A NEW football season kicks off next month, but before then clubs in mid Cheshire will be busy playing friendlies to be ready in time.

One or two have been in action already.

1874 Northwich recorded a first victory when they prevailed at Alsager last weekend while Barnton, with new boss James McShane watching on, won at St Michaels in a hastily-arranged fixture on Tuesday.

Here is a team-by-team guide to who is playing, and when:

Witton Albion

Jul 17 Southport (h) 0-3

Jul 21 Vauxhall Motors (a) 2-2

Jul 24 Northwich Victoria (h) 1-2

Jul 28 City of Liverpool (h) 2-1

Jul 31 Curzon Ashton (h) 2-1

Aug 04 Runcorn Linnets (a) (ko 1500)

Aug 07 Atherton Collieries (a) (ko 1945)

Aug 11 Droylsden (a) (ko 1500)

1874 Northwich

Jun 30 Lostock Gralam (n) 2-2 (at Egerton Youth Club)

Jul 07 Alsager Town (a) 3-1

Jul 14 Llandudno (a) 0-0

Jul 17 Knutsford (a) 3-0 (at Egerton Youth Club)

Jul 21 Leek Town (a) 1-6

Jul 24 Mossley (a) 0-3

Jul 28 Middlewich Town (h) 5-1 (at Winsford United FC)  

Northwich Victoria

Jul 14 Lancaster City (n) 2-3 (at Myerscough College)

Jul 16 Ashton Town (a) 4-1

Jul 21 Garstang (a) 2-1

Jul 24 Witton Albion (a) 2-1

Jul 28 Prestatyn Town (a) 3-2

Aug 01 Southport under 21s (h) 3-0 (at Witton Albion FC)

Winsford United

Jul 07 Sandbach United (a) 5-1

Jul 14 Maine Road (n) 5-3 (at Winsford Academy)

Jul 21 Stalybridge Celtic (h) 1-5

Jul 24 Heyside (n) 10-0 (at Wright Robinson College)

Jul 28 Penycae (a) 9-2

Jul 31 Nantwich Town (h) 0-4

Barnton

Jul 10 St Michaels (a) 3-1

Jul 14 Ford Motors (a) 4-1

Jul 21 Newton Athletic (n) 3-1 (at Ellesmere Port Sports Village)

Jul 28 Wem Town (a) 2-0

Middlewich Town

Jul 07 Capenhurst Villa (a) 3-1

Jul 14 Moore United (n) 3-1 (at Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre)

Jul 17 Maine Road (n) 6-1 (at Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre)

Jul 21 Whitchurch Alport (a) 0-2

Jul 24 Ashton Athletic (n) 3-2 (at Egerton Youth Club)

Jul 28 1874 Northwich (a) 1-5 (at Winsford United FC)

Lostock Gralam

Jun 30 1874 Northwich (n) 2-2

Jul 21 Rylands (a) 2-6

Jul 24 Winnington Avenue 1994 (a) 4-1

Aug 01 Egerton (a) 3-5

Cuddington

Jul 14 Sandbach Town (a) 8-2

Jul 24 Eagle Sports (n) 4-1 (at Winsford Academy)

Jul 26 Barnton Wanderers (n) 4-2 (at Winnington Avenue FC)

Jul 31 Winsford Over 3 (h) 2-2

Winnington Avenue 1994

Jul 24 Lostock Gralam (h) 1-4