WITH the new football season only a couple of weeks away Town continue their pre-season preparation with the visit of Runcorn to Hoghton Road on Saturday kick off 3pm.

Ashton United of the Northern Premier League come to St Helens on Thursday August 6 7.30pm as Town boss Jimmy McBride and assistant Glenn Walker ran the rule over several newcomers while toning up the exisiting squad which has returned with a resolve to top last term's fine effort.

Yet again Town have been given a home game to start the new North Western Trains League (formerly the North West Counties) and Rossendale United open the show at Hoghton Road on Saturday August 15.

While on the following Wednesday, old rivals Vauxhall GM provide more home opposition (kick off 7.30pm).

Back in the first division are Skelmersdale United and they provide Town's Christmas derby on Boxing Day at White Moss Park while two days later Prescot Cables visit Hoghton Road in another traditional Yuletide encounter.

In both the Littlewoods FA Cup and Carlsberg FA Vase, Town have managed to avoid any pre-lim rounds and go into the first qualifying round of the FA Cup with a visit from Brandon United of County Durham on Saturday, September 19, while in the FA Vase, Hull-based Hall Road Rovers is the venue for Town's opening tie on Saturday October 10.

Town are also drawn away in the North Western Trains League challenge cup and their involvement begins on Saturday October 24 when they travel to either Bacup Borough or Curzon Ashtons but it is in the league where St Helens hope to make a big impression and two new venues appear on this ter'ms itinerary namely Cheadle Town (newly promoted) and former football league outfit Workington.

Once again optimism is high with the valued sponsorship of ICF Lift Truck Services entering its second term. Fixtures till Christmas (subject to change due to cups)

August: 15 Rossendale United H; 19 Vauxhall GM H; 22 Holker OB H; 25 Newcastle Town A; 29 Ramsbottom United H; 31 Leek CSOB A.

September: 5 Vacant; 9 Maine Road H; 12 Vacant; 15 Kidsgrove A; 19 Brandon United H; 23 Bootle H; 26 Clitheroe H.

October: 3 Atherton Colls A; 10 Hall Road R A; Salford C A; 24 Curzon/Bacup A; Rossendale A.

November: 7 Atherton Colls H; 14 Mossley A; 21 TBA; 28 Workington A.

December: 5 Newcastle T H; 12 Vauxhall A; 19 Holker OB H; Boxing Day Skem; 28 Prescot Cables H.

Last weeks lottery numbers were 2 5 6 7 8 9. No winners. This week £1700 numbers 1-12.

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