FC Halifax Town team news for FA Cup tie against South Shields

Shaun Hobson is expected to retain his place in defence for FC Halifax Town's FA Cup fourth-round qualifying match against South Shields at The Shay.

FC Halifax Town will host South Shields in the Emirates FA Cup fourth-round qualifying tie at The Shay Stadium on Saturday, with Shaun Hobson set to keep his place in the starting lineup. The defender has started the last two games and is expected to continue in a back four alongside Will Flint, who is also in line to return to the first-choice defence after being rested last time out.

Mike Williamson, the South Shields manager, noted his team's challenge, saying, "Mike Williamson and his squad travel to the Shay Stadium to face John McGrath’s FC Halifax Town." The visitors arrive having lost their last two away games and will be without the injured trio of Jordan Marshall, Dillon Morse, and David Carson.

Halifax come into the match in strong form, sitting 10th in the National League with 20 points from 13 games, a record of six wins, two draws and five losses. They are on a three-game winning run across all competitions, having beaten Solihull Moors and Gateshead in the league before a 4-2 victory over Stoke City U21s in the National League Cup on Tuesday. That cup win saw goals from T. McDermott, A. Morgan-Smith, C. Douglas and B. Tollitt. Raheem Conte, who scored twice in that midweek cup win, will be looking to add to his tally. The team's recent form over the last five games stands at three wins, one draw and one loss, a sequence that began with a 2-1 loss to Worthing on 26 September.

Their recent fixtures show a positive trend, with the side scoring 22 league goals this season while conceding 15, giving them a goal difference of plus seven. Ben Tollitt and Zak Gilsenan are the joint top scorers with four each, though striker S. Johnson is yet to score in his 10 appearances. The team's next league assignment is a tough trip to third-placed Southend on Saturday 24 October. In the league title race, Halifax currently find themselves 15 points behind leaders Boreham Wood. Saturday's FA Cup tie at The Shay, Shaw Hill, Halifax HX1 2YS, kicks off at 3pm.

Update, 17 Oct 2026

FC Halifax Town manager John McGrath confirmed his starting goalkeeper for Saturday's FA Cup tie. "True Grant will come back in on Saturday," McGrath said. The manager also stated Max Bardell will return to the starting lineup after being on the bench for the midweek National League Cup win. The club, sitting 10th in the National League with 20 points, will host South Shields at The Shay.