BORO HEAD TO 2026 WITH POSITIVITY
- Bacup Borough Media
- Dec 22, 2025
- 5 min read
Bacup Borough’s players enjoyed a free weekend in their football calendar and it was an
opportunity for them to let their hair down before they face Daisy Hill FC on Boxing Day at
the Brian Boys Stadium.
The season so far has been positive. Borough currently find themselves in ninth place and
sit one point outside the play off positions with a game in hand.
Borough’s season started slightly later than the rest of the league clubs, with the North West
Counties League Management Committee granting Borough a special dispensation which
would allow them to finish off the redevelopments taking place at the stadium.
Their first game was away to Glossop North End in the FA Vase. And a Kyle Siddle late
equaliser in injury time would see Borough through to a penalty shootout which they
eventually won 4-1.
Borough would then follow that up with an opening league win away to Ashton Town, Ben
Thompson scoring an excellently executed goal from thirty five yards out.
In August Borough would only claim one point in a home fixture with Steeton AFC. Defeats
to Nelson, Droylsden and MSB Woolton would follow, and Peters side would also bow out of
the FA Vase to Irlam.
Moving into September and October the tide would turn for Borough. The arrival of Jacob
May on a dual registration from Avro FC would add further strength to the defence. And it
was this additional quality at the back that would make Borough difficult to break down.
Wins against Maine Road, Fulwood Amateurs, Colne, MSB Woolton and Holker Old Boys
would see Borough catapult themselves back amongst the leading clubs at the top end of
the league table. The only disappointment during that period was a shocking 4-0 defeat
away to Ashton Athletic. A result that Brent Peters would call one of the worst displays of
football since he’s been at the club.
Borough started November with a trip to the Fylde coast. And in a hard fought game they
were able to come away from Thornton Cleveleys with a 2-1 win. Goals from Oliver Hodgson
and Kyle Siddle would secure all three points. The game also illustrated the strength in depth
that this current squad possesses. In past seasons that ability to change a game hasn’t been
there, but on several occasions already we’ve witnessed changes being made by the
manager that has immediately impacted and given Borough a new lease of life.
Away to Maghull FC in the Edward Case Cup Borough suffered defeat on penalties after
fighting back from two goals down to take the game to a shootout. Even though Borough
wouldn’t be progressing in the competition, a competition that they’ve had the pleasure of
winning twice in the past four years, it again showed us another side of this Brent Peters
team. A side that possesses character and a willing desire to never know when they’re
beaten.
There has been frustration along the way from the manager. Brent has already expressed
his disappointment that games have been dropped by the league. Several Saturday’s have
gone by without a game, and this creates a problem for teams when you’re desperate to
keep the momentum going after enjoying a bit of success. Keeping the players motivated
and fully fit has been the job of the coaching staff. Nigel Langley, Alan Taylor and fitness
coach Ryan Russell have constantly been drilling the players to give more. And its been no surprise to me that the vast majority of Borough’s points has come from goals being scored
late on in a game. The fitness levels have never been higher, and that is primarily down to
the coaching staff.
Mid November going into December has seen Borough gain four consecutive league draws.
Those points shared have come against Darwen, Holker Old Boys, Squires Gate and
Garstang. It has been the goals of Borough’s leading goalscorer Oliver Hodgson that keeps
Peters side mounting pressure at the top end of the league table.
The young forward has come on leaps and bounds since putting pen to paper on a contract
in the summer, and even though his manager is delighted with the progress and goals that
he has scored, he is also concerned that others need to start contributing in order for
Borough to sustain their presence at the top end of the league.
Before the players went off on their annual Christmas night out I was able to catch a few
words from the club captain Joey Fallon to gather his thoughts on the season so far.
“ We struggled at the start of the year with a lot of new faces and getting used to a different
system which was reflected in the league results at the start.
“That being said, we were unlucky in certain games and were never a million miles away.
Since then we’ve managed to look really solid and come up with some big performances and
results.
“The ones that stick out in my mind are the away trips to Maghull and Thornton Cleveleys,
we showed real grit in those games with some real quality as well which was nice to see.”
I asked Joey about the recent string of draws that we’ve had this season, he said;
“It’s been disappointing for us to draw so many games as of late but if it’s any consolation
everyone else in the league seems to be doing the same which just shows how competitive
and difficult it is to get the wins.
“I think as things stand we have lost 1 out of the last 10 league games but the lads know we
need to start converting some of those draws and we are more than capable of doing that.
“It’s going to be interesting to see what happens in the second half of the season, we just
need to focus on ourselves and keep putting in the work and our luck will inevitably change.”
There’s definitely a lot of positivity around the club as they move into 2026. Not only does
the team look in good shape but the redevelopment and infrastructure of the football club is
moving quickly in the right direction.
Reporting on the club for the past six years I’ve witnessed a dramatic change around the
place which has been nothing but positive. And during that period you get to see how hard
people are working behind the scenes in order to make Bacup Borough a club that the entire
community can be proud of.
Debra O’Connor who has been alongside Brent for the past 26 years continues to strive
forward in her position as the Head of Hospitality. And even though she’s recently been
fighting her own personal battles away from the club she always turns up with a smile on her
face and love in her heart.
Brian White is another volunteer now in his eighties who, rain or shine will be busy selling
raffle tickets for the clubs cause. Susan in the tea bar, Hayley behind the main bar, Jane
looking after the club officials, Simon with the book keeping and Colin on the turnstile all play
an integral part in taking the club into 2026.
I do sense a bright future for the football club under the leadership of Brent Peters going into
the new year. And if this group of players can continue to show the same level of desire
we’ve seen so far, along with the added wins rather than draws. I see no reason why come
the end of the season Borough aren’t taking the place in the North West Counties Premier.
