DROYLSDEN FC will face new opponents when the next football season kicks off – without being promoted.
For they have been moved laterally to the North West Counties League First Division North.
The Bloods were originally placed in the division when they returned to the non-league pyramid last year.
Now the promotion of near neighbours Abbey Hey, plus an influx of Midlands-based sides, has seen the Football Association shift them.
Now Dave Pace’s men will face trips to Cumbria to face Holker Old Boys and Yorkshire to take on Steeton and Route One Rovers.
Many journeys will be made to Lancashire, including to new entrants Thornton Cleveleys, while they will also head towards Liverpool after Maghull were brought into step six of the non-league pyramid.
Droylsden are not the only team to have been laterally moved as Maine Road will also make the switch.
However, they can appeal – as they did last year when they were moved to First Division South – before the North West Counties League’s AGM on June 15.