BACK TO BUSINESS FOR BURSCOUGH FC- FIXTURE RELEASE
The wait is over. The North West Counties League Premier Division fixture list has landed, and the Green Army finally know exactly what the road ahead looks like.
There’s a new feel about the Community Stadium this summer. Phil Stafford arrives as first team manager with assistant James McShane alongside him, fresh from a spell at AFC Liverpool that ended with silverware. New voices, new standards, new season. And now, a calendar to attack.
It starts at home
Saturday 1st August. Prestwich Heys. The Community Stadium.
You couldn’t ask for much better. The Stafford era begins in front of our own supporters, and if you’re planning your season around one date, make it this one. Get down early, get behind the lads, and let the new management team see exactly what this club is about from minute one.
There’s no gentle easing in either. Three days later we’re on the road to FC St Helens on Tuesday 4th August, and then the FA Cup arrives on Saturday 8th August with Droylsden at home — followed by the same opposition in the league seven days later on the 15th. Two ties against Droylsden inside a week is a proper early test of squad depth, and a chance to make a statement in the country’s biggest cup competition.
Add Litherland Remyca at home on Tuesday 18th August and a trip to Barnoldswick on the 29th, and August alone gives us six fixtures. Momentum will be built or lost quickly.
The dates to circle
Saturday 31st October — AFC Liverpool (H)
The one everybody spotted the second the list dropped. Phil and James face their former club at the Community Stadium, and the reverse trip comes on Saturday 13th March. Two fixtures with a bit of extra edge, and a full house is the least they deserve.
Saturday 26th December — South Liverpool (H)
Boxing Day football at the Community Stadium. Family, fresh air, and a full ground. If you only bring the kids down once all season, this is the one. The return is Easter-time, Monday 29th March, away.
Saturday 2nd January — Prestwich Heys (A)
We open the season against them and start the new year against them. A neat bit of symmetry, and a decent marker of how far we’ve come in five months.
Saturday 17th April — Nelson (A)
The final day. Where the Linnets sit when that whistle goes is the whole story of the campaign — and how much noise we make in the away end could go a long way to deciding it.
The shape of the season
Autumn is where seasons are quietly won. October brings Glossop North End and Abbey Hey at home, with trips to Longridge Town and the AFC Liverpool clash to close the month. November hands us Atherton LR and Nelson at the Community Stadium and asks us to travel well to Litherland Remyca and Glossop.
February looks like the pivot point. Ramsbottom United, Irlam and Charnock Richard all come to us, with only the trip to Euxton Villa in between. Four fixtures, three at home, in the month where points start to feel like they matter double.
Then March is the grind — Chadderton away, AFC Liverpool away, Barnoldswick Town at home, FC St Helens at home, South Liverpool away. Five games, and by the end of it we’ll know exactly what this squad is made of.
Be there
Fixture release day is the day the season stops being an idea and starts being real. New management, a rebuilt squad and 40-odd games to find out what we’re capable of.
Get the dates in the diary. Get the away days planned. Get behind the team.
Up the Linnets. 🟢⚪
All fixtures subject to change — always check the club’s channels before travelling. Full fixture list, ticket info and travel details at burscoughfc.com.