Bolton Wanderers have drip-fed us the pre-season fixtures this time around, but today’s announcement seems to have set the games we play in stone. A ‘home’ game against La Liga side Girona has been announced for the 21st July, but rather than at the Macron, the game will be played in Leyland.
The move to a smaller venue has probably been prompted by the Macron’s use as a concert venue this summer, as the Killers and Little Mix both play their dates the previous weekend, leaving three weeks to get things sorted for the rugby league Challenge Cup semi-finals on the first weekend of August, and then most importantly, our opening home game of the season on the 11th August.
While it might be a bit of shame for any new signings to get a runout at the stadium which they’ll now call home – I can’t remember the last time we didn’t have a proper home pre-season friendly, the move to Leyland might have it’s advantages for fans. The game would have got a paltry attendance even if people were let in for free, so for the numbers likely to attend, we may as well play at a small ground, there might be some sort of atmosphere, and more of a ‘day out.’ Nice.
The Catalans will also play Oldham during their stay in the North West.
PRETEMPORADA | El Girona s’enfrontarà al @OfficialBWFC i al @OfficialOAFC durant la seva estada a #Manchester. Els partits es disputaran el 21 i el 24 de juliol.
+ info a https://t.co/mXSYyfjyxo#PretemporadaGFC #OrgullGironí #GironaFC #AcceptemElRepte pic.twitter.com/GbBRW8Mhjk— Girona FC (@GironaFC) July 2, 2018
The first of our pre-season fixtures at St Mirren on Saturday has also been brought forward to a 12.30pm kickoff, presumably as not to clash with Colombia’s World Cup quarter-final. Here’s the itinerary:
Sat 7 Jul (12:30) – St Mirren (A)
Tue 10 Jul (19:45) – Atherton Colls (A)
Sat 14 Jul (15:00) – Halifax (A)
Tue 17 Jul (19:45) – Morecambe (A)
Sat 21 Jul (15:00) – Girona (Leyland)
Tue 24 Jul (19:45) – Guiseley (A)
Sat 28 Jul (15:00) – Peterborough (A)