Preview to Warrington Town and Warrington Rylands seasons

There will be those that argue to the contrary but with our two semi-professional sides lining up at the same level for the first time in half a century, there is at least heightened local interest.

On Saturday, Warrington Town and Warrington Rylands will get their Northern Premier League Premier Division campaigns underway.

Both sides are at home – Yellows welcome Morpeth Town to Cantilever Park while a little over two miles down the road at Gorsey Lane, Blues host Gainsborough Trinity.

While there is plenty of water under the bridge to get to before the sides meet for the first time on Tuesday, September 6, at Cantilever Park, it is where eyes were immediately trained when the fixtures were released last month.

The sides have not met competitively since the 1970s, when both were in the Mid-Cheshire League, and both managers – Town’s Mark Beesley and Rylands’ Dave McNabb – say the added element of a derby can only be good for both clubs.

“They’re a good team who have some good players and I’m sure they’ll do well,” Beesley said.

“I’m sure they will say the same but it’s good for us as we can go and scout opposition teams just around the corner.

“It’s good for the town – there will be excitement when the derby games come around so it’s a positive.”

McNabb added: “It’s one of the first fixtures you look out for and we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t. It’s probably the first competitive fixture between the clubs that’s really counted for anything.

“It’s another showpiece game we’re looking forward to, but I don’t want to be going into it having not picked up any points.

“Ultimately, the game will take care of itself. I know there’s bragging rights but there’s only three points at stake.

“Hopefully, the derby can help both clubs in terms of getting more people through the door.”

For Town, they will hope this is the season they finally burst through the proverbial glass ceiling.

The club’s efforts to reach the National League North have found roadblocks thrown in their way, from one-time-only “super play-offs” to global pandemics.

Last season, their play-off final at Scarborough Athletic was in the balance until Mitch Duggan – rightly or wrongly – was sent off, effectively ending the match as a contest and Yellows eventually succumbed to a heart-breaking defeat.

“The league is a very good one – it was last season and there’s some good teams come in this season,” Beesley

“There’s not much between the top and the bottom, which you’ve got to be pleased with.

“For us, every game will be tough and the addition of the local teams from around here will make it better.

“It only enhances the league, for me.”

Beesley has been at the heart of the aforementioned journey for nearly six years, first as assistant manager before taking the top job in November when Paul Carden departed for AFC Telford United.

There has been a fair bit of turnover in the squad, with Town catching the eye with their business despite the loss of some key men.

Long-serving skipper Mark Roberts has retired and mainstays such as goalkeeper Dan Atherton and centre-half Matt Regan have moved on along with the likes of James Baillie and Ben Hough.

However, a trio of signings from National League side Altrincham – goalkeeper Tony Thompson and defenders Tom Hannigan and Andy White – have added know-how to go with promising younger additions Mikey Howard, Oliver Putnam, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and latest signing Preston North End loanee Josh Seary.

“They’re good characters, first and foremost. They want to stay fit and do well,” Beesley said of his new signings.

“We spoke to the players during the off-season and told them to make sure they stayed fit so we could go straight into football.

“Credit to them all – they’ve come back fit, lean and sharp. Training has been tough but also enjoyable.”

Across town, Rylands’ relentless march through the leagues is surely about to face its stiffest test.

A third promotion since 2018 - with a Wembley win in between - sees them line up in the Northern Premier League’s top-flight for the first time in their history.

Although long-serving skipper Graeme McCall has moved on, the core of the squad that secured FA Vase glory in 2021 and the NPL West Division title last season remains in place.

From promising young stars such as Kane Drummond – last year’s divisional player of the year – to vastly-experienced veterans like former South Africa international Dean Furman and ex-Leicester City, Hull City, Rotherham United, Morecambe and Newport County forward Kevin Ellison, there is a good blend in the dressing room.

Add to that several solid-looking signings – goalkeeper Sam Tickle, defenders Aaron Morris, Josh Langley and Kyle Hayde, midfielders Jak McCourt and James Barrigan and frontman Ryan Brooke among them – and they appear to have a squad well set for their new challenge.

Coming up against well-establish Step Three clubs – even full-time teams in the case of South Shields – will be new for everyone at Gorsey Lane, but they are determined to enjoy the experience.

“We’re as ready as we can be,” McNabb said.

“We planned pre-season to be as tough as we’ve ever had it because this season will be the toughest we’ve had as a football club.

“With any step up in league, it’s not just about ability. It’s about the desire, hunger and self-sacrifice.

“We’re going to come up against ex-pros and lads who have dedicated themselves to be at that level.

“We’re not under any illusions – we know it’s not going to be easy, but we’ve got a good group of players that are excited to get going.

“There’s always an element of nervousness as you don’t want to be found short, but we should be excited.

“We’ve worked our socks off to get to this level and going in with any sort of fear factor around it is not advantageous.

“There’s no massive expectations around league position, so let’s go out and enjoy ourselves.”