It is one of only three home matches in the opening nine games for Jon Lyons’ side based on Heys still being in the ongoing process of installing their floodlights.

The visit of Widnes will act as an early benchmark for Heys. The visitors came 13th last season but have undergone a radical overhaul in the summer with a new board and management team in place, many of whom were involved in the promotion play off success of Barnton at this level last season.

Heys then have three successive away games that will bring them into contact with some familiar names and faces.

Bacup Borough (10th August) and Daisy Hill (13th August) were opponents for Heys in those early days of the North West Counties.

Bacup were beaten by Barnton in the playoff final last season and the game will see Heys come up against their former Reserve team manager and coach Andy Barlow who is now involved at Boro.

The short trip to Chadderton on 16th August will see Heys face another familiar face with the hosts managed by Mark Howard who was in charge of a Royton side that pushed Heys for the Manchester League Premier Division title last season.

Heys next two games bring them up against new opposition.

Silsden, visit Adie Moran Park on 20th August having been relegated from the Premier Division last season before the first of another batch of three away games sees a trip to a Stockport Town who were beaten in the play offs last season.

The visit to another of the League’s newcomers Sandbach United follows on 27th August. Whilst a different club the name will be familiar to older Heys fans from their Cheshire League days.

A Thursday night trip to St. Helens Town follows, a team Heys last faced in the FA Cup back in 1984.

Finally, a home game against Eccleshall rounds off the opening month on September 3rd.

The full list of fixtures is:

August
Sat 6 Widnes H 3:00
Wed 10 Bacup Borough A 7:45
Sat 13 Daisy Hill A 3:00
Tue 16 Chadderton A 7:45
Sat 20 Silsden H 3:00
Tue 23 Stockport Town A 7:45
Sat 27 Sandbach Utd A 3:00

September
Thu 1 St Helens A 7:45
Sat 3 Eccleshall H 15:00