As we enter the dreaded summer of an odd numbered year (though, one with the joy of the Women’s World Cup to look forward to), we’re happy to announce our pre-season schedule for when domestic football kicks off again. We’ll be taking on a rigorous fixture list as the club looks to get ready for what we hope will be a successful league campaign in the NWCFL Division 1 South. Our opponents in these friendly fixtures spread the breadth of Non-League (and beyond), and we’re sure that they’ll provide great entertainment and should be more than enough to whet the whistle ahead of the return of competitive football to Brookburn Road.
All in all, we currently have 6 home fixtures over the course of a busy July, which will be capped off with a trip to face Ashton United, who have just dropped back into the Northern Premier Division following an unsuccessful battle against relegation in the National League North. Season ticket holders will be eligible for free entry to all of the game at Brookburn Road, which will otherwise be charged at out usual gate prices of £5, £3 concessions, or free entry for U12s. Along with the discount on regular season admission, this means that an £80 adult season ticket gains entry to 25 home fixtures – saving £45, or around 35%. This works out at £3.20 per match for the entire season, with further pre-season fixtures set to be announced too – fantastic value in what is sure to be a landmark campaign for the club. You can purchase your season ticket here – they will be available to pick up across the course pre-season, or can be delivered if required.
You can see our pre-season fixture list and read more about our opponents below.
Fixtures & Results
| 30 Nov, 00:00 | A |  | New Mills | NWCFL | |
| 02 Jul, 19:15 | H |  | Prestwich Heys | Friendly | 1 - 0 |
| 06 Jul, 15:00 | H |  | Ashton Town | Friendly | 2 - 3 |
| 09 Jul, 19:00 | A |  | Euxton Villa | Friendly | 2 - 2 |
| 12 Jul, 19:15 | H |  | Irlam | Friendly | 1 - 2 |
| 16 Jul, 19:00 | A |  | Wilmslow Albion | Friendly | 2 - 1 |
| 20 Jul, 15:00 | H |  | Salford City XI | Friendly | 3 - 1 |
| 27 Jul, 15:00 | H |  | Maine Road | Friendly | 3 - 2 |
| 30 Jul, 19:15 | H |  | Atherton Collieries | Friendly | 2 - 0 |
| 03 Aug, 15:00 | A |  | Eccleshall | NWCFL | 0 - 4 |
| 06 Aug, 19:45 | H |  | Wythenshawe Town | NWCFL | 1 - 1 |
| 10 Aug, 15:00 | A |  | Squires Gate | FA Cup | 1 - 2 |
| 13 Aug, 19:45 | H |  | Stockport Town | NWCFL | 1 - 0 |
| 17 Aug, 15:00 | A |  | Abbey Hey | NWCFL | 1 - 3 |
| 20 Aug, 19:45 | H |  | Cheadle Town | NWCFL | 2 - 1 |
| 24 Aug, 15:00 | A |  | Stalybridge Celtic | FA Cup | 0 - 0 |
| 26 Aug, 15:00 | A |  | Barnton | NWCFL | 0 - 1 |
| 03 Sep, 19:30 | H | | Stalybridge Celtic | FA Cup | 2 - 3 |
| 10 Sep, 19:45 | H |  | Abbey Hulton United | NWCFL | 5 - 0 |
| 14 Sep, 15:00 | A |  | Runcorn Town | FA Vase | 0 - 1 |
| 21 Sep, 15:00 | H |  | Stone Old Alleynians | NWCFL | 0 - 2 |
| 24 Sep, 19:45 | A | | New Mills | NWCFL | 3 - 3 |
| 28 Sep, 15:00 | A |  | Cammell Laird 1907 | NWCFL | 1 - 2 |
| 05 Oct, 15:00 | H |  | Nelson | Playermatch Cup | 4 - 0 |
| 08 Oct, 19:45 | H |  | Trafford | Mcr Prem Cup | 1 - 2 |
| 12 Oct, 15:00 | A |  | Shildon AFC | FA Vase | 2 - 0 |
| 19 Oct, 15:00 | H | | New Mills | Macron Cup | 3 - 1 |
| 22 Oct, 19:45 | H | | Prestwich Heys | Lancs Trophy | 2 - 2 |
| 26 Oct, 15:00 | A |  | FC Oswestry Town | NWCFL | 2 - 1 |
| 02 Nov, 15:00 | H |  | Cheadle Heath Nomads | NWCFL | 0 - 0 |
| 09 Nov, 15:00 | H |  | Alsager Town | Macron Cup | 6 - 1 |
| 16 Nov, 15:00 | A | | Wythenshawe Town | NWCFL | A - A |
| 23 Nov, 15:00 | A |  | St Helens Town | Playermatch Cup | 1 - 2 |
| 26 Nov, 19:45 | H | | Alsager Town | NWCFL | 4 - 1 |
| 30 Nov, 15:00 | A |  | Ellesmere Rangers | NWCFL | 3 - 2 |
| 03 Dec, 17:45 | A |  | Vauxhall Motors | NWCFL | 3 - 0 |
| 07 Dec, 13:00 | H | | Runcorn Town | Macron Cup | 1 - 4 |
| 14 Dec, 15:00 | H | | FC Oswestry Town | NWCFL | P - P |
| 17 Dec, 19:45 | H |  | Wythenshawe Amateurs | NWCFL | 2 - 1 |
| 21 Dec, 15:00 | A | | Stockport Town | NWCFL | 2 - 1 |
| 26 Dec, 15:00 | H | | Maine Road | NWCFL | 0 - 3 |
| 28 Dec, 15:00 | A |  | St Martins | NWCFL | 2 - 2 |
| 04 Jan, 15:00 | A | | Alsager Town | NWCFL | 1 - 2 |
| 11 Jan, 15:00 | H | | Cammell Laird 1907 | NWCFL | 2 - 1 |
| 15 Jan, 19:45 | A | | Cheadle Town | NWCFL | 2 - 1 |
| 18 Jan, 15:00 | A | | Stone Old Alleynians | NWCFL | 0 - 1 |
| 21 Jan, 19:45 | A | | Wythenshawe Town | NWCFL | 2 - 2 |
| 25 Jan, 15:00 | A | | Cheadle Heath Nomads | NWCFL | 0 - 5 |
| 28 Jan, 19:45 | H |  | Sandbach United | NWCFL | P - P |
| 01 Feb, 15:00 | H | | Eccleshall | NWCFL | 4 - 0 |
| 08 Feb, 15:00 | H | | Sandbach United | Playermatch Cup | 0 - 2 |
| 15 Feb, 15:00 | H | | New Mills | NWCFL | P - P |
| 22 Feb, 15:00 | H | | FC Oswestry Town | NWCFL | P - P |
| 29 Feb, 15:00 | H | | Barnton | NWCFL | P - P |
| 07 Mar, 11:00 | A | | Wythenshawe Amateurs | NWCFL | 1 - 0 |
| 14 Mar, 15:00 | H | | Vauxhall Motors | NWCFL | 0 - 1 |
| 17 Mar, 19:45 | H | | FC Oswestry Town | NWCFL | |
| 21 Mar, 15:00 | H | | Barnton | NWCFL | |
| 24 Mar, 19:45 | H | | New Mills | NWCFL | |
| 28 Mar, 15:00 | A | | Sandbach United | NWCFL | |
| 04 Apr, 15:00 | H | | Ellesmere Rangers | NWCFL | |
| 11 Apr, 15:00 | H | | St Martins | NWCFL | |
| 13 Apr, 15:00 | A | | Maine Road | NWCFL | |
| 18 Apr, 15:00 | H | | Abbey Hey | NWCFL | |
| 21 Apr, 15:00 | H | | Sandbach United | NWCFL | |
| 25 Apr, 15:00 | A | | Abbey Hulton United | NWCFL | |
| 25 Aug, 00:00 | H |  | 1874 Northwich | Friendly | P - P |
| 05 Sep, 15:00 | H |  | Atherton LR | Friendly | |
| 12 Sep, 15:00 | H |  | Altrincham | Friendly | 1 - 0 |
Pre-season kicks off with the visit of Prestwich Heys on Tuesday 2nd July. Playing in the NWCFL Division One North, the game offers a good chance to see the level of opposition that West will come up against in 2019/20, while also being somewhat of a Manchester Derby. Heys were strong last time out, finishing 5th – one place behind Lower Breck, who bested West in the FA Vase last campaign.
Following our mid-season friendly in 2018/19, we’re pleased to welcome back Rochdale Sacred Heart on Saturday 6th July. Our game in January ended up 4-2 to an experimental West side, whereas Sacred Heart went on to end their season with silverware, picking up the Gilgryst Cup against Beechfield United. We look forward to welcoming them back.
Our tradition of Friday night football against near neighbours Irlam continues despite the clubs being in different divisions, as they come to Brookburn Road on Friday 12th July. The summer sun means we won’t quite be playing under the lights, but this should be a big test of where the squad is up to – our last fixture ended up in a 3-2 away win for West, as we looked to escape relegation. All at the club look forward to renewing our friendship with Irlam.
Having seen their first team achieve promotion from the National League Playoffs earlier this summer, League 2 debutants Salford City will send an XI to Brookburn Road on Saturday 20th July. Famed for their Class of 92 ownership, Salford were playing North West Counties football as little as 11 years ago, and are now treading the same path that Fleetwood Town have to the Football League. We look forward to welcoming them to Brookburn Road for what is sure to be a special fixture.
Another side that have recently achieved promotion, Avro FC will be our guests on Tuesday 23rd July head of their season in the NWCFL Premier Division. The two sides crossed one another on the way in and out of the NWCFL Premier Division, so we’re glad to to fit in a fixture that will be a good measure of what each side can expect as the season approaches.
Our home pre-season fixture will be rounded off with a visit from Northern Premier Division One West side Widnes on Saturday 27th July. The two sides last played in the 2017/18 season, as West memorably had to play outfield player Jordan Poole in goal at the Select Security Stadium and somehow escaped with only a 4-0 loss – a game which saw Widnes reach the summit of the NWCFL, a division they would then go on to win. Hopefully this game won’t feature similar hi-jinks, or a similar scoreline.
We will be rounding off pre-season with a trip to play Ashton United on Tuesday 30th July – the kick off time for this is still to be confirmed, but we’re sure there will be a strong West presence at Hurst Cross as we fine-tune preparation for the 2019/20 season.
We also have other fixtures that are to be confirmed, and these will be announced in due course.
