Golcar play in the North East Counties Premier Division, where they finished 10th in the season just ended. The Yorkshire side were members of the North West Counties League and their first ever game in the competition saw them beat Heys 2-1 on 3rd August 2019, Will Shawcross scoring Heys goal.

The first home friendly sees Atherton Collieries make their now annual visit to Adie Moran Park on Saturday 4th July, (3pm) Last season saw the sides also meet in the FA Cup with Colls, who finished 13th in the NPL Division West, securing a 2-0 home win in the Preliminary Round.

There will be some familiar faces returning to Heys on Tuesday 7th July as New Mills provide the opposition (7.45pm). The Millers, who reached the Division One South play off semi-finals, are managed by the Baguley brothers and their squad includes several former Heys players too.

Heys hit the road again on Saturday 11th July (3pm) when they head into North Yorkshire to play Northallerton Town (3pm). Our hosts play in the EBAC Northern League Division One where they finished bottom last season.

It’s back home on Tuesday 14th July (3pm) to welcome familiar opponents in Stockport Georgians. The sides met many times in the Manchester League and in more recent times Georgians knocked Heys out of the NW Counties League Macron Cup in 2022-23 season. The sides could be League rivals next season too, with Georgians having just gained promotion from Division One South via the play-offs.

Saturday 18th July sees Heys host Northern Premier League Hyde United (3pm). Hyde are managed by former Atherton Collieries Manager Michael Clegg who oversaw a Heys like escape from relegation after taking over in late January, with his side eventually finishing five points clear of the drop zone.

For their penultimate friendly Heys will make the short trip to Flixton on Tuesday 21st July. (7.30pm). Flixton were an established part of the Non League scene, reaching the Northern Premier League before folding. However, they were bought in 2025 by US financier Christopher Garcia and have been slowly building on and off the field, playing regular friendly matches in the last twelve months. They are managed by former Heys Coach Alex Mortimer and Rhodri Giggs and have applied for admission into the National League system at step six for the coming season.

Heys final friendly takes them into North Wales to play Holywell Town on Saturday 25th July (2pm). Holywell finished third in the JD Cymru North, a feeder for the Cymru Premier League.

More details around each game will be confirmed nearer the time and as always with pre-season games, dates/ kick offs can change due to circumstances around the clubs and their other commitments.

The NW Counties League season starts on Saturday 1st August. The constitution of the divisions is expected in the next two to three weeks.