As Newport County get set to lock horns with Salford City, we take a closer look at the Ammies.
What’s their story?
Founded in 1940 as Salford Central, Salford City’s early years were spent competing in local leagues. In 1963, the club made its first significant step forward by joining the Manchester League. A pivotal moment came in 1989 when the club rebranded as Salford City, signaling its growing ambitions.
A new era began in 2014 when Manchester United legends Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, and David Beckham acquired a 10% stake each in the club. Their combined vision and investment accelerated Salford City's rise, culminating in promotion to the English Football League (EFL) in 2019, following a dominant 3-0 victory over AFC Fylde in the National League play-off final.
Salford’s momentum didn’t stop there. The following year, they secured their first major trophy by winning the EFL Trophy. In a dramatic final against Portsmouth, delayed by 11 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ammies triumphed on penalties to lift the silverware.
This season, Salford City have had a mixed start, earning two wins, three draws, and two losses from their opening seven games, placing them 16th in League Two with nine points.
Who’s the boss?
Salford City’s manager, Karl Robinson, was appointed in January 2024. Born in Rainhill, Merseyside, Robinson had a long playing career in non-league football, featuring for clubs such as Bamber Bridge, Marine, and Warrington Town, with stints in the League of Wales at Caernarfon Town and Rhyl. Initially a "big, powerful" striker, Robinson later transitioned to midfield as his playing days wound down.
Robinson’s managerial career began remarkably early, at just 29 years old, when he took charge of Milton Keynes Dons. Over six years at the club, he led them to promotion to the Championship in 2015. After a brief spell with Charlton Athletic, Robinson spent five years at Oxford United, guiding them to two play-off campaigns and earning a reputation as a tactically astute manager. Now at Salford City, Robinson brings a wealth of experience and ambition, aiming to guide the Ammies toward greater success.
Who’s the captain?
Jamaican international Curtis Tilt captains Salford City. At 33, Tilt has vast experience, with much of his career spent in the lower leagues of English football. He started at Gornal Athletic in 2012 and worked his way through clubs like Tipton Town, Halesowen Town, and AFC Telford United before making a breakthrough at Wrexham in 2016, where he made 36 appearances.
After a brief spell at Forest Green Rovers, Tilt established himself at Blackpool, where he became a key defensive figure over three seasons, making 111 appearances. He then joined Rotherham United for the 2020-21 season, but after limited opportunities, Tilt had three loan stints at Wigan Athletic before signing permanently for the Latics. In 2023, he moved to Salford City and has since become an integral part of the team, with 57 appearances so far.
Key Player
Hakeeb Adelakun has emerged as a standout player for Salford City in the 2024-25 season following his arrival from Doncaster Rovers. The versatile attacker began his career in the youth academies of Crystal Palace and West Ham United before making his professional debut with Scunthorpe United. Over five seasons at Scunthorpe, Adelakun made 169 appearances and scored 20 goals, catching the eye of Bristol City.
However, limited first-team opportunities at Bristol led to loan spells with Rotherham United and Hull City. In 2021, he signed for Lincoln City, where he made 29 appearances in his first season. He later had a loan spell with Gillingham before returning to Lincoln for another 25 appearances.
At the start of the 2024-25 season, Adelakun joined Salford City, making an immediate impact. He has already scored twice in the league and provided an assist in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, proving to be an important attacking threat for Karl Robinson’s side with four appearances so far this season.
