It’s another season in the Northern Premier League for Russ Wilcox’s Gainsborough side as they look to leap forward into the play-off places after missing out by just five points last term.
The Holy Blues have played three of their pre-season friendlies so far this summer, most recently drawing with League Two outfit Grimsby Town with Sisa Tuntulwana scoring Gainsborough’s only goal in a 1-1 draw.
Wilcox’s side have also come away 3-1 victors against Bottesford at the Barrett Steel Stadium as well as beating Club Thorne Collieries 1-0, going undefeated in pre-season so far.
Opening Month:
Gainsborough begin the season at the KAL Group Stadium as they host Ashton United on August 9, a side who will likely be fighting for promotion after finishing in the play-off places last season.
Their opening game is then followed up by two away matches – the first will be a visit to Ilkeson Town, another team who finished above the Holy Blues last season as they finished sixth place, then a trip to Cheshire based side Warrington Rylands.
Two games at the KAL Group stadium in the same week follow for the Holy Blues as they host Stockton Town on the Tuesday and Lancaster City on the Saturday of the week commencing Monday 18 August.
Wilcox’s men round off the month with a trip to newly promoted Lincolnshire side Cleethorpes Town before playing in the first round of the FA Cup qualifying stage on the 30th.
Promotion Candidates:
Just four sides still in the division finished above Gainsborough last season and they face three of these teams in their opening month of the campaign, hosting Ashton United on opening day then visiting Ilkeston Town and Stockton Town within the first four games of the season.
Guiseley finished fourth last season and will also fancy their chances in earning promotion – Gainsborough will first face them away from home on boxing day then host them at the KAL Group Stadium on 6 April.
Warrington Town and Rushall Olympic were both relegated from the National League North last season and will be hoping to rebound straight back up into the fifth tier of the English Football pyramid.
Gainsborough host Warrington Town on 2 September and Rushall Olympic on 8 November before playing the reverse fixtures against Warrington on 6 December and travelling to face Rushall at Dales Lane on 21 March.
The Final Stretch:
Gainsborough’s season finishes in April where they play two games against potential promotion rivals Stockton Town at home and Guiseley away within the first week of the month.
It then gets slightly easier for the Holy Blues as they travel to play Lancaster City who narrowly stayed up in the division last season and host Prescot Cables who finished tenth last term.
Gainsborough conclude the season on 25 April, facing Hyde United who they took four points from last campaign.