Double-header kicks off season
Mogan Segadavan
THE Northern Areas FA season kicks off this weekend with a double-header.
In the Premier League defending champions Hotspurs will want to put their poor showing in the recent Easter tournament behind them when they play newly-promoted Shamrocks at Dyke 1 on Saturday and Park United in Arcadia on Sunday.
The Rocks, who are the oldest soccer club in the previously disadvantaged areas, have had a lean period in recent years culminating in their relegation from the Premier League two years ago.
Now that they are back in senior company they will want to prove that that is where they belong.
They play Ebenezer on Gelvan 2 on Sunday in their second match.
Bloom Callies, who are also returning to the Premier League after winning promotion together with Shamrocks, host Chatty United on Finnis 1 on Saturday and play Stardrift in Marock Road on Sunday.
Saints, who finished a close second last year, start their season off with a tough match against Glenville at the Glenville field on Saturday.
They have a bye on Sunday.
The match between Blackpool, who had a disappointing season by their own standards last year, and Wolves on Gelvan 1 has been postponed as both teams will be playing in East London. They finished level on points last year, midway on the league table.
Their opponents on Sunday will have a bye.
All matches are scheduled to start at 3.30.
Weekend fixtures:
Saturday: Blackpool v Wolves (postponed); Park United v Stardrift; Hotspurs v Shamrocks; Glenville v Saints; Fairview Rovers v Ebenezer; Bloom Callies v Chatty United; Ramblers bye
Sunday: Blackpool v Saints (postponed); Ebenezer v Shamrocks; Stardrift v Bloom Callies; Chatty v Ramblers; Wolves v Fairview Rovers (postponed); Park United v Hotspurs; Glenville bye.