ST HELENS Town open their fixtures in the Hallmark Security First Division North on Saturday, 4 August with a local derby away to new boys Lower Breck in what will be a testing start as they look to gain promotion back into the NW Counties Premier Division, following relegation four years ago.

Unlike recent seasons, the squad is virtually intact from last campaign and the young side has looked impressive at times in the pre-season programme under manager Lee Jenkinson.

The main differences this season is that there are 60 clubs in the NW Counties, an increase of 15 from twelve months ago, which has necessitated a split at First Division level into North and South Divisions.

St. Helens Town are geographically the most southerly-based of all the sides in the North and seven new clubs have joined from feeder leagues below and one – Ashton Town, who were relegated two seasons ago – have re-joined following a season in the Cheshire League. Two of the new sides, Avro and Steeton, will ground-share with Rugby League clubs, Oldham and Keighley respectively, whilst Lower Breck from Liverpool play on an artificial surface like Town. Cleator Moor Celtic are based in Cumbria, Garstang and Longridge Town hail from Lancashire and Shelley Community are from Huddersfield. Clubs will play 38 games instead of 42 so, hopefully, there will be less pressure on grounds should the weather prove troublesome again.

As in previous years, with such a large influx of new clubs, together with two clubs – AFC Darwen and AFC Liverpool – dropping down from the Premier League, it is almost impossible to see who will be challenging for promotion. Added to that, Prestwich Heys only just missed out on promotion last season, so they will be an obvious threat. It promises to be an absorbing season.

ST. HELENS TOWN FIXTURES 2018/19

Home fixtures in CAPS. Saturdays kick off at 3pm, midweek at 7.45pm unless stated otherwise.

Aug. 4 Lower Breck

Aug. 9 Thu. ATHERTON L.R.

Aug. 11 Bacup Borough

Aug. 18 AFC DARWEN

Aug. 21 Tue. AFC Blackpool

Aug. 25 CLEATOR MOOR CELTIC

Aug. 27 Mon. Chadderton (3pm)

Sep. 1 Ashton Town (FA Vase 1st Rd. Qual.)

Sep. 8 AFC Liverpool

Sep. 15 *Barton Town or AFC Liverpool (FA Vase 2nd Rd. Qual.)

Sep. 22 HOLKER OLD BOYS

Sep. 29 STEETON

Oct. 4 Thu. AFC LIVERPOOL

Oct. 6 Cheadle Heath Nomads (First Division Cup 2nd Rd.)

Oct. 9 Tue. Prestwich Heys

Oct. 13 DAISY HILL

Oct. 20 CHEADLE TOWN (Macron Cup 1st Rd.)

Oct. 27 Longridge Town

Nov. 1 Thu. PRESTWICH HEYS

Nov. 3 Avro

Nov. 10 *BOOTLE or VAUXHALL MOTORS (Macron Cup 2nd Rd.)

Nov. 17 CARLISLE CITY

Nov. 24 NELSON

Dec. 1 SHELLEY COMMUNITY

Dec. 8 Atherton L.R.

Dec. 15 BACUP BOROUGH

Dec. 22 AFC Darwen

Dec. 26 Wed. Ashton Town (3pm)

Dec. 29 CHADDERTON

Jan. 5 Cleator Moor Celtic

Jan. 12

Jan. 19 AVRO

Jan. 26 LOWER BRECK

Feb. 2 Shelley Community

Feb. 9

Feb. 16 Steeton

Feb. 23 Holker Old Boys

Mar. 2

Mar. 9 AFC BLACKPOOL (7.45pm)

Mar. 16 LONGRIDGE TOWN

Mar. 23 Daisy Hill

Mar. 30 GARSTANG

Apr. 6

Apr. 13 Garstang

Apr. 20 Carlisle City

Apr. 22 Mon. ASHTON TOWN (3pm)

Apr 27 Nelson