It’s a tough start for Heys who after narrowly missing out on the play offs last season, will be looking to surpass last season’s feat of finishing seventh, with their highest ever points haul at step five of 83 points. Burscough themselves were in the hunt for a play-off place for much of the campaign before finishing tenth but took four points off Heys last season with a 2-0 early season win at Adie Moran Park before the points were shared in a 1-1 draw in the return fixture. Heys have only ever won once in six NW Counties league visits to Burscough.

Heys first home fixture sees Barnoldswick Town visit Adie Moran Park on Tuesday 4th August. Meetings between the teams over the years have tended to favour the away side, with Barlick, who came nineteenth last season, having won on four of their five visits to Heys, who have an identical record in their trips to the Silentnight Stadium.

With the FA Cup trip to Handsworth on Saturday 8th August, Heys next league game is on Saturday 15th August when they make the short trip across Manchester to face Abbey Hey. A late season rally saw the Gorton side avoid relegation last season, finishing fourth bottom. In their League meetings Abbey Hey won the game at Goredale Avenue 2-1. However, Heys were emphatic winners on home turf, winning 6-0, in a replayed game after the original was abandoned due to torrential rain.

Heys are back at home on Tuesday 18th August to host Glossop North End. Glossop, who came 14th last season, have won on their last two visits to Prestwich but Heys did triumph in Derbyshire last season. The game will see Heys new signing Abdul Djalo come face to face with his former teammates.

There are no games scheduled for Saturday 22nd August at present as that is an FA Cup date, but that could change depending on results. The next league fixture, as is stands, is on Saturday 29th August when Charnock Richard are the visitors to Adie Moran Park. The clubs have served up some epic encounters over the years with Charnock having enjoyed the better of things, with Heys having won only four of their fifteen meetings. However, they took four points off Charnock last year with a 2-1 away win and a point from a 3-3 home draw in arguably one of the matches of the season.

September opens with another tough assignment with a trip to Ramsbottom United on Tuesday 1st. The Rams have been in the promotion mix for the last three seasons but missed out in the play offs. They beat Heys three times inside a month last season in League and Cup so Heys will be looking to reverse that trend.

It all adds up to a tough start for Ryan Hutchinson’s side who will be looking to kick on from where they left off last season, in winning twelve of their last fourteen games, and push into those promotion slots.

*The remaining fixtures will be announced towards the end of July after step ¾ Leagues have confirmed theirs.