Leigh Genesis vs. Curzon Ashton preview

Saturday afternoon sees life begin again on many levels for Leigh Genesis, with the club beginning a new era with their first game at their new home at Crilly Park, a first competitive game under the management of Mark Maddox and assistant coach Gary Scott, while player/coach Andy Heald is set to line up only days after the birth of his second son, Jaxson.

The home fans will have virtually an entire team to get used to over the coming games, but it's one that boss Maddox is more than familiar with, having worked with several of his new charges at former club Formby whilst also putting through a gruelling pre-season campaign to pick out the best of a huge intake of trial players.

Familiar names from last season's Leigh side see Heald joined by Chris Dykes and Scott Sephton, while the likes of goalkeeper Adam Judge, strikers John Lawless and Nick Eastham and midfielders Mark King and Paul Williams have already made a positive impression on the Genesis fans after encouraging pre-season performances.

Curzon finished last season in third position, albeit a massive twenty four points behind second-placed Lancaster City, and were knocked out of the play-offs at the first stage by eventual promotion winners Colwyn Bay. The sides met as recently as the end of March when the two sides drew 0-0 at Warrington's Cantilever Park ground, albeit with an almost entirely different Leigh side, then managed by new Chorley boss Garry Flitcroft.

Curzon have also been hit by the departure of key personnel, with striker Michael Norton finally joining FC United of Manchester after a protracted transfer race and several seasons of breaking a whole host of goalscoring records whilst with Curzon.

Kick off is at 3pm at Crilly Park on Saturday afternoon, with admission costing £7 for adults, £5 for over 65's and students and just £2 for under 18's, with a new and improved programme costing £2 and available inside the ground.