Opposition Report | Fleetwood Town

Fleetwood Town remain unbeaten in competitive games so far this season, a run that includes a cup victory over Gavin Cowan’s side. 

They kicked off the campaign with back-to-back 1-0 victories against Chesterfield, one at home in the league and one away in the Carabao Cup, before sharing the points in a 0-0 home draw against Gareth Ainsworth’s Gillingham.

After knocking Shrewsbury out of the League Cup at Highbury, the Cod Army picked up two more draws: a 2-2 trip away at Grimsby Town and a hard-earned point against Oldham, rescued by a late Ronan Coughlan finish.

The Manager

Fleetwood manager Matt Lawlor spent his playing career in the non-league game, playing as a midfielder and defender for Farsley Celtic and Bamber Bridge. He initially started coaching whilst at the latter, working for Manchester United as a development coach. He first moved to Fleetwood in 2019 as a youth coach, before taking charge of their coaching and player development.

He later became the manager of the club’s under-21 side, where he took over as caretaker of the first team twice, managing and winning one game in both stints. He also had two stints as caretaker manager at Fleetwood’s Irish partner club Waterford.

He was brought back to the Fylde coast as part of former manager Pete Wild’s coaching staff, who Lawlor eventually succeeded as gaffer. In his first full season as manager, Lawlor favours a three-at-the-back setup, with attacking wing-backs encouraging fluid, creative attacking football.

Ones to watch

Shaun Rooney

Scottish right-back Shaun Rooney started life in the Scottish League Two with Queens Park, before rising through the domestic leagues with Dunfermline Athletic, Queen of the South and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, with a stint over the border at York City in the middle. His next move to St Johnstone earned him a place in the history books, scoring the winning goals in both the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup finals in 2021. After two seasons with The Saints, he made his first move to Fleetwood in League One, where he’d go on to play over 130 times for The Cod Army, with a brief stint with St Mirren in 2024.

Finley Potter

Potter developed through the Sheffield United youth academy, where he captained The Blades’ youth sides and earned call-ups to the England Under-18s team. After two loan spells at Barnet in the National League, the central defender moved permanently to Fleetwood Town in February 2024. He has established himself as a mainstay in Fleetwood's backline, well on his way to 100 appearances for the club at just 22.

Harrison Neal

Another product of Sheffield United's academy, central midfielder Neal built his senior experience through a number of non-league and EFL loans at Kettering Town, Southend United, Barrow, and Stevenage. He moved to Carlisle United in 2024, suffering relegation in Cumbria before joining Fleetwood Town, where his aggressive tackling and high-energy pressing make him a key engine in the centre of the park.

Will Davies

Ipswich-born Will Davies started his career in the academy of his hometown club. He later moved into the non-league game with Woodbridge Town and Coplestonians, before finding form at Leiston. Here, he was named top scorer in the 2020-21 FA Cup, eventually leaving for opportunities higher in the pyramid at Braintree Town, York City and Sutton United. Known for his physical aerial presence and clinical finishing, Davies joined Fleetwood in June 2025,for a transfer fee reported to be one of the largest ever received by Sutton.