A NEW ground, new colours and a host of proven new players is St Helens Towns' scenario as they open the new season with at Maine Road on Saturday.

Kick-off at the Manchester County FA headquarters is 3pm.

Following this, Town's historic first ever league game at Knowsley Road is a mouth watering local derby against Skelmersdale United on Wednesday August 23, kick off 7.45pm.

Admission, as per all league games at Knowsley Road, £3 adults, £1.50 concessions. There has already been an amendment to Town's previously published fixtures namely the August Bank Holiday Monday meeting with Flixton.

This was originally scheduled for Knowsley Road but has been switched to Manchester with the kick-off remaining the same, 3pm.

Red and White stripes with blue trim will be Towns new attire in keeping with the ambience at Knowsley Road and the embryonic Linkway Stadium but the traditional blue will be retained as a change away strip.

As part of the newly formed Sporting Club St Helens, Town will be looking to seize the great opportunity they have been given with both hands and priority one is to gain promotion into the Northern Premier (Unibond) League.

Town chairman Jim Barrett commented: "With facilities not matched by anyone on the non-league circuit Town can concentrate purely on building a team to go places and with a host of new supporters to back the effort, the realisation of a dream could one day materialise.

"That dream, that of the founding fathers, was of a football league club for St Helens as ours is the biggest town in the country which does not possess one.

"The new association with the Saints has dovetailed splendidly and with everyone now fighting out of the same corner it is in everyone's interest that all members of the partnership do well and Town will certainly be trying their hardest to improve their profile and in doing so, bring honour and prestige to the town." With this in mind, Town's long-serving manager Jimmy McBride has assembled a powerful squad and a fine pre-season saw them win all but one of their six outings culminating in an outstanding display at Burscough last week when the Unibond Premier hosts were outplayed and only a late consolation provided any solace as by then Town were three up and could conceivably have doubled that.

Star of the show was Town's new skipper Alan Johnson who as recently as last April was playing in the football league for Rochdale but is probably better known locally for his days at Wigan Athletic.

He also served Lincoln City in a professional career which totalled over 500 football league appearances.

Another new arrival with Wigan Athletic on his CV is wide man Terry Fearnes whilst two more arrivals both made the Central League sides at Everton and Liverpool. Ged Hinnegan served the blues while Terry Nestor played alongside the emerging Fowler and McManaman at Anfield. Lee Cooper returns to the fold to lead the attack after travelling the Vauxhall Conference and Unibond circuit and with former League of Wales and ex-Bangor City skipper Chris Waring on board, Town look capable of big things.