By Andrew McDonnell (@AndrewSJourno)
Morpeth Town will kick-off their 2017-18 Northern League season by playing North Shields in the annual curtain raiser – the JR Cleator Cup.
It has been announced that the Highwaymen have been invited to take part after finishing as runners-up in Division One last season.
This news comes after South Shields declined the opportunity to take part, and the Robins will therefore be our opponents after finishing as runners-up in the League Cup.
The JR Cleator Cup will take place at Craik Park on Saturday 29 July, and the two sides will go head-to-head for the first piece of silverware of the season.
National League North side Spennymoor Town will come to Craik Park on Tuesday 18 July, while we travel to Croft Park to play Blyth Spartans on Tuesday 25 July.
More news about pre-season to follow.
