After last season's highest ever placing in the North West Counties League and reaching the play-offs, Eccleshall are looking forward to taking that late season form into the new campaign. Pre-season training is under way in readiness for the big kick off on Saturday 26. July.

As often happens from year to year, some of last season's squad have moved to pastures new and the management team have been working to bring in new faces as they prepare for the opening game. Liam Kelly, Sam Golden and Nathan Wilkes will be looking to get off to a good start, with the opening batch of fixtures due to be released shortly.

This season will see First Division South having 19 teams. With Winsford United and Abbey Hulton United being promoted and Shawbury United, Foley Meir and Wolverhampton Sporting Community being reprieved from relegation, there are three new teams joining the division. Wolverhampton Casuals, who play at the Brinsford Stadium in Coven Heath, Wolverhampton, Haughmond playing at Shrewsbury Sports Village and Telford Town who play at Oakengates in Telford, are the newcomers bringing more local games to the table and presenting a new challenge.

At the League AGM on 21. June, the cup draws were made and we now know our opponents in both competitions:
Edward Case (First Division) Cup. In the first round, we will meet either Telford Town or Haughmond away.
Macron Cup (League Cup) : we have a tasty local derby - Eccleshall v Market Drayton Town
(both dates to be confirmed).
The FA Vase draw for the First Round Qualifying will be made this Friday (4. July) and will be posted when known.

Maintenance work has taken place at the Stoke Signage Stadium to prepare for the new season and we are hoping that the new kitchen facilities gained from the Howdens Game Changer Programme in conjunction with the Football Foundation will be in place (fingers crossed!!). The recent hot and dry weather has not helped with the pitch preparation, even though groundsman Dave Rhodes has put in a lot of work, with over sixty tons of sand, seeding, cutting and other improvement. What we need now is rain and lots of it!

And so to the 1st team pre-season friendlies, which are as follows:

Saturday 5. July - Brocton v Eccleshall (to be played at St Peter's Academy - 2pm kick off)
Tuesday 8. July - Eccleshall v Congleton Town (Stoke Signage Stadium - 7.30pm kick off)
Saturday 12. July - Redgate Clayton v Eccleshall (2.30pm kick off)
Wednesday 16. July - Eccleshall v Silverdale Athletic (Stoke Signage Stadium - 7.30pm. This will form an annual competition for the Jake Standbridge Memorial Trophy)
Saturday 19. July - Leek Town Reserves v Eccleshall - 2.00pm kick off

Admission to 1st team matches will be - Adults £7.00 and £5.00 concessions for the 2025/26 season. As previously, children under 16 will be admitted free with a paying adult.

Season Tickets for the 18 home league games only will be available and represent a saving of 15% on the full admission cost over the season:
Adults - £107.10p
Concessions - £76.50p
These will be available from Club Treasurer, David Heelis.

We hope to see supporters both old and new at the Stoke Signage Stadium this coming season to cheer The Eagles on and help to be our '12th Man' in the new campaign.