MATCH PREVIEW: The new season is here, at last
Reds will launch their thirty-sixth season of Northern Premier League football on Saturday with regular opponents, Mossley, visiting Borough Park for the West Division opener (3pm).
Although we famously ended a season against Mossley some twenty three years ago, we have never played the Lilywhites on the opening Saturday and I’m sure both clubs will consider the game a very tough fixture to start with.
Recent meetings have resulted in our favour and 2-0 victories have been the norm during that period. But those narrow setbacks will motivate David Fish’s side who will be attempting to inflict pain on Danny Grainger as he starts his second spell in the Borough Park hot seat.
Such has been the disruption to the squad over the summer, Danny has continued with attempts to add to the group this week as he seeks cover for the long-term absentees.
Both teams ended their pre-season campaigns on a positive note against higher-ranked opposition and, whilst Reds were winning at Marske, Mossley staged a good fight back to earn a draw against neighbours Stalybridge Celtic.
They finished 8th last season but Reds won at Seel Park before completing a double in the return. Reds last lost on the opening day in 2014 when Gavin Skelton’s first game in charge ended in a 2-1 defeat at Stamford but Saturday’s game, our thirty-ninth competitive encounter against Mossley, is a difficult one to call.
Head to head v. Mossley
| Northern Premier League | ||
| Season | Home | Away |
| 1977-78 | 1-2 | 0-5 |
| 1978-79 | 0-6 | 1-4 |
| 1979-80 | 0-4 | 1-5 |
| 1980-81 | 3-0 | 3-2 |
| 1981-82 | 0-1 | 3-1 |
| 1982-83 | 4-1 | 0-1 |
| 1983-84 | 1-0 | 2-1 |
| 1984-85 | 3-1 | 1-3 |
| 1985-86 | 1-2 | 2-1 |
| 1986-87 | 0-2 | 0-0 |
| 1987-88 | 2-1 | 1-2 |
| 1993-94 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| 1994-95 | 1-2 | 0-3 |
| 2019-20 | 2-0 | 0-2 |
| 2020-21 | 2-0 | Not played |
| 2021-22 | 2-0 | 1-0 |
| Northern Premier League Challenge Cup | ||
| 1981-82 | 0-4 (s/f) | 1-2 (s/f) |
| 2021-22 | 2-0 | |
| FA Challenge Cup | ||
| 1983-84 | 0-0 | 0-1 |
| North West Counties League | ||
| 1998-99 | 2-1 | 3-0 |
| Pre-season friendly | ||
| 2018-19 | 2-1 |
