Here we go

Reds will kick off their 33rd season of Northern Premier League football, the 43rd in the post Football League era, on Saturday when Pickering Town make a first ever visit to Borough Park.

After one of the most positive pre-seasons in many years, it is now up to the team to convert that new-found optimism surrounding the club into a decent opening day performance.

Recovering from the body blow of the new stadium project collapsing in late June, the club has turned a huge negative into a wonderful positive with a unique feel-good factor greeting the players for their first appearance on the ground since last season’s woes.

Manager Danny Grainger, just as excited as the supporters, will be making his competitive debut as Reds boss and he will hand a first league start to some of the squad who have impressed throughout pre-season.

He has a near full squad available for selection with Owen Bell the only absentee.

Pickering Town are playing just their second season at Step 4 football and endured a tough campaign last time out. They finished 16th in the East Division but, a word of warning, their away record was far more impressive than it was on home soil.

Workington will be wearing their new all-red strip for the first time and supporters should notice a much tidier Borough Park, spruced up thanks to many hours of voluntary labour.

Before kick-off there will be a moment of remembrance to mark the passing of several former players and a number of supporters who, sadly, died during the summer.

Kick-off 3pm.