There will be a Tameside derby in pre-season when Hyde United and Stalybridge Celtic compete for the Ray Stanley Memorial Trophy. 

The match will take place at the Project Solar Stadium, a.k.a Ewen Fields, on Saturday 29 July, with kick-off at 3pm. 

Hyde's annual home friendly is played in memory of their former club secretary, who died in 2000. There will be a minute's applause before the match and a penalty shootout at the end if the scores are level after 90 minutes. 

The Tigers will also host Bury AFC on Tuesday 4 July and Oldham Athletic on Saturday 8 July as part of their pre-season programme, with more games to be confirmed soon. 

Nick Spooner's side narrowly missed out on a place in the Northern Premier League Premier Division play-offs in 2022/23, finishing sixth - two points behind fifth-placed Matlock Town who occupied the final play-off spot. 

Meanwhile, Celtic say further pre-season friendlies will be announced in the coming days as the club prepares to play in the Northern Premier League West Division next term following last season's dismal relegation. 

It's a new era at Bower Fold off the pitch too, with Nigel Jones and Paul Bowden becoming joint majority shareholders and James Kinsey succeeding Chris Willcock as manager. 

🏃 Tour of Tameside 2023 🏃

We're proud to be delivering this year's four-day running festival, which takes place from 15 to 18 June. 

Find out more and book your place here. 

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