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The Shaymen were promoted back into the Football League after spending five seasons in the Conference. Halifax are now fighting to avoid the drop back into non-league football as they currently prop up the Third Division table and will be fighting for a desperate three points tonight. Town's home record reads: W: 3, D: 6, L: 3 having scored 12 goals and conceded 3 at The Shay. Current top scorer is Paul Harsley with 8 goals while former Blues striker Gary Jones has scored three. On Saturday their slump continued with a 4-0 defeat at Scunthorpe.
Blues will be making their 23rd league visit to The Shay tonight where they have won nine, drawn nine and lost four. Blues first visit to The Shay came in February 1958 where a single goal defeat left Blues in 6th place in Division Three. The following season Blues travelled to Halifax on the opening day of the season but suffered a 2-1 defeat. Season 1960/61 saw Blues travel to Halifax on Christmas Eve of all days. Blues were struggling at the wrong end of the table and obviously a Christmas Eve round trip to West Yorkshire was not the Christmas present they wanted and suffered a 6-2 reverse. The following season Blues secured their first victory at The Shay winning 2-0 in April and completing the double over The Shaymen. A 1-0 October, Friday night victory was the outcome in season 1962/63. Town were relegated to Division Four that season and the two clubs next met when Blues found themselves in Division Four in season 1966/67, this time the two sides drawing 2-2, another Friday night, although in September. Season 1967/68 saw another Blues victory as they came out on top 2-1 to leave the Shrimpers in 2nd place in the Fourth Division table level on point with Chesterfield. Blues couldn't maintain their early season form and had to endure another season in the basement division where the visit to The Shay produced a 1-1 draw in season 1968/69. Halifax were promoted that season and the two sides avoided each other in the league until season 1972/73 when Town came out on top winning 2-1 in Blues. A 0-0 draw followed in 1973/74 whilst in season 1974/75 Halifax came out on top winning 3-1 on a Tuesday night in October to leave Blues in 6th place in Division Three. Blues also lost at The Shay in season 1975/76 1-0 that left Blues one place above the relegation zone. The following season both sides ended up relegated to Division Four, but The Shaymen continued their good results against the Blues at The Shay with a 3-1 win. The following season Blues managed to put a halt to their three consecutive defeats at The Shay with a 1-0 win. That win helped Blues into second place come the end of the 1977/78 season and it would be season 1980/81 when Blues next visited The Shay and on this occasion Southend recorded their biggest ever win 5-1. Blues also beat Halifax 5-1 at Roots Hall that season. With Blues winning the Fourth Division Championship that season the two sides next met in season 1984/85 when a solitary goal gave Halifax maximum points. Blues got back to winning ways the following season in a five goal thriller 3-2 and followed that up with a 1-0 in season 1986/87. A break of two seasons saw Blues travel to The Shay in Season 1989/90 where a 2-1 victory helped Blues return to Division Three. With Blues enjoying life in the higher echelons of Division One and Halifax spending some time in the Conference it would be season 1998/99 before Blues travelled there again. The Shay was being transformed into a modern stadium and the modern Shaymen came out on top winning 3-1. Season 1999/2000 saw a 0-0 draw whilst a single goal was enough to give Blues all three points last season.