Morpeth Town have seven pre-season fixtures lined up during July and early August as they put in place the foundations ahead of another campaign in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.
The Highwaymen have four clashes at Craik Park – against North Shields, Stockton Town, Ashington and Dunston – with trips to Spennymoor Town, Newton Aycliffe, and Consett also factored into their plans.
For manager Craig Lynch, this is an ideal mix of games to get his side ready to hit the ground running in a division that will bring plenty of challenges, particularly with big spending sides like Macclesfield, owned by Robbie Savage, and Worksop Town coming up, while Bradford Park Avenue drop down.
“We wanted to challenge the squad from the off,” he said of the pre-season schedule.
“We’re lucky in that the North East has plenty of non-league sides who are good quality and have ambitions to succeed at their respective levels.
“We’ve got a good mix as we travel to Spennymoor, from National League North, and also play against Stockton, Dunston and Consett who are now established in the NPL East.
“Throw in games against North Shields – who were in the East division last year – and newly promoted Ashington and Newton Aycliffe and there’s a real mixture of challenges that lie ahead.
“The sole ambition is to get the lads firing from the off this season and make our mark early doors in a division that will be a tough challenge for everyone involved.”
Highwaymen pre-season: North Shields (H) – 11th July; Stockton Town (H) – 15th July; Spennymoor Town (A) – 18th July; Ashington (H) – 22nd July; Dunston (H) – 25th July; Newton Aycliffe (A) – 28th July; Consett (A) – 4th August.
