Get the lowdown on the U’s next opponents: FC Halifax Town.
The Opposition
Since the Shaymen’s reformation in 2008 following the dissolution of the original Halifax Town AFC, FC Halifax Town have enjoyed a rapid rise up non-league, and found themselves back in the fifth tier after just five years. They would become a full time football club in 2018 and established themselves in the National League, remaining above the National League North ever since, but in recent years have been looking to defy the odds and reach the promised land of the Football League less than two decades after being established.
Three successive top half finishes under new manager Pete Wild included two play-off campaigns, with defeats in the eliminator round to Boreham Wood and Chesterfield seeing the Shaymen remain in the fifth tier, although they would win the 2023 FA Trophy under current boss Chris Millington, who had taken charge after Wild made the switch to Barrow the previous year. Under Millington, the Yorkshire-based outfit would reach the play-offs again in 2023/24, but again would defeated in the eliminator round, this time by Solihull Moors.
The Shaymen are certainly a side on a mission though, and have enjoyed a positive campaign as they look to secure their spot in the play-offs for another season. Millington’s side currently sit sixth in the Vanarama National League table, and will be looking to extend a run of five games without a defeat.
Recent Form
FC Halifax Town 1-0 Yeovil Town
FC Halifax Town 2-1 Forest Green Rovers
York City 2-2 FC Halifax Town
FC Halifax Town 0-0 Rochdale AFC
FC Halifax Town 1-0 Boston United
Southend United 3-1 FC Halifax Town
The Manager
Chris Millington
A midfielder by trade in his playing days, Chris Millington had turned out for Manchester City as youngster before spells at York City and Crewe Alexandra before transitioning into coaching with stints with Altrincham’s Under-18’s and Stockport County’s Centre of Excellence, as well as taking over at Curzon Ashton in 2016.
He would briefly move to Croatia before joining up with Pete Wild for the first time, and they would together work in the Oldham Athletic academy before being promoted to the first team following the sackings of Frankie Bunn and Paul Scholes. Millington would later follow Wild to FC Halifax Town and remained as his right-hand man for three seasons. After Wild opted to depart in the summer for League Two side Barrow, Millington was chosen to fill the vacancy.
The 49-year old has subsequently guided the Shaymen to two play-off campaigns and an FA Trophy win in 2023, beating Gateshead in the final, and is currently on course to secure a top seven spot for a third time.
One to Watch
Festus Arthur
German-born defender Festus Arthur has impressed since breaking into the Halifax team this season, and has become central to their superb defensive record, with just Barnet, Forest Green Rovers and Rochdale conceding less goals that the Shaymen this season.
After starting his career with Stockport County, Arthur attracted plenty of interest after a superb 2019/20 season that saw him rack up 31 appearances for the Hatters, and he subsequently made the switch to Hull City after just a season in Stockport’s First Team. He made his debut for the Tigers in an EFL Trophy match against Leicester City’s Under-21’s, before spending five months on loan at Barrow as he looked to gain more experience.
After two years at the KCOM Stadium, Arthur opted to depart permanently in search of regular football and joined Halifax in 2022, although after making 20 appearances for the Shaymen during his maiden season, embarked on two separate loans spells in the National League North with Southport. He impressed during his time in the sixth tier though, making 18 appearances for the Sandgrounders last term before returning to Haig Avenue last summer, going on to feature a further nine times. His form for Southport saw him recalled by manager Chris Millington though, and has since added five appearances to his name where he has become a key part of the Shaymen’s backline.
Last Time We Met
Sutton came back from the long midweek trip to Halifax with a well-earned point, completing a fourth consecutive league game without conceding a goal.
The better side in the first half, U’s might have been frustrated not to be in front at the break, and although Halifax proved more of a threat after half time, any saves Jack Sims had to make were of the routine variety and the game always looked likely to end goalless.
Head-to-Head
FC Halifax Town 0-0 Sutton United (10/12/2024)
FC Halifax Town 2-2 Sutton United (27/03/2021)
Sutton United 1-0 FC Halifax Town (28/11/2020)
FC Halifax Town 1-0 Sutton United (03/03/2020)
Sutton United 0-1 FC Halifax Town (29/10/2019)
FC Halifax Town 0-1 Sutton United (22/12/2018)
Sutton United 1-1 FC Halifax Town (01/09/2018)
FC Halifax Town 2-1 Sutton United (10/04/2018)
Sutton United 3-2 FC Halifax Town (18/11/2017)
Played for Both
Rob Scott
Epsom-born defender Rob Scott began his playing career at Sutton and enjoyed a 16-year playing career that finished at Halifax in 2008.
Starting out as a prolific striker in our youth team, he followed his elder brother Andy into the first team squad in February 1992 when he made his debut as a substitute at home to Kingstonian. He went on to make 22 competitive appearances, scoring twice, and at the start of the 1993/94 season signed a professional contract with Sheffield United, who had signed Andy during the previous season.
After three years at Bramall Lane Scott joined Fulham, making over 80 appearances across three seasons, and then moved to Rotherham United in 1998, making nearly 200 appearances over the next seven seasons. He subsequently played in the Football League for Oldham Athletic and Macclesfield Town before finishing his playing career at Halifax, making half a dozen appearances in the National League in the 2007/08 season.
After playing, he was joint manager alongside his former Rotherham teammate Paul Hurst at Ilkeston Town, Boston United and Grimsby Town, earning promotion with the first two, and is now Director of Football Recruitment with the Millers as well as working for the FA in their Talent ID Education Department.
