With our preseason starting in 24 hours’ time, media team member Ryan Robinson looks ahead to Tuesday’s fixture against Brocton by looking at both teams past season as well as the comings and goings in the off season.

The Scholars begin preseason after an impressive campaign last season that saw them qualify for the play-offs after ending the season with only one defeat in their last five. However, the run of wins did not continue as The Chase eventually lost on penalties to Congleton Town in the semi-finals. Hopes among the Chasetown camp for success this season are high. This has been boosted by the retainment of the majority of last season’s team (only Danny O’Callaghan, Sam Unitt and Matt Sargent have left) as well as the additions of Ty Webster, Liam Kirton and Matt Funge from Newcastle Town, Lichfield City and Dudley Town retrospectively.

Our visitors made history last season as their first season back in the Midland Football League Premier Division saw them finish a club high fifth and qualify for the playoffs where they fell to a 3-2 semi-final loss against eventual playoff winners Shifnal Town, who will contest the 25-26 season in Chasetown’s league. This game is Brocton’s second this preseason as they fell to a 2-1 loss to Eccleshall, in the division below, on Saturday.

Past games between the two sides include two games at the Silkmore stadium. These were a 2-2 draw last preseason and a 1-0 victory for The Chase in the quarter final of the Walsall Senior cup last January. Current Brocton players that have pulled on the blue of Chasetown include Reg Smith and Connor Haddaway. Brocton Manager Alex Curtis also played for Chasetown from 2019 until his appointment as Brocton manager in 2021.

Tickets for tomorrow are: Adults & Conc. £5, U17s £3, U10s Free with paying adult with a 7:45 kickoff at The Scholars Ground, Church Street, Chasetown WS7 3QL