Whitehaven Amateurs will open their first Northern League season on August 9 with a home game against Washington.

The County Ground club were promoted after finishing third in the Wearside League, but having the correct ground grading when Durham City were promoted to create a vacancy.

The fixtures were distributed at Saturday’s annual general meeting when Whitehaven’s representatives met the officials from the League and their fellow clubs.

Manager John George, left in sole charge after the decision by Kenny Wallace to stand-down because of work commitments, said he was impressed with how the AGM was conducted.

“They made us very welcome and it was really good to be back in real football again,” said the former Workington Reds defender.

“All the matches kick-off at 3pm and every club has lights. It seems a really good competition and I know everyone at Whitehaven Amateurs is looking forward to the experience.”

George is still undecided whether he will be looking to bring-in an assistant following the departure of Wallace last week.

“To be honest I’m not sure what to do because Kenny and I worked so well together for three years. It’s going to be strange,” he said.

He will be getting his troops together for pre-season training on July 2 and has already fixed-up two friendlies with Harraby Catholic and Workington Reds.

“We are hoping to confirm matches with Penrith, Kendal and Morecambe reserves and I think that should do us,” he said. “As for new players I have some irons in the fire and we’ll just see what happens over the next week or so.”

Although pleased to be given a home game to start the Second Division programme, George was less enamoured with the fact that Whitehaven have to travel to Guisborough on a Wednesday night.

“That’s the longest trip we have to make and it’s disappointing that we’ve been given that in mid-week. We played Guisborough Black Swan in the Wearside League, and they use the same pitch, so I know how far it is,” said George.

The draw for the League Cup was also made at the AGM and Whitehaven have been paired away with First Division Esh Winning. A date still has to be confirmed.

*The action in the photograph at the top of the article was at Guisborough in last year's FA Cup extra preliminary round (the start of the road to Wembley) when the home side lost 3-1 to Norton and Stockton Ancients.

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