Gainsborough Trinity kick-started their pre-season campaign on Saturday as they look ahead to another season challenging for promotion from the Northern Premier League.
The 2026-27 season marks Russ Wilcox’s fourth in charge with the Holy Blues, as the former Hull City and Doncaster Rovers centre-back enters the final year of his contract.
Trinity have already made a handful of signings ahead of the new term, bringing in the likes of former Lincoln City midfielder Elliott Whitehouse, as well as Connor Brown and Callum Hawkins.
But how will they settle in at the Northolme? Trinity’s pre-season schedule will give us a good idea, as we take a look at who Wilcox’s men will be facing before the opening day of the new campaign.
Lincoln United (A): 7:45pm, July 14 – Lincolnshire FA Senior County Cup
Gainsborough’s first test in pre-season was against manager Wilcox’s former side Frickley Atheltic, with the Holy Blues beating the West Yorkshire outfit 4-0 courtesy of goals from Lewis Butroid, Javelle Clarke, Connor Brown and Jack Watson.
Next up, is their first competitive game of the season – that being a contest with step four side Lincoln United in the Preliminary Round of the Lincolnshire Senior Cup.
On the line is a first round draw away to Grimsby Borough, however the task won’t be easy for Trinity as newly appointed Dave Frecklington has already won his first two pre-season games with the Whites.
Frecklington took the interim job at Ashby Avenue on New Year’s Day last campaign, steadying the ship at the relegation-threatened club and steering them to a comfortable mid-table finish in the Northern Premier League East Division.
Since then, United have made eight new signings in preparation for the new season, although they did lose star striker Brown to Gainsborough, who will face his former teammates in the tie.
Basford United (A): 1pm, July 18
Exactly a week later after their first friendly, Gainsborough will lock horns with Northern Premier League, Midlands Division side Basford United.
The Holy Blues will take to the road again for their second pre-season fixture, with the match scheduled to take place at the Greenwich Avenue stadium in Nottinghamshire.
Willis Francis’ side just finished off a campaign that saw them finish third in the league on 69 points, having lost just three games all season.
Unfortunately for them, they were defeated by Belper Town on penalties in the play-offs after drawing 2-2 across the full 90 minutes, tarnishing their promotion dreams.
FC Halifax Town (H): 7:45pm, July 21
A quick turnover will then see Wilcox’s men play their first home game of pre-season just three days later as they welcome Halifax Town.
The Shaymen will be big favourites for the friendly, as the West Yorkshire outfit currently play their football in the National League, two steps above Trinity.
They secured an eighth-place finish last term which was just one spot outside the play-off places, however there was a substantial 11-point gap between them and seventh-placed Forest Green Rovers.
It’s a big gap to make up, but newly appointed manager John McGrath will be looking to work his magic and do enough to secure a top seven finish. He replaced Adam Lakeland who departed The Shay to manage Morecambe.
Doncaster Rovers (H): 4pm, July 25
The Holy Blues highest profile pre-season opponent will be SkyBet League One side Doncaster Rovers.
Donny experienced their first campaign back in England’s third division since 2022 last season after winning SkyBet League Two on 84 points in 2024/25.
Upon returning to League One, Grant McCann led his side to a comfortable 14th place finish, on an impressive 60 points – which ultimately worked out to be 11 clear of Exeter who occupied the final position in the drop zone.
And to help consolidate their position in the third tier of English football, they have already recruited eight new signings.
Stocksbridge Park Steels (A): 7:45pm, July 28
For their penultimate pre-season fixture, Trinity will lock horns with Stocksbridge Park Steels on Tuesday, July 28 at the Bracken Moor stadium.
The South Yorkshire side formerly played in the same division as Gainsborough, until they finished rock bottom of the Northern Premier League on 36 points last term.
When the two sides last met the game ended in a 1-1 draw, with a late Alex O’Connor strike cancelling out Sisa Tuntulwana’s opener. However, with Trinity now playing in a division higher – they will be expected to win the friendly.
Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C (H): 3pm, August 1
Gainsborough will finish their pre-season on the opening day of August, returning to the KAL Group Stadium to face Bradford Park Avenue.
The Bradford-based club currently compete in the Northern Premier League East Division, acting as another opposition Trinity will be favourites to beat them in order to build confidence for the upcoming season.
Craig Elliot’s side will once again be searching for promotion from step four, as they come off the back of a fifth place finish last season where they only just missed out due to a play-off final defeat against Emley AFC.