For the first time in the club’s long history a Darlaston Town manager is preparing a Darlaston team to play at Step 5 or equivalent in days gone by of the National League System following promotion from the Midland Football League Division One.

Dean and his team have arranged seven games in July, split into three away in midweek and the first team are at the Paycare Stadium for the last four Saturdays as they prepare for the season’s start on 6th August.

Darlaston welcome Step 4 team Sporting Khalsa for a local derby on Saturday 9th July. Manager Ian Rowe has been adding strength and depth to his squad as Rowey will be looking to secure promotion into the next tier after finishing eighth last season, three places out of the play-offs.

The following Tuesday 12th July Dean Gill takes his squad to West Midlands Reginal League Division Two Champions Warstones Wanderers who have been promoted in Division One and will have strengthened last seasons successful squad

Darlaston welcome fellow Midland Football League Premier Division side Tividale to the Paycare Stadium on Saturday 16th July for what appears to beomming an annual fixture.

The following Tuesday 19th July Darlaston will travel a very small distance to play a local derby against FC Darlaston at their new home at the Rec after they have secured a long lease on the facility.

The following Saturday23rd July Dean Gill’s squad will face Boldmere St. Michaels at the Paycare Stadium who are also newly promoted. They will play next season in Step 4 after finishing runners-up in the MFL Premier Division and secured promotion in a one-off play-off game against Chalfont St. Peter who they beat convincingly 4-0. Neil Kitching will have been recruiting hard through the summer and will no doubt bring a very strong squad to this fixture

The following Tuesday 26th July a long trip to reacquaint ourselves with last season’s promotion rivals Ashby Ivanhoe who were beaten by Stapenhill in the play-off semi-final. Andy Gray and his team will as always provide stiff opposition, they are sure to have strengthen as they will want to go one better than last season.

Final game of pre-season is on 30th July back at the Paycare Stadium when we will welcome our friends from Chasetown. Mark Swann is bound to bring a really strong side for the fixture that will hopefully contain some very familiar faces. Swanny will want to go one better than last season after losing out in the promotion play-off final to Belper United 1-0 after beating Halesowen Town in the semi final