FOOTBALL League side Carlisle United will be visiting Parkside in an attractive pre-season friendly.

Kendal Town manager Peter Smith says the Third Division side have agreed to an evening match on Tuesday, August 5.

Smith is still in the process of finalising several other pre-season games, several with North West Counties League sides, in order give some of his triallists a run-out.

He says, however, that he expects to stick largely to the squad that took Town to their best-ever UniBond League First Division finish last season, but expects to strengthen it with two or three judicious signings.

Defender Mike McKechnie has left the club as he was not securing a regular first team place, but Dave Burrows, club captain for five years, has told Smith he would like to return to the club aftertaking a year out.

League action starts on Saturday, August 16 with a sense of deja-vu, as Stockbridge Park Steels are the opening day visitors to Parkside for the third year in succession.

“Two years ago we drew 1-1, last year they beat us 1-0, but this year were are hopeful it will be our turn,” said Smith.

The following Wednesday Town travel to Bishop Auckland, another tough fixture, but Smith said: “At this level they are all hard, but if we are fit and ready we can beat anyone.” Mid-season Smith says he is looking forward to a repeat of last season’s home clash with Cumbrian rivals Workington, which promises to be a good Boxing Day crowd-puller.

Newcomers to Parkside this season are: Gateshead (September 9), Hyde (November 15), and Colwyn Bay (April 17) all relegated from the Premier Division, and Prescott Cables (October 7) and Bridlington Town (March 27) who have been promoted from the feeder leagues.

UniBond League First Division fixtures: Sat Aug 16: Stocksbridge PS (h)

Wed Aug 20: Bishop Auckland (a)

Sat Aug 23: Ossett Town (a)

Mon Aug 25: Kidsgrove Ath (h)

Sat Aug 30: Witton Albion (h)

Sat Sept 6: Lincoln Utd (a)

Tue Sept 9: Gateshead (h)

Tue Sept 16: Rossendale Utd (h)

Sat Sept 20: Belper Town (h)

Wed Sept 24: Gateshead (a)

Tue Sept 30: Bamber Bridge (h)

Tue Oct 7: Prescott Cables (h)

Sat Oct 11: Hyde Utd (a)

Mon Oct 13: Witton Albion (a)

Sat Oct 18: Leek Town (a)

Sat Oct 25: Matlock Town (h)

Tue Oct 28: Chorley (a)

Sat Nov 8: Colwyn Bay (a)

Sat Nov 15: Hyde Utd (h)

Sat Nov 22: Lincoln Utd (h)

Sat Dec 6: Lincoln Utd (h)

Sat Dec 13: Farsley Celtic (a)

Fri Dec 26: Workington (h)

Sat Jan 3: Bamber Bridge (a)

Sat Jan 10: North Ferriby Utd (a)

Sat Jan 17: Ossett Town (h)

Sat Jan 24: Guiseley (a)

Sat Jan 31: Rossendale Utd (a)

Sat Feb 7: Bishop Auckland (h)

Sat Feb 14: Stocksbridge PS (a)

Sat Feb 21: Leek Town (h)

Sat Feb 28: Farsley Celtic (h)

Sat Mar 6:Prescott Cables (a)

Sat Mar 13: North Ferriby Utd (a)

Sat Mar 20: Kidsgrove Athletic (a)

Sat Mar 27: Bridlington Town (h)

Sat Apr 3: Chorley (h)

Sat Apr 10: Guiseley (h)

Mon Apr 12: Workington (a)

Sat Apr 17: Colwyn Bay (h)

Sat Apr 24: Matlock Town (a)

n KIRKBY Lonsdale Rangers and Esthwaite Vale will be missing when the teams line up for the start of the Westmorland League season.

Rangers have decamped to joint their senior side in the North Lancashire League while Vale, who were unable to complete their matches last season as they could not raise a team have been unable to secure more players during the close season.

Newcomers are Carlisle-based Northbank Reserves, Kendal Celtic Reserves and Victoria SC Reserves.

The league is also concerned about the shortage of referees as 34 games had to be played without appointed officials last season, compared to 27 the previous season.

The reliance on referees from the surrounding districts meant that clubs had to contribute more into the referees expenses pool than previous previously.

With several experienced referees also looking towards retirement the league is urging clubs to encourage some of their members players who have reached the end of their careers to take the Westmorland FA referees’ course.

The team line-up for the season, which starts on August 30, is: Division One (14 teams): Ambleside, Appleby, Carleton Rovers, Coniston, Kendal County, Kendal Town Reserves, Keswick, Lunesdale United, Penrith Reserves, Sedbergh Wanderers, Staveley United, Victoria SC, Wetheriggs United, Windermere SC.

Division Two (13 teams): Burneside, Carvetii United, Dent, Endmoor KGR, Greystoke, Ibis, Kendal County Reserves, Keswick Reserves, Kiroswald, Penrith Rangers, Shap United, Ullswater United, Wetheriggs United Reserves.

Division Three (13 teams): Appleby Reserves, Ambleside Reserves, Braithwaite, Burneside Reserves, Carleton Rovers Reserves, Carvetii United Reserves, Coniston Reserves, Grasmere, Greystoke Reserves, Kendal Celtic, Penrith Rangers Reserves, Wetheriggs United A, Windermere SC Reserves.

Division Four (11 teams): Dent Reserves, Endmoor KGR Reserves, Ibis Reserves, Kendal Celtic Reserves, Lunesdale United Reserves, Northbank Reserves, Penrith Academy, Sedbergh Wanderers Reserves, Staveley United Reserves, Victoria SC Reserves, Windermere SC A.

n FOUR new teams and three more reserve sides have boosted numbers for the new season of the North Lancashire and District League. AXA/RAC Insurance FC, Bare Rovers, Cumberland Hoops FC and Fylde FC are the new boys along with Kirkby Lonsdale Rangers Reserves, Highgrove Reserves and Squires Reserves.

A request by Power Station Reserves to join the league failed. The season starts on August 20.