Despite the fact the players have been following a strict training programme since the end of last season, tonight will see the squad return as one group to prepare for what lies ahead.

The season will start on Saturday 3rd August at 3 pm when Darlaston will play in the Extra Preliminary Round, of the Emirates FA Cup their opponents are likely to be known during Friday 5th July when the draws for the first two rounds of this season competition will be published.

Darlaston’s first Northern Premier League Midlands Division fixture will be on Saturday 10th August.

But before the start of the season is a programme of pre-season friendlies that start on Saturday 6th July with a what is becoming an opening fixture of pre-season a trip to Wombourne Allstars, kick off 3 pm.

A week of hard training follows the first game, the second Saturday of pre-season will see something very different, a four-team tournament at the Paycare Stadium starting at 12 noon Darlaston will welcome Studley, Tividale and Tipton Town for a full afternoon of football ending with a final around 4.30 pm. All teams will play at least three 11 a side games of 30 minutes in total.

A second week of hard work follows before the lads have an intense period of games.
First, we welcome a Solihull Moors XI to the Paycare Stadium on Saturday 20th June kick off 3 pm, followed by a trip to Castle Vale Stadium the new home of Paget Rangers on Monday 22nd July kick off 7.45 pm.

Just 24 hours later it’s a big local derby against Bilston Town at the Paycare Stadium kick off 7.45 pm, and the pre-season programme ends with the visit of newly promoted Redditch Borough.

The club’s website has been updated to show the fixtures and the full list is.

Saturday 6th July - Wombourne Allstars - Away - 3pm kick off.
Saturday 13th July - Tournament – Studley, Tividale, Tipton Town – 12 noon start
Saturday 20th July - Solihull Moors XI - Home - 3pm kick off.
Monday 22nd July - Paget Rangers - Away – 7.45pm kick off.
Tuesday 23rd July - Bilston Town - Home – 7.45pm kick off.
Saturday 27th July - Redditch Borough- Home – 3pm kick off.

Manager Dean Gill said earlier this morning “In all honesty I was a little behind the curve in arranging pre-season friendlies due to involvement in the playoffs and not wanting to prepare for either step 5 or 4 and as a consequence have did neither until our position was known.

That said I’m very happy with the balance of games & training now it’s all sorted and planned, I’m grateful to all the managers who have agreed to play us and I look forward to getting back at it very soon.

Lads came back on Saturday in excellent condition, very impressed and reassuring that the boys as usual take their conditioning serious.

Please come and support where you can”