Pre-season friendlies - Lots of exciting games are confirmed

FC United are pleased to announce the pre-season friendlies that have been agreed so far, including a prestigious game against Bolton Wanderers at Stalybridge. Brief outlines of the confirmed friendlies are given below and there are a few games still being finalised. Further information and full match details will be given nearer the time. An ongoing list of friendlies is published here and this will remain on the headline news stories for future reference. This will give you the full list of expected dates for games and the date in the title of the story will change whenever it is updated with new information.

Home game

FC United v Bolton Wanderers XI, Wednesday 24 July 2013, at Bower Fold, Stalybridge, k.o. 7.45pm
In echoes of last season, Bolton Wanderers contacted FC United and requested a pre-season friendly, which we have decided to host at Stalybridge, similar to last season’s game against Blackburn Rovers. Bolton Wanderers have kindly agreed that all profits from this game can be retained by FC United, so we’re hoping for another bumper crowd for our only ’home’ friendly. Manager, Karl Marginson, says "Bolton should be a really good test for our players, as they narrowly missed out on the Championship play off places. The game we played at Stalybridge last season was exactly what we needed and to get another offer this year from a League club shows what sort of friendlies we might attract when we’ve got our own ground."

Away games

Shelley CFC, Saturday 6 July 2013
Our friendly programme will open with a trip to Yorkshire to play a community football club at their newly redeveloped ground. Shelley CFC have built a fantastic facility based at Storthes Park, within the campus of Huddersfield University and they combined that with winning promotion for the second year running, so will now play in the Premier Division of the West Yorkshire league.

West Didsbury and Chorlton v FCXI, Wed 10 July 2013
This game has been confirmed after a failed attempt a couple of years ago to arrange a friendly between our two clubs. West Didsbury and Chorlton are now established in their recently built ground and are playing in the North West Counties Football League, where FC United started 8 years ago. It will be an interesting trip back to our roots, but with a chance to visit a new club and a new ground.

Oldham Borough v FCXI (at Atherton Collieries’ ground), Thur 18 July 2013
Oldham Borough are old friends of FC United and there are good links between our two clubs. We’re looking forward to another visit to play them in a friendly at Atherton Collieries ground.

Leamington FC, Saturday 20 July 2013
This friendly gives us an opportunity for a trip to the famous spa town to play Leamington FC, who have just been promoted from the Southern League to the Conference North ...probably, because you never know how they’ll divide up the north and south teams. We’re not at all jealous of their promotion, much!

Kendal Town, Saturday 27 July 2013
Kendal’s troubles this season were well known and despite a valiant battle they finished in the relegation places. The very slight upside is that not being in the same division next season will give us this opportunity to arrange a friendly against Kendal, so we can visit the Lake District on a summer Saturday, which the league fixtures never seemed to manage.

Scarborough Athletic (at Bridlington’s ground), Saturday 3 Aug 2013
Another exciting trip, this time to play a fellow fans-owned club. It will be great to return to Bridlington where Scarborough Athletic currently play their games. Scarborough Athletic achieved promotion this season (that’s becoming a bit of a theme in our friendlies) so they’ll be joining the first division of our league, but it’s anyone’s guess whether they’ll play in the North or South half.