1874 NORTHWICH will play three friendlies away to higher-ranked opposition after confirming their pre-season schedule.

The club’s players are due to begin preparations for their latest campaign in the North West Counties League’s top-flight later this month, and have nine warm-up matches in the diary.

They are due to make their Premier Division bow on Saturday, August 4.

Before then they will have travelled to Leek Town and Mossley, and hosted Glossop North End – all of them foes from the Northern Premier League’s second tier.

A first friendly is pencilled in against neighbours Lostock Gralam at the end of June.

Dates with Alsager Town and Wythenshawe Town, newly-promoted to the North West Counties League from the Cheshire League, follow before a hop over the border to Wales to meet Llandudno.

Back-to-back games in mid Cheshire, against Knutsford and then Barnton, precede a first appearance at Leek’s Harrison Park home.

Provisional schedule (kick-off times to be confirmed)

Jun 30 Lostock Gralam (venue tbc)

Jul 07 Alsager Town (a)

Jul 10 Wythenshawe Town (a)

Jul 14 Llandudno (a)

Jul 17 Knutsford (a)

Jul 19 Barnton (a)

Jul 21 Leek Town (a)

Jul 24 Mossley (a)

Jul 28 Glossop North End (h) (at St Luke’s Barton Stadium)