"Bucks look to make a flying start against the Magpies"

Match Date : August 6th, 2022 3:00 pm
Competition : National League North
Ground : New Bucks Head
Kick Off : 15:00

For the second season in a row, the Bucks will kick off their National League North campaign with a home game against Chorley.

The Bucks were originally due to face Darlington in last year’s opener, but an outbreak of Covid in the Quakers camp meant that Telford began against the Magpies. And what a start it was! Despite playing more than half a game with ten men, the Bucks ran out 3-0 winners that day.

Of course, that result was very much the exception to an otherwise disappointing start to the last campaign for the Bucks – the upshot of which, ultimately, was Paul Carden’s appointment last November.

And it’s not just the Bucks who have a different manager from this time last year; the Magpies were left searching for a new boss in May after former Telford favourite Jamie Vermiglio announced his shock resignation. Vermiglio left to take over at newly-promoted Buxton, with the ex-Worcester City and Northwich Victoria gaffer, Andy Preece, taking the reins at Victory Park having previously served as Chorley’s director of football.

Indeed, the Magpies take pride in maintaining continuity and, despite Vermiglio’s departure, their squad remains largely unchanged, with little movement in or out this summer. Defender Scott Wilson comes in from Curzon Ashton, while Justin Johnson arrives at Victory Park on the back of 12 goals in 35 appearances for Stalybridge Celtic last term.

The Bucks too have a relatively settled squad. Paul Carden moved to secure the signatures of many of the key additions who helped keep the Bucks up last season, with new faces arriving in the form of Prince Ekpolo, Josh Dugmore, Matty Brown, Nathan Blissett, Kobe Jae Chong, and Sam McLintock.

Chorley secured their place in the playoffs with a 1-0 when the sides last met back in April. The Magpies, who finished in 6 th place, lost out to eventual winners, York City, in the quarter-finals of the playoffs. With the Lancashire club no doubt expecting to challenge towards the top end of the table again this year, the Bucks will have to be on their mettle from the off on Saturday.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Tickets for Saturday’s fixture will remain on sale up until kick-off and are available for purchase online here.