An eighth place finish in last season’s National League campaign landed the Shaymen just shy of a play-off berth, having reached the eliminator round in both of their previous two seasons.
Longer-tenured fans of the reborn West Yorkshire outfit will likely admit to complicated relationships with the play-offs. Despite having twice earned promotion to the fifth tier via the play-offs in 2013 and 2017, four out of their last seven National League seasons have culminated in play-off elimination, most recently in 2024/25 at the hands of Oldham Athletic.
Regardless of recent play-off shortcomings, Halifax have established themselves as a formidable fixture in the National League, and will have aspirations of reaching the higher echelons of the table yet again this season.
History
FC Halifax Town was established ahead of the 2008/09 campaign after its previous iteration, Halifax Town AFC, was wound up and expelled from the Conference following crippling tax debts.
With the club’s previous directors remaining at the helm, the new entity began life in the Northern Premier League Division One North. Their stint in regional football, however, would be short lived.
Two promotions in three years saw the Shaymen rise to the Conference North, winning the 2010/11 Northern Premier League Premier Division title thanks in large to their top scorer, former Leicester City and England striker Jamie Vardy.
It took just two further years for Halifax to mark their return to the fifth tier by winning the Conference North play-offs in 2012/13. Besides a one-year stop back in the National League North in 2016/17, the club have remained at the highest rung of non-league football ever since.
Alongside the phoenix club’s rapid rise through the divisions, the Shaymen have twice lifted the FA Trophy along the way. A 1-0 win over Grimsby Town in 2015/16 marked their first success in the competition, before replicating the feat in 2022/23 with a 1-0 win over Gateshead.
Lee Gregory holds the mantle of all-time top scorer for the club following a legendary three- year spell with the club. The striker netted 73 goals in all competitions, spearheading promotion to the Conference Premier in 2013 before joining Championship side Millwall a year later.
Manager – John McGrath
Appointed following the departure of Adam Lakeland to Morecambe earlier this year, McGrath joined the club following two successful years at Buxton, in which he led the Bucks to successive play-off appearances in the National League North.
Halifax marks the third stop in McGrath’s managerial career, which began with a player-manager role at Mickleover Sports as his playing days drew to a close.
A Republic of Ireland U21 international while in Aston Villa’s academy, the midfielder went on to enjoy a playing career spanning over two decades, featuring for the likes of York City, Shrewsbury Town and Burton Albion.
His stay at Burton was the longest of his career, notching 215 appearances across six seasons in Staffordshire.
McGrath’s son, Jay, currently plies his trade at League One Doncaster Rovers, for whom John also played for early on in his playing days. The two made history together in 2019, becoming the first ever father and son duo to appear together in an FA Cup match while at Mickleover.
Previous Meeting
Worthing have not played FC Halifax Town before this season.
Stadium
Situated just south of Halifax town centre, the Shay Stadium has held football for both AFC and FC since 1921, originally hosting Halifax Town’s fixtures following their election to the Football League’s Division Three North.
The club’s nickname, ‘The Shaymen’, derives directly from the ground itself.
With a seated capacity of 5,108, The Shay is comprised of two terraced and two seated stands each surrounded by trees, offering an enclosed feel for spectators.
Aside from football, the ground also hosts Rugby League Championship side Halifax Panthers, who have played their home games at the stadium since 1998. The Shay was also selected to host a game during the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
The stadium and grounds are owned by Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, who in 2025 had agreed the sale of the ground to Super League rugby club Huddersfield Giants. However, intervention from a local campaign group prompted Giants’ owner Ken Davy to pull out of the deal.
Distance from the Sussex Transport Community Stadium: 278 Miles
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗