FC Halifax Town play their third pre-season match in seven days as they take on Trafford FC in their final warm-up game ahead of the opening fixture against Buxton United next weekend.
Trafford's Shawe View ground holds an important place in the history of FC Halifax Town, as Steve Payne scored the club's first ever competitive goal there on the way to a 2-1 win, the team's first competitive victory since reforming that summer.
Nigel Jemson notched the winner in that game, and was on the scoresheet again in the return fixture along with Michael Barnes in a 2-2 draw.
Last season, Town came out on top in all three meetings with the Lancashire side, winning 3-0 away and 2-0 at home in the league, as well as claiming a 4-3 victory at Shawe View in the FA Trophy Preliminary Round.
Winger Scott Metcalfe made the switch from Trafford FC to The Shay over the summer, but he won't be the only familiar face to the home fans on Saturday, as midfielder Harry Winter also played for the Manchester-based outfit before joining Northwich Victoria en route to West Yorkshire.
Trafford manager Garry Vaughan guided the club to 12th in the league last season and the final of the Manchester County FA Premier Cup in his first year in charge. He is the record appearance holder for the club with 305 games and is also the club's joint-record goalscorer with 89 goals along with current striker Scott Barlow, who scored 21 times last season.
This is their final friendly ahead of their new campaign in the Evo-Stik First Division North. In pre-season so far, they've beaten Flixton 3-1, Leigh Genesis 3-2 and Old Alts 6-1 on Wednesday night, drawn with Chadderton 1-1 and lost to Llandudno 2-1 and Altricham 5-0.
Town's pre-season campaign has seen a host of new faces integrated into the squad and some impressive performances from Neil Aspin's new look side, with wins over Brighouse Town and Clitheroe, draws with Hyde United, Gateshead and Droylsden and a solitary defeat to Grimsby Town.
The Shaymen will want to end their pre-season programme on a high, and to see if they can, be at the Shawe View ground for Saturday's 3pm kick-off. If you can't make it to the match, the official FC Halifax Town website will be providing regular updates on all the action throughout the afternoon.
Tom Scargill
