PICKERING Town face a trip to Frickley Athletic on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 NCEL Premier Division season.

Tony Hackworth's side will travel to the Westfield Lane Stadium on Saturday, July 27.

The Pikes narrowly avoided relegation in their first season back in the division last term, with a disappointing beginning and end to the campaign seeing them finish second-last, four points above relegated Maltby Main.

Frickley were 12 points better off, earning a 15th-placed finish.

The Premier Division season will kick-off the previous evening (July 26) with a West Yorkshire derby between big-spending Silsden and fellow promotion hopefuls Campion.

North Yorkshire's other two Premier Division teams, Tadcaster Albion and Knaresborough Town, will start their campaigns with home ties against Bottesford Town and Hallam respectively.

Mick O'Connell's Brewers finished 11th last season following their relegation from the Northern Premier League, whilst Knaresborough were slightly better off in eighth.

In Division One, Selby Town face a short hop over to Harrogate Railway on the opening weekend.

It's been all change behind the scenes during the off-season at the Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium, with Dave Haddock returning as chairman, and long-standing secretary Tommy Arkley stepping down.

Ryan Cooper's side will hope to build on their 14th-placed finish in a new era for the club.