GREAT Harwood will be hoping for home rule at the start of the season after the NWCL Division Two fixtures were released.
They play three of their first four fixtures at home - Accrington Stanley FC - as they look to bounce back into Division One after being relegated last season.
Their clash with the newly formed FC United of Manchester will take place at the Interlink at 28 January before they travel to Manchester in the penultimate game of the season.
"It is a decent start," said manager John Hughes. "We would have liked the FC United game sooner but it is good to have local derbies over Christmas and the New Year and the run-in, with three of our last four games at home, will be in our hands."
Meanwhile Hughes' preparations for the new season have been hampered as some of his players - the likes of Darren Rodgers and Andy Howard - could leave.
"Lee Sculpher, who played for us last season, has gone to manage Ramsbottom and I think he is hoping to take a few of my players with him. It is disappointing but it is football," said Hughes.
"It is a shame as I thought that if I could keep together most of the team who finished last season so strongly, that I could build around them and that is what I had planned on doing.
"I have made some signings from local leagues but these may now have to be thrown straight into the first team."
Midfielder Denis Hill has also gone to Padiham.
Harwood have a number of friendlies. They take on Barnoldswick on Saturday at Great Harwood (ko 3pm). The Showground doesn't have changing rooms but the club will use Wilson's Playing Field's changing rooms for the one-off game.
They travel to Radcliffe Town next Saturday (23 July); are at Fleetwood Tuesday 26 July and face Bury at Accrington Stanley FC on 30 July. They are also waiting to sort out the annual VMI Trophy clash against Accrington which will take place in August.
Meanwhile, Harwood will travel to Guisborough in the extra-preliminary round of the FA Cup on Saturday 20 August and face Thornaby at Accrington Stanley in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase on 1 October.
