Central start off at home against Elton Vale

Manchester Central will take once again take on Elton Vale on the opening day of the 2022/23 Manchester Football League Division one campaign.

Chris Tomkinson’s side welcome the Bury based outfit to the Seashells Trust academy in their first competitive fixture in their new home.

The sides also met on the opening day of the 2017/18 season and Central will be out for revenge after going down 4-1 at the Elton Vale Sports Club.

That season saw Central pip Vale to promotion courtesy of three wins from their last three games, a scenario the magpies would love to see repeated as they look to return to the Premier Division at the first opportunity.

Despite a whirlwind start to last season that saw the Vale pick up four wins and a draw from their opening five games, they were only able to finish 8th in a very competitive division one.

As with all the games this season Central boss Tomkinson is aware of the tough challenge this fixture will pose, but believes his side are ready to step up and be counted.

“Seeing the first few fixtures being released, it’s really started to dawn on us that this is really happening now.

“Pre-season has been good, the lads have looked sharp and ready to go but there’s nothing quite like competitive action.

“Back in 2017 everyone at Central was relatively knew to the level and we were off the ball at the start of the campaign. Now we’ve all been around the Manchester Football League for a good few years and we’re ready to put that experience to good use to rectify that historical early season form.

“Elton Vale got off to a fantastic start last year but we’re determined for that not to be the case this season. We want to show this league that we’re a serious contender, not here just to make up the numbers, and that starts from the very first kick.

“It’s great to be at home on the opening day especially as a newly promoted club, hopefully we’ll have a decent number come down and back the boys, and in turn if we turn up and play as well as we know we can we’ll give them something to cheer about.”