NPL preview | Big clashes await as new season begins

After the disappointment of last season, where they lost an agonising play-off final to Hednesford Town on penalties, Neil Reynolds’ Warrington Rylands side face off against fellow promotion hopefuls FC United of Manchester on the opening weekend. 

FC United lost 3-2 at Broadhurst Park to the same opposition in the play-off semi-finals last season, so revenge will certainly be on their minds.

With the Blues signing former Manchester United defender Joe Riley and the Reds unveiling the sought-after Niall Watson, amongst other summer signings for both teams, they are two sides who appear to be strongly placed to challenge again this term, in the race to secure National League North football. 

In 10 previous competitive meetings between the teams, the first of which took place in November 2022, FC United have won only once, with four draws and five Rylands victories.

Another hotly-anticipated clash on the opening weekend is between recently-crowned NPL East Division and West Division champions Redcar Athletic and Bury.

Both teams are rising through the non-league pyramid at incredible speed given their respective back-to-back promotions. 

And while the Steelmen are competing at Step 3 for the first time in their history, they will be looking to build on a prolific season which saw 140 goals scored - the most of any team in the four NPL divisions.

Bury, meanwhile, will be looking to take another step towards the Football League as they prepare for a first-ever competitive meeting with the Steelmen.

Facing off for the second time in succession are Curzon Ashton and Alfreton Town, who drew 3-3 on the final day of the National League North season in 2025/26, confirming their fate as two of the four relegated teams from the division. 

While the Nash missed out on survival on goal difference, the Reds finished two points below in 22nd with 50 points - meaning victory would have seen them fight another day at Step 2. 

Twenty-two previous meetings have witnessed eight wins apiece with six draws, highlighting the close nature of games between these two.

Elsewhere, Avro - who secured promotion from the NPL West Division via the play-offs - host fellow NPL Premier newcomers Quorn after their lateral move from the Southern League Premier Central. 

Grant Shenton’s side will play at Step 3 for the first time in their 90-year history, but will have to do without Kyle Hawley and Jack Kenny- both of whom starred for them last season. Much like Redcar and Bury, this will be the first time the sides have met in a competitive fixture.

Promoted in equally dramatic fashion were West Yorkshire-based Emley, who defeated Bradford (Park Avenue) on penalties in the NPL East Division play-off final. 

Having completed two promotions in three years, their first game at Step 3 is a trip to Hyde United. 

Appointed in January 2026, Tigers boss Michael Clegg will be looking to build on a disappointing 15th-place finish in 2025/26 as he prepares for his first full season at the helm. 

Another side hoping to push on are the impressive Stockton Town, who have finished third and fifth in the past two campaigns having completed promotion from the NPL East Division in 2023/24. 

Their first test is a trip to face Tris Whitman’s Ilkeston Town at the New Manor Ground - a club with strong ambitions of their own, given some serious business in the transfer window. 

Despite an impressive run of results midway through the season which secured their survival last term, Billy Barr’s Workington will hope to avoid a similarly shaky start this time around.

The Reds will kick off their campaign with a tough trip to Gainsborough Trinity.

Led by Russ Wilcox, the Holy Blues missed out on the play-off spots last season by only four points, finishing seventh. 

In 12 previous meetings, Gainsborough have won eight and Workington only one (back in November 2013), with three draws during that time. 

Similarly to Gainsborough, Lancaster City will have ambitions of rising to Step 2 after just missing out on the play-offs last season. 

The Dolly Blues have an extremely tough test at Hurst Cross against Ashton United to begin - a team led by the experienced Steve Cunningham. 

Given the huge number of signings they’ve made so far, including former Chester and Oldham Athletic forward Kurt Willoughby, the Robins appear to be strong contenders to push on towards the top end of the division this term.

Preparing for the visit of Jamie Milligan’s Bamber Bridge are Cleethorpes Town, another club on an upward trajectory. 

They finished an impressive 2025/26 campaign - their first in the NPL Premier - in ninth position. The Brig will hope to break their duck of never defeating the Owls in a competitive fixture, having played out two draws and suffered two losses in four previous meetings.

North-west of Leeds at Nethermoor, Guiseley face off against Paul Carden’s Warrington Town, who will be searching for real improvement following a middling 14th-place finish last season. 

While both sides ended on 48 points, just one place separating them in the table, the visitors will be determined to put themselves back in contention for promotion having suffered relegation from the National League North the season before last.

Finally, Whitby Town make a trip to Staffordshire to face Josh Brehaut’s Leek Town.  

Lee Bullock’s Seasiders will be looking to build on a disappointing 17th-place finish in 2025/26, where they narrowly avoided relegation on the final day with a point against Cleethorpes Town. 

As for the hosts, they will be hoping to carry on the momentum of six consecutive victories to end last season. In four previous meetings between the two sides, there has been one draw, two wins for Leek and one for Whitby. 

All games will kick off at 3pm, unless stated otherwise.

Fixtures - Saturday 8 August

• Ashton United vs Lancaster City
• Avro vs Quorn
• Cleethorpes Town vs Bamber Bridge
• Curzon Ashton vs Alfreton Town
• Gainsborough Trinity vs Workington
• Guiseley vs Warrington Town
• Hyde United vs Emley
• Ilkeston Town vs Stockton Town
• Leek Town vs Whitby Town
• Redcar Athletic vs Bury
• Warrington Rylands vs FC United of Manchester

Check out the latest fixtures and results from across the NPL East Division, NPL Midlands Division and NPL West Division.