Heys have confirmed their pre-season fixtures ahead of the 2024/25 season.

The new management team of Russell Saunders and Matty Russell will oversee their first match at the helm on Tuesday, July 2 with an away fixture at Stockport Georgians. The NW Counties League Division South side and Heys are no strangers, having met many times over the years, in the Manchester League, whilst Georgians knocked Heys out of the Macron Cup two seasons ago. The match is set to be played at St. Aquinas College, kick off to be confirmed.

Heys lift the curtain at Adie Moran Park on Saturday, July 6 (3pm) with the visit of Premier Division rivals Glossop North End. Whilst they will meet in the League this season, the match also brings an early reunion for Russ and Matty with one of their former clubs, where they featured in the same side.

Atherton Collieries provide the opposition on Tuesday, July 9, (7.45pm). It’s the second season running that Colls have visited Adie Moran Park with Colls, who will compete in NPL Division One West next season, winning 4-0 last year.

Droylsden visit Prestwich on Saturday, July 13 (3pm). “The Bloods” returned to action after a four-year hiatus last season, reaching the NW Counties Division One South play offs. They will compete in Division One North next season.

On Tuesday, July 16, Heys make the short trip up the road to face Elton Vale (kick off tbc). The Manchester League Premier Division side have had close ties with Heys in the recent times, with several players such as Rio Clegg, Connor Martin, Nathan Emery and Bailey Dawes figuring for both clubs. Vale finished 7th in their League this season whilst suffering an agonising penalty shoot-out defeat to Rochdale Sacred Heart in the Gilgryst Cup Final.

The final pre-season fixture is the visit of Curzon Ashton to Adie Moran Park on Saturday, July 20 (3pm). Curzon are one of Non League football’s biggest names and are one of Matty Russell’s former clubs. They finished seventh in the National League North last season, before going out in the play offs on penalties to Chorley. The match will prove a tough final test for Heys ahead of the new NW Counties League season which starts on Saturday, July 27.

n As ever with pre-season matches all are subject to change.