CHORLEY, who are aiming to return to the UniBond League premier division after three seasons in the first division, will meet Premier league side Marine at Victory Park in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, July 28.

It will be an intriguing test for Ken Wright's Magpies against a Marine side that is managed by Roly Howard, who is entering his 30th season in charge at College Road.

Jim Harvey, who steered Nationwide Conference side Morecambe to FA Cup glory and a clash with Premiership club Ipswich Town last season, will bring his Shrimpers to Victory Park on Thursday, August 2.

Chorley open their league campaign with a home match against North Ferriby United on Saturday, August 18.

Last season the Magpies completed the double over North Ferriby, winning 3-2 at Victory Park in December, and 3-0 away in January.

Wright's boys have a plum home fixture on Boxing Day taking on Trafford, who they knocked out of the FA Cup in the first qualifying round with a 3-2 win at Victory Park last September.

Chorley go to North Ferriby on Easter Saturday and on Easter Monday take on Gretna. The league season is scheduled to end on May 3, when new boys Ossett Albion, from the Northern Counties East League, are the visitors to Victory Park.

In the FA Cup the Magpies have been drawn away in the preliminary round at Northallerton on September 1.

As last season, when Chorley beat Ossett Town 1-0 away in the preliminary round, a home tie awaits the winners.

Wright's boys have the incentive of a home tie in the first qualifying round on September 15 against either Marske or Abbey Hey or Flixton or Maine Road. The winners will be at home to Marine in the second qualifying round on September 29.

Chorley have a home draw in the Umbro FA Trophy first round -- against First Division rivals Farsley Celtic.

A trip to Belper or Runcorn in the second round on December 1 awaits the winners. Chorley have been drawn in Group Four of the League Cup competitions, along with Accrington Stanley, Burscough, Marine, Radcliffe and Rossendale, who were promoted from the North West Counties League at the end of last season.