Fleetwood Town Eyeing Play-Off Push Amid Mixed Start to 2026

Fleetwood Town Football Club, the proud Lancashire outfit known as the Cod Army, are navigating a challenging yet promising phase in the 2025-26 Sky Bet League Two campaign. Sitting in 13th position with 34 points from 24 matches, the team remains firmly in contention for a late surge towards the promotion play-offs as the new year unfolds.

Under the guidance of head coach Pete Wild, who took charge late in 2024, Fleetwood have shown resilience and flashes of quality. The side boasts a solid defensive foundation, having conceded just 30 goals so far, while their attack has produced 32 strikes, led by key contributors such as Ryan Graydon and Ethan Ennis. Home form at Highbury Stadium has been a particular strength, with the team unbeaten in their last 13 league games on their own turf, winning nine of those encounters.

The festive period delivered a rollercoaster of emotions for supporters. A hard-fought 2-1 victory over Gillingham on December 20 provided a timely boost, followed by a goalless draw away at Salford City on December 29. However, the new year began with disappointment as a late header from Grimsby Town's J. Kabia secured a 1-0 defeat for Fleetwood on January 1. This narrow loss highlighted the fine margins in League Two, where defensive lapses can prove costly.

Despite the setback, optimism remains high around the club. Recent performances demonstrate an improving defensive record, with clean sheets in several matches underscoring Wild's tactical influence. The team has lost just one of their last seven outings, claiming four wins in that run, and their ability to grind out results away from home will be crucial in the coming weeks.

Off the field, Fleetwood continue to make strides. The club recently secured a new sponsorship deal with Broadway Insurance Partners for the first-team shirt sleeve, bolstering financial stability. Meanwhile, the January transfer window has brought speculation, with reports of interest in star striker Ryan Graydon from Salford City, potentially valued at up to £600,000. Such interest reflects the quality within the squad, though retaining key players will be vital for any promotion ambitions.

In cup competitions, Fleetwood have enjoyed a memorable run in the Emirates FA Cup. After progressing past Barnet in the first round, they stunned Championship side Luton Town in the second round, winning 4-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw. This victory earned them a coveted third-round tie away to Port Vale on January 9, offering the chance to emulate past heroics and potentially reach the fourth round for the first time in recent memory.

Looking ahead, the Cod Army face a busy schedule. The FA Cup clash against Port Vale presents an opportunity to build momentum before returning to league action against Cambridge United and others. With the play-off spots tantalizingly close—four points adrift of seventh—Wild's men are well-positioned to mount a serious challenge if they can maintain consistency.

Fleetwood Town's journey this season encapsulates the unpredictable nature of lower-league football: moments of brilliance mixed with frustrating defeats. Yet, with a passionate fanbase, a growing sense of unity under Wild, and the prospect of cup glory, the Cod Army are ready to make waves as 2026 progresses. Supporters will be hoping for more memorable nights at Highbury and a push that could see the club return to League One.

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Home of Fleetwood Town FC

Opened 1939

Capacity 5,327

History (from Wikipedia)

The ground was opened in 1939, at the culmination of the most successful three-year period in the club's history, having completed a hat-trick of Lancashire Combination Cup wins. Until then the club had played on a ground next to the North Euston Hotel. It is situated on the south-west corner of the Memorial Park, just behind Highbury Avenue, after which it is named.

An unusual feature of the stadium was the 'setback' on the west side of the ground. Both the main stand and the long covered standing area known as the Scratching Shed were set back from the pitch by a large gap. This was the legacy of the short period from 1948 to 1952, when the stadium was used for speedway with Fleetwood Flyers riding in Division Two of the National Speedway league.[2][3] Fleetwood Flyers started the 1948 season as Wigan Warriors but moved to Fleetwood after racing a few away fixtures billed as Wigan. The Flyers raced in the National League Division Two from 1948 to 1951 without enjoying any great success. In 1952 the venue staged a number of open events with the team renamed the Fleetwood Knights.[4] In 2008, when a new West Stand was built, it was constructed over the set back area, close to the pitch. To construct the stand, the builders had to clear about 5,000 tonnes of cinder and ash still left over from the speedway track.[5]

Ground redevelopment[edit]

In February 2007 the new Percy Ronson Stand was opened. A£200,000-plus development, the stand is all terracing, and is the first new stand at the Highbury Stadium since 1939. Originally stated to hold 1,240, this figure was later revised downwards 50% by Lancashire County Council to the official capacity of 621. The stand, at the south side of the ground runs about two-thirds the width of the pitch.[6][7]

On 31 July 2007, Fleetwood Town announced the "Stadium Development Plan"[6] which includes -

  1. The demolition of the Scratching Shed, to be replaced by a new west terrace similar to the Percy Ronson Stand, and also positioned close to the pitch.[6]
  2. Demolition of the current terrace at the north end of the ground with another terrace similar to the Percy Ronson Stand. However this stand would run virtually the full width of the pitch unlike the Percy Ronson Stand.[6]
  3. Demolition of the current social club at the east side of the ground, and development of a new 1,000 all-seater stand incorporating new changing rooms, four executive boxes, dining facilities, a supporters bar, a first floor cafeteria, an IT suite, ground floor community room, new club offices and a club shop.[6]
The total cost of this three-staged final phase of the ground development was originally expected to be over £2M.[6]

The plan was finalized in December 2007, with construction being planned in two phases.[8]
  • Phase One: This involves the first two items of the above plan - the demolition of the Scratching Shed, and the construction of the north and west terraces, together with temporary seating in the West Stand, car parking, and new Football League standard floodlights.[9]
  • Phase Two: This involves the third item in the above plan, the construction of the new Main Stand on the east side of the ground with social and changing facilities. The current main stand, a small construction set back from the pitch on the west side of the ground next to the Scratching Shed, will remain until the completion of Phase 2, as it holds the changing rooms.

Planning permission for Phase One was granted by Wyre Borough Council on 4 March 2008.[10] Building work began on 28 April 2008 with clearing work behind the Park End Stand and continued with the demolition of the Scratching Shed, removal of the existing floodlights and clearance work on the main stand.[9] On 23 August 2008 the new stands were opened for Fleetwood's inaugural Conference North match against Vauxhall Motors. The west stand, with its temporary seating, has a capacity of 550, and has been named the Highbury Stand. The stand at the Park end has a capacity of 1,473. It has been named the Memorial Stand to honour those who lost their lives in service of their country and the trawlermen lost at sea from the port of Fleetwood.

Phase Two, the construction of the new East Stand, was originally scheduled begin during the close season in 2009, but was postponed by a year and the plans revised. A£125,000 project to re-lay the pitch and improve drainage was instead begun on 21 April 2009.[11] This change was precipitated by a series of costly match postponements because of poor pitch conditions in 2008–09.

Plans for the new stand were revised and resubmitted in December 2009. The proposed capacity was increased to 2,000, which increased the ground capacity to over 5,500 and met the requirements of Football League membership. The stand, with a proposed price tag of £4 million, was designed with three levels of seating, five executive boxes (subsequently increased to seven) and a function suite. The ground floor is predominantly for use by club operations, and was designed to house a community room and club shop.[12] Planning permission was granted by Wyre Borough Council in March 2010, and development was set to begin during the 2010 close season. Construction began in May 2010, ahead of Fleetwood's Conference North Play-off Final against Alfreton Town, which they won 2–1. The stand, now named the Parkside Stand, was completed in spring 2011, and fully opened ahead of Fleetwood's 3–1 victory over Altrincham on 16 April 2011.

Things to do in Fleetwood.