Lancaster will feel a sense of relief when they begin new football season at Stalybridge Celtic this weekend

After almost six months of no competitive action, Lancaster City boss Mark Fell revealed his team are looking forward to a game which ‘actually means something’.
Lancaster's Christian Sloan (left) in action against Spennymoor TownLancaster's Christian Sloan (left) in action against Spennymoor Town
Lancaster's Christian Sloan (left) in action against Spennymoor Town

The Dolly Blues travel to Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday for the opening game of the new NPL Premier Division season.

After the Covid-19 pandemic brought a premature halt to the 2019-20 campaign and eventually caused it to be declared null and void, Fell admitted his men were itching for Saturday’s game.

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Although they have had plenty of pre-season friendlies, nothing can compare to that feeling of fighting for league points.

“We can’t wait for Saturday,” said Fell. “It’s felt like absolutely ages since we last played a competitive fixture.

“Pre-season has been good, it’s served its purpose but there is no replacement for playing a game which is worth something or means something.

“You can try to replicate competitive football as much as you can with friendlies but it just doesn’t do it.

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“I think the lads are itching to play a game where it means something. We went for a run on Tuesday night and afterwards, we said to the lads that’s your pre-season done

“They need that competitive game, but not just them, myself, the coaching staff, the supporters, the Board, everybody at the club – we will all take a big sigh of relief when the whistle blows on Saturday.”

The opening day of a season has been kind to Fell in the past.

In his time as a manager at both Nelson and Ramsbottom, he has yet to taste defeat in the first game of the season and hopes that continues this weekend.

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“In the six or seven seasons I have been a manager, I have never lost on the opening day of the season,”he said. “That’s becoming a horrible thing to keep saying because one day it’s going to catch me out

“Obviously we are planning on keeping my record going. I usually win the first league game and lose the second, but hopefully we can beat Stalybridge and follow it up by beating Basford a week Saturday.”