Pontefract Collieries have announced the details of forthcoming pre-season friendly games.
The schedule represents a demanding 7 games in 14 days for the squad as they prepare for the forthcoming Baris Northern Counties East League season. With the league season starting on 4th August and the FA Cup starting the following week for the team, the games represent an opportunity for the squad to hit the ground running at the start of the competitive season.
The club have also arranged games at home, which reflects the team’s need to improve their home form for the coming campaign, having excelled away from The White Rose Stadium during the 2011-12 season. With work currently taking place to improve the playing surface at Beechnut Lane, the team will be more than familiar with their home surface by the time the season commences.
With first-team training commencing on 23rd June, the pre-season will be intense and concentrated.
The fixtures are:
Saturday 14th July Marsden (home) 3:00pm kick off
Ponte are repaying Marsden’s hospitality from 2011, when the team kicked off their pre-season programme with a trip to the West Riding Premier Division team; The Colls winning 2-1 on that occasion.
Tuesday 17th July Brighouse Town (home) 7:30pm kick off
Brighouse Town have flourished since their promotion to the Baris NCEL Premier Division two seasons ago, coming fourth in the last campaign. The game will represent a tough early test for The Colls.
Thursday 19th July Campion FC (home) 7:30pm kick off
The Bradford side also play in the West Riding Premier League (effectively, the division below Ponte).
Saturday 21st July Silsden (home) 3:00pm kick off
Despite living in West Yorkshire, the Keighley side play in the North West Counties Premier Division, and will represent another stern test for Brendon Ormsby’s squad.
Tuesday 24th July Ossett Town (home) 7:30pm kick off
The EvoStik Northern Premier League team will provide quality opposition for the team, with Craig Elliott having recently been appointed as manager, taking fellow former Ponte favourites Darren Smith and Carl Fothergill with him.
Thursday 26th July Wakefield (home) 7:30pm kick off
As Ossett, Wakefield also play in the EvoStik Northern Premier League, and will offer The Colls another tough test.
Saturday 28th July Kinsley Boys (home) 3:00pm kick off
The Kinsley team currently play in the Central Midlands League, although they are hoping to be promoted to the Baris NCEL First Division for the coming campaign. The team is managed by former Colls midfielder Mark Lafferty, who is aided by striker Craig Rouse as his assistant.