Altrincham will launch their preparations for the 2023-24 season with a trip up the M6 to face Lancaster City at Giant Axe.

The Robins' plans for another campaign in the Vanarama National League are beginning to take shape and the club are delighted to announce that the team's pre-season programme will begin with an away game against Lancaster on Saturday July 8th, kicking off at 3pm.

Always a fixture to savour, with the city's attractions including a medieval castle and a vibrant centre, Mark Fell's side are sure to provide Alty's squad, doubtless replete with summer signings, with a stern test in their first outing of the off-season.

The Dolly Blues had been handily placed in the Pitching In Northern Premier League, but their play-off hopes suffered a blow over a tough Easter weekend, with a brace of 2-1 defeats against fourth-placed Gainsborough Trinity and third-placed Bamber Bridge.

That was also the score Alty recorded on our way to lifting the NPL title in Phil Parkinson's first season in charge, on April 7th 2018.

Jordan Hulme opened the scoring in the 10th minute, followed by a Tom Hannigan bullet header from a John Johnston corner in the 17th minute, and though Lancaster reduced the arrears seven minutes later, the Robins were good value for a win that gave them an eight-point cushion at the top, as the upward curve under Phil and Neil Sorvel continued to gather momentum.

Watch out for more details of pre-season games, here on the club's website and on our social media channels, as and when we get them.