EXCITEMENT and anticipation continues to grow as Kendal Town Football Club prepare for a blockbusting pre-season friendly against fellow Cumbrians Carlisle United on Wednesday night, with the game set for a 7.30pm kick off.

Carlisle United, who are already deep into their pre-season preparations, will be playing their first team in a game where a huge crowd is expected at Kendal’s Parkside Road Stadium.

League Two Carlisle were in clinical form during their last pre-season friendly.

The Brunton Park outfit travelled to Penrith on Tuesday and put eight past their Northern League opponents with no reply in front of 670 people at Frenchfield Park.

Debutants Tristan Abrahams and Zach Clough both scored, with the latter bagging himself a hattrick following his move from Bolton Wanderers.

United will now be looking to build on this momentum ahead of the league season as well as boosting their players' fitness levels at Kendal next week.

The game not only provides Kendal with strong opposition, but will also help the club financially bring in some revenue following on from the difficulties all clubs have experienced over the past 18 months due to Covid 19.

Kendal Town will also be having a raffle and bucket collection on the night in aid of motor neurone disease (MND) after the Club were given the terrible news that former Kendal and Carlisle United player George Melling was diagnosed with the condition.

Chris Beech's Carlisle United will help raise funds for the night and have donated a signed shirt as part of the club's raffle.

Kendal Town are keen for everyone to support the cause by purchasing some raffle tickets on the night and adding to the bucket collection.

On the pitch, Kendal have made a mixed start to pre-season.

Last Saturday, they travelled to play Garstang and ended up losing 4-2.

While on Tuesday night Kendal played Slyne with Hest, and have also faced Cleator Moor Celtic.

Kendal Town player-manager Chris Humphrey has been busy this summer recruiting players and improving the training regime for the squad while a number of the squad from last season have moved on to bigger clubs.

The Mintcakes are keen to continue their philosophy of bringing in good, young players as they hope for a Covid-free 2021-22 season.

Kendal, away from the excitement of playing Carlisle United, have been given two difficult games in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy competitions.

The Mintcakes face a difficult away game to the winners of Glossop North End or Widnes in the FA Cup Preliminary Round.

While in the FA Trophy Kendal have a home game against either Pontefract Colleries or Yorkshire Amateurs.

And the FA Cup game will be played on Saturday 21 August with the FA Trophy game taking place on Saturday 9th October.

Admission for Wednesday's Carlisle United game is £6 for Adults, 65+ £3, Under 16’s £1, and Under 5s (accompanied with a parent) free.