WITH the new season still over a month away St Helens Town are now back in training in preparation for an assault upon the North West Counties league title which narrowly evaded them last term, despite hitting the top spot with five games to go. The coveted title brings elevation to the Unibond League and as a consequence the competition will be intense but the St Helens squad proved last year that they were only a spot of 'fine tuning' away from being the finished article.

As a consequence, boss Jimmy McBride and assistant Glen Walker have striven throughout the summer to complete the jig-saw culminating in the club's record signing in Mark Wilde from Burscough, who has been a top performer in the Unibond Premier league over the last two years but now finds personal circumstances affecting his availability due to the extensive travelling required in that league.

After a year settling in at their new home, Town mean serious business this term and the management team have set up three high-profile pre-season friendlies at Knowsley Road commencing on Thursday, July 19 with the visit of Nationwide Division One side Stockport County.

This is followed on Thursday, August 2 by a local derby when new boss Paul Jewell brings his Wigan Athletic side to St Helens for what should be a memorable occasion, given the rivalry between the two towns.

And the trio of games is completed by Town's first-ever international fixture when they take on the touring Japan Universities squad on Tuesday, August 14.

Town old boy and Manchester United legend Bill Foulkes is the catalyst for this fixture as his world wide coaching credentials have seen him working frequently in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Bill states that standards are now very high in Japan and no fewer than three of his previous charges are now performing in Italy's Seria A.

All three games promise to be a severe test for the St Helens part-timers but it should be an enjoyable experience which would be even better given some healthy local support.

All games kick off at 7.30pm, admission is £3 for adults, £1.50 concessions £1.50, Saints season ticket holders free.