Can history be repeated?
Five months after the 2019-20 campaign was brought to a premature end in Yorkshire, Reds will kick-off their 2020-21 season just nineteen miles up the road at Knaresborough on Saturday.
Unusually, the new term gets underway with the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup and, for the second time in three seasons, Reds go to Manse Lane (pictured) for an interesting tie against Northern Counties East League outfit, Knaresborough Town.
Two years ago, we met at the Second Qualifying Round stage and a dominant performance saw Reds progress after a 4-1 victory thanks to goals from Conor Tinnion, Scott Allison, Jason Walker and Sam Joel with Ben Cohen netting Town’s late consolation.
Apart from two of the scorers that day, skipper Tinnion and Allison, only Dan Wordsworth, Jordan Holt and Brad Hubbold are the only survivors from that team that triumphed before a 500 plus attendance.
We have a far more vibrant team now than we did in 2018 but Reds fans will treat this tie with trepidation, such has been our poor record in the Cup over the years.
Danny Grainger will select from an eighteen man squad for the long awaited first competitive game of the season.
The winners will bank prize money of £1,444 whilst the losers will be compensated to the tune of £481.
Kick-off 3pm
Postcode: HG5 8LF
