie was effectively sealed when Harry Norris rose at the back post to turn a Dave Worrall free kick past Evans and make it 2-0.

Trafford then wasted three glorious opportunities to extend their lead further with Luke Sephton twice careless with just Evans to beat, and Dillon Edmondson firing against the keeper’s body from just eight yards.

In the dying seconds Bridge’s Keelan Grist was red carded for punching Fin Stanyer as frustration got the better of him.

On Saturday, Trafford travel over the Pennines once more to play Armthorpe Welfare in the Preliminary Round of the FA Vase, kick off 3 p.m.

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Ramsbottom United vs Trafford FC

After Saturday’s superb victory over Longridge Town, Trafford were brought crashing back down to earth on Tuesday night when they were thrashed 3-0 by an impressive Ramsbottom side.

Tom Baker’s side edged the opening minutes with Sean Higgins seeing his shot blocked and Rammy struggling to defend several free kicks.

However, the visitors were blown away in an eleven minute spell in which they conceded three goals with calamitous defending, Gareth Hill giving his side the lead with a simple tap in following a quick break down the right.

Dillon Edmundson should have levelled in the 14th minute when he broke clear but was denied by a brave save by Reece Trueman, the loose ball falling to Ryan Brooke whose first time effort was brilliantly blocked on the line by Rammy skipper Macauley Wilson.

A minute later the hosts doubled their lead when Trafford failed to clear a high ball into their penalty area and Hill pounced to drive home from 15 yards past Connor Beard.

Seven minutes later, the game was as good as over as a contest when Rammy were awarded a free kick 30 yards out and Jack Sowerby stepped forward to curl a delightful shot around the wall and inside the right hand post.

A volley from 20 yards by Kyle Worsley was held by Trueman as Trafford desperately sought a way back into the game and then Dillon Edmondson’s attempted lob fell the wrong side of the far post.

The second half saw Rammy content to sit on their three goal lead and allow Trafford to dominate possession but Baker’s side were unable to create any meaningful chances from open play.

The nearest Trafford came to reducing the arrears was from corners with Harry Norris and Scott Sephton both heading wide from good positions.

And the highlights of a generally dull second half were provided by Rammy full back Oscar Radcliffe who made two electrifying breaks down the right flank that almost led to further goals for his side.

In the 83rd minute Luke Sephton became the first player in the history of Trafford FC to be ‘sin-binned’ when he argued with referee Oldfield over an offside decision and, to their credit, the ten men fought gamely to the end but were unable to trouble the Rammy goal.

Trafford will be desperate to get back to winning ways on Sunday when they travel to play Worsborough Athletic  in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, kick off 2 p.m.

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Bradley Njine

Bradley Njine has made a lively start to his Trafford career, appearing in all three of the club’s opening competitive fixtures. His pace, athleticism and direct approach have already provided supporters with an exciting glimpse of what he can offer in the final third.

Capable of playing across the front line, Bradley enjoys running at defenders and stretching opposition back lines with his movement. His willingness to press from the front also fits perfectly with Trafford’s energetic style of play. Still adapting to his new surroundings, Bradley continues to grow in confidence with every appearance and will be looking to turn promising performances into goals and assists as the campaign develops.

Trafford FC vs Longridge Town

Trafford made the perfect start to their league campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over a young and inexperienced Longridge side.

Tom Baker’s side were on top from the start with the midfield trio of Dave Worrall, Scott Sephton and Brad Byrne controlling the game, but they had to wait until the 20th minute for their first attempt on goal, Luke Sephton firing just wide from 20 yards.

Sixty seconds later, Trafford took a deserved lead when Ryan Brooke expertly held off a challenge in the inside left channel and shot coolly past the advancing Josh Burden.

Brooke then struck a superb curling drive from 30 yards that Burden brilliantly pushed past the post and Fin Stanyerheaded just over as Trafford poured forward in search of a second goal.

Brad Byrne, Harry Norris and Ryan Brooke all went close and Trafford went in at the interval with just one goal to their name despite their overwhelming superiority.

The Longridge goal lead a charmed life in the opening minutes of the second half with Luke Sephton twice squandering good chances and Kyle Worsley curling a shot over.

A second goal seemed inevitable but in the 54th minute the home fans were shocked when Longridge’s Tristan Walmsley broke clear of the home defence and appeared certain to score but shot hopelessly straight at Connor Beard.

Two minutes later Baker’s Boys struck again with a neat move orchestrated by Dave Worrall, Kyle Worsley collecting the ball and striking an unstoppable left footed volley past Burden.

And in the 66th minute the points were secured when Worrall found Worsley with a short corner on the right and Fin Stanyer executed a brilliant first time back heel to make it 3-0.

Burden produced another magnificent save to tip a Luke Sephton pile-driver over the bar and the final action of the game saw the younger Sephton brother go close again only to be denied by a fine save by the under pressure Longridge keeper.

Trafford manager Tom Baker was delighted with the performance and result but knows that there are far sterner challenges ahead, starting with Tuesday’s visit to highly fancied Ramsbottom United, kick off 7-45 p.m.

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Trafford FC vs Chorley

Trafford concluded their pre-season friendly programme with a magnificent 2-1 victory over National League North outfit Chorley on Tuesday night.

Tom Baker’s side made the perfect start when, after just two minutes, Kyle Worsley curled a sublime free kick from 20 yards over the defensive wall and into the top corner.

Inspired by veteran midfielders Dave Worrall and Scott Sephton, Trafford were playing with a confidence, physicality and intensity that augurs well for the forthcoming season, but they were punished three minutes before half-time when a low drive from 25 yards by Callum Rowe took a wicked deflection and flew into the net off the shoulder of keeper Connor Beard.

Chorley were on top for long spells in the second half and Connor Beard made three superb saves to keep the score level.

However, the final quarter belonged to the hosts and substitute Brad Njinie squandered a great chance in the 76th minute when he miskicked from just six yards.

Njinie went close again four minutes later but saw his shot blocked on the line by Blakeman and Jensen Bowering drilled a shot inches wide from 20 yards as Trafford pushed forward in search of the winner.

And the goal duly arrived in the 85th minute when Kyle Worsley, despite suffering from cramp, threaded a beautiful pass through to Dillon Edmondson who took one touch and fired a great shot inside the far past.

This game rounded off what has been an excellent pre-season for Baker’s Boys with victories over Flixton, Warrington Rylands, New Mills and Chorley, but now the serious stuff begins with Trafford playing host to Longridge Town on Saturday in a North West Counties Premier League fixture kicking off at 3 p.m.

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New Mills vs Trafford FC

Trafford’s penultimate pre-season friendly saw them record a comfortable 2-0 victory at North West Counties Division One South side New Mills on Saturday.

Dillon Edmundson should have put the visitors ahead in the opening 20 seconds but, after rounding goalkeeper McMahon, he saw his goal bound shot cleared off the line by Millers defender Aston.

Five minutes later, however, Edmundson made amends when he collected the ball in the inside left channel, drove forward and clipped a neat shot into the far corner.

Debutant Lewis Jacklin then broke clear but was denied by a brave save by McMahon and then Jacklin struck a fierce drive from 20 yards that whistled past the right hand upright.

Tom Baker’s Boys were well on top and in the 35th minute Sean Higgins made it two when he collected a neat pass from Jensen Bowering and fired inside the near post.

The second half was far more even with the hosts playing with greater determination and fire but it was still Trafford who created the better chances, Bowering breaking clear in the 62nd minute but being denied by a fine block by Millers substitute keeper Langley.

Jacob May fired wastefully over following a short corner on the right and in the 84th minute Kyle Worsley split the home defence with a magnificent through ball but Langley left his line to save brilliantly from Luke Sephton.

In the dying seconds Worsley produced another piece of sublime skill with Sephton glancing the ball home but the ‘goal’ was disallowed for a marginal offside decision.

Trafford complete their preparations for the new season on Tuesday evening when they entertain National League North outfit Chorley before commencing their league campaign on Saturday when they entertain Longridge Town at the Away Day Care Shawe View Stadium, kick off 3 p.m.

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