MATCH PREVIEW: Final dress rehearsal

After over a fortnight without any action, Reds will travel to Lancashire on Saturday for what will be a testing afternoon against Clitheroe (3pm).

Their fifth, and final, preseason outing will certainly be a difficult game against the NPL Division One West outfit, who are expected to do well this term.

After we met each other in the West Division play-offs three years ago, Clitheroe have endured, by their own admission, three disappointing seasons. The season after we got promoted, Clitheroe finished 8th but, since then, they had to reflect on being labelled ‘also-rans’ after dropping to 10th and a worrying 15th last season.

But they have had a reset and, with Sean McConville now at the helm, the good times are about to return to the Loom Loft Stadium.

McConville’s team have recorded some decent results across pre-season, if that counts for anything, and last week held Curzon Ashton to a 1-1 draw. The former Accrington Stanley legend has a wealth of experience, as a player, behind him and now has to use that as a foundation for his managerial career.

We came across Sean in his Stalybridge Celtic days, first at Borough Park and then at Bower Fold, where he scored a fine goal against us.

Reds first played at Shawbridge in 1999 when Paul Stewart netted our winner in a North West Counties League encounter. The facilities have certainly improved at the ground since then and the match day experience is one of the best in the north west, with the friendly club taking great pride in making visiting supporters welcome.

Our last preseason trip to Clitheroe, two years ago, resulted in a disappointing 3-1 defeat but we did emerge 1-0 winners there back in 2017.

Kick-off: 3pm

Postcode: BB7 1LZ