Our 2023 pre-season fixtures have been released and we’ve provided an in-depth look into each fixture, as we travel to the likes of Blackpool, Prestwich Heys and Trafford, as well as hosting Salford City, Rochdale and Halifax Town in a long-awaited return to the Neuven Stadium.

Game 1 - Avro (A)

Date & KO - 05/07/23 • 7:45pm KO

Address - The Vestacare Stadium, White Bank Road, Oldham, Manchester, OL8 3JH

We kick start our fixtures with a visit to newly-promoted NPL West Division outfit, Avro. Featuring the likes of Boro legend Matty Crothers and former striker Liam Ellis, Avro enjoyed a successful campaign last season, finishing 2nd in the North West Counties Premier Division and gaining promotion via the inter step play-off final.

There’s a buzz around the camp for both teams entering a return to action, marking it as a first Radcliffe game for our new management in Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley, who’ll bring with them some fan-favourite names from last season, as well as a number of new faces to keep an eye out for.

Game 2 - Salford City (H)

Date & KO - 08/07/23 • 3pm KO

Address - Neuven Stadium, Colshaw Close East, Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 3PE

Our opening home fixture of not only pre-season, but also the Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley era which sees us welcome one of their former managerial sides in Salford City, who narrowly missed out on a trip to Wembley after being knocked out in the play-offs by Stockport County on penalties.

The Ammies are set to bring a strong squad to a hopefully packed out Neuven Stadium, giving fans the opportunity to watch our new signings on home soil for the very first time, this ones set to be a cracking fixture!

Game 3 - Rochdale (H)

Date & KO - 11/07/23 • 7:45pm KO

Address - Neuven Stadium, Colshaw Close East, Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 3PE

Our second home fixture in three days will allow the players to get back into the swing of things with a week of action under their belt, we welcome another tough opponent as newly National League outfit Rochdale make the 20-minute or so journey to Radcliffe.

The Dale had a disappointing season last time out, finishing rock bottom of League Two on 38 points, which confirmed their relegation to non-league’s top flight after 102 years in the Football League. Nevertheless, Jimmy McNulty’s men will visit M26 with a point to prove, looking to bounce back in their preparation for the National League.

Game 4 - Daisy Hill (A)

Date & KO - 12/07/23 • 7:45pm KO

Address - New Sirs, St James Street, Bolton, Manchester, BL5 2EB

Two games in two days means we’re likely to see a number of trialists looking to showcase their talent, as well as players who didn’t play many minutes against Rochdale the night before. Daisy Hill escaped relegation by only one point last season in the North West Counties First Division North, meaning manager Leighton Mills was relieved of his duties following a lacklustre season.

Now under the management of former Boro backroom staff member Lee Hill, and his assistant Tom Brown, who gained promotion with Radcliffe in 2019, the Bolton-based club will be looking to gain revenge from the last fixture between the two sides, which saw Radcliffe come out 6-0 winners in December 2022 to progress into the Quarter Final of the Lancashire Trophy.

Game 5 - AFC Blackpool (A)

Date & KO - 15/07/23 • 3pm KO

Address - Mechanics Ground, Common Edge Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 5DY

Game number 5 will be around the time that the players properly get back into a rhythm, and is the half-way point in our pre-season campaign. A trip to the seaside to face former Boro U21’s Manager Tommy Turner’s side will be a fixture to look out for, especially if you’re planning to make a weekend of it.

We left our last trip to Blackpool as 4-2 winners at Squires Gate, only across the road from our upcoming opponents who are situated a mere few metres away. AFC Blackpool finished 9th out of 18 in the North West Counties First Division North last season, with 48 points in the same league as our opponents three days before.

Game 6 - Cheadle Town (A)

Date & KO - 18/07/23 • 7:45pm KO

Address - Park Road Stadium, Park Road, Cheadle, Cheshire, SK8 2AN

Next we take a trip across Manchester and into Cheshire where we come up against a newly-promoted outfit in Cheadle Town, who gained the step up via the North West Counties First Division South play-offs despite finishing in the final place at 5th.

Wins against Stockport Town and Sandback United away from home saw former Radcliffe player Paul Marshall’s team end the season in the perfect way possible, and we now face them under the floodlights in game number 6.

Game 7 - Prestwich Heys (A)

Date & KO - 22/07/23 • 3pm KO

Address - Adie Moran Park, Sandgate Road, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 6WG

In the next two fixtures we have a duo of away games, but two that are situated very close to home in Prestwich and Ramsbottom. Starting off with the Heys, Prestwich play their football at Adie Moran Park, named after a successful former Chairman and Manager of the club.

Prestwich enjoyed a positive season last time out, finishing in a respectable 7th place on 66 points. This one will be a good, local fixture in the sunshine, with a 3pm kick off on a Saturday only 15 minutes or so from the Neuven Stadium, get yourself down there!

Game 8 - Ramsbottom United (A)

Date & KO - 25/07/23 • 7:45pm KO

Address - Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Acre Bottom, Ramsbottom, Lancashire, BL0 0BS

Now onto Ramsbottom, a Tuesday night game is on the schedule and we hope it’ll be a more exciting fixture than our last visit to the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, an uninspiring 0-0 draw in our last 2021 pre-season game.

The Rams will be looking to have a better season in the 2023/24 campaign, finishing at rock bottom last time out in the Northern Premier League West Division on only 27 points. Now in the North West Counties Premier Division under the new management of Steve Wilkes, we’ll visit the Greater Manchester side in game number 8.

Game 9 - Caenarfon Town (H)

Date & KO - 29/07/23 • 3pm KO

Address - Neuven Stadium, Colshaw Close East, Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 3PE

We welcome welsh opposition to the Neuven Stadium in our 9th pre-season fixture as we edge closer to it’s conclusion, Caenarfon Town visit the Neuven Stadium looking to gain good preparation for their upcoming Welsh Premier League season.

In our last game against the North Wales side, we visited The Oval in 2021 and were on the end of an incredible 5-4 defeat, which saw a flurry of eight goals in the second half. Radcliffe will be looking to avenge this in a Saturday afternoon outing, our penultimate home pre-season fixture.

Game 10 - Halifax Town (H)

Date & KO - 01/08/23 • 7:45pm KO

Address - Neuven Stadium, Colshaw Close East, Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 3PE

Our final pre-season home game has us facing National League opposition in Halifax Town. Chris Millington’s men finished in 11th place last season, but their best achievement was an FA Trophy final victory at Wembley Stadium, thanks to Jamie Cooke’s 44th minute goal to take the trophy back to Yorkshire.

An evening fixture against higher opposition is a perfect combination for a great night of football, so be sure to clear your schedule to get down to the Neuven Stadium for this one.

Game 11 - Trafford (A)

Date & KO - 05/08/23 • 3pm KO

Address - Home Estates Shawe View Stadium, Flixton, Manchester, M41 5DL

Lastly, we’ll visit Northern Premier League West Division outfit, Trafford. Danny Caldecott’s men finished 10th last season on 50 points, so they’re a fairly decent team to face a week before our league campaign begins.

It’ll take around 30 minutes to get to Shaw View at the start of August, and Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley’s men will need to be prepared ahead of a big week.

Tickets for all home fixtures will be available in due course, a reminder that all 2023/24 season ticket holders will gain free entry to every home pre-season fixture.