Stourbridge get their pre-season campaign under way this Saturday as they travel to AFC Bridgnorth of the West Midlands League Premier Division.
The match will be the first meeting of any kind between the two sides, but if the opposition is unfamiliar, the name and the venue will bring back memories for long-term Glassboys supporters.
AFC Bridgnorth were born out of the ashes of Bridgnorth Town FC, who folded in the Summer of 2013, and play at the same Crown Meadow ground formerly used by Town.
Stourbridge enjoyed many battles with Bridgnorth Town over the years in both League and Cups, most notably in the Southern League between 1984 and 1996, when Town were relegated to the Midland Alliance, and then again from 2000 to 2005 when Stourbridge themselves dropped down to that League. Bridgnorth were relegated from the Alliance to the Midland Combination at the end of the 2004/05 season, a year before the Glassboys climbed back into the Southern League.
Bridgnorth Town regained their place in the Midland Alliance as West Midland League Champions in 2008, but their stay lasted just five years until they folded, ironically after their best season back at that level when they finished 7th in 2012/13.
AFC Bridgnorth were formed in time to take their place in the First Division of the West Midlands League for 2013/14, and were runaway winners of the Division at the first attempt, dropping just 9 points all season and scoring 117 goals against a miserly 18 conceded.
They maintained their progress last season, finishing 2nd in the Premier Division table behind Sporting Khalsa, and again topping the 100-goal mark.
For the Glassboys, meanwhile, Saturday's match offers manager Gary Hackett the first chance to see his new signings and trialists in serious action as he looks to put last season's difficulties in the past.
The match kicks off at 3.00 pm
Ground address
AFC Bridgnorth
Crown Meadow
Innage Lane
Bridgnorth
Shropshire
WV16 4HS
Admission Charges
We are advised by AFC Bridgnorth that admission charges for Saturday's match will be as follows:
Adults....................................................£3
Concessions.........................................£1
Under 5s................................................FREE