Hoppers 1st XV – Season Fixtures and Preview

The fixtures for 2021/22 in the Northern Premier League have now been published and we can look forward to competitive action for the first time since March 2020.

The season promises to be an exciting one featuring opponents old and new with the added frisson of not really knowing opponents’ likely strengths post Covid. We are, however confident in our squad, led by Christian Taylor, which features a blend of retained and returning players as well as exciting new signings and “home grown” youngsters coming through.

We still don’t know the final details of the reorganisation for season 2022/23 although there will be 3 rather than 2 divisions at level 4 to which we aspire to return. Just how their make up will be determined has yet to emerge from the impenetrable thickets of Twickenham.

September sees 3 home and one away fixture. To get the season off with a bang the second match on 18 September against York has been designated for the annual get together of former players. Every year seems to see former players of many vintages emerge who we haven’t seen for some time. If you know of anyone please encourage them to come to join in and meet former team mates.

The away game is against Otley who came down from Div 2 North with us in 2019/20. This may be your last chance to visit their famous Cross Green ground, scene of NW Counties win over the All Blacks in 1979, before their planned mid season move down the road.

October sees the first blank weekend, our first of two trips to the North East at Billingham (Ian Macfarlane will be translating) and the local derby away to Blackburn on 23 October.

November has another relatively local derby at the more bucolic setting of Kirkby Lonsdale’s Underley Park and a home derby against Rossendale.

December has two home games including the pre Christmas Saturday 18 December against Otley who traditionally have a good travelling support so the match promises to be a “Christmas Cracker”. Early booking for hospitality is recommended.

After Christmas we have three away and one home fixture in January before a break on 5 February when you can enjoy the first of the 6 Nations games in the clubhouse. This is followed on 12 February by our home derby against Blackburn. With promotion/relegation issues starting to rise to the fore by this stage of the season this promises to be another hospitality sell out.

March has the reverse of the derbies against Kirkby Lonsdale and Rossendale with us having to make the trip to the Marl Pits and their wagon stand before a break for the final 6 Nations game on 19 March.

The final run in is broken up by Easter with the final match, as is traditional, being the reverse of the first fixture of the season.

There is also The John Burgess Lancashire Cup to look forward to. We are one of 8 teams in the main competition with our first round tie at home to Warrington. Dates are to be confirmed but must be before 23 April as Finals Day is 1 May.

Draft fixtures have been published for the 2^nds to the 6^th mens and will be on the website once confirmed along with the Ladies and Colts when available.

All in all a season to whet the appetite and to be enjoyed on and off the pitch.