Warrington football team must play 15 games in six weeks

Indeed, they must play just under half of their league games in the next six weeks.

With the Cheshire Football League season ending on Saturday, May 7, the Thornton Road side have to clear their 15 remaining fixtures by that date.

With the weather and Covid isolations wreaking havoc earlier in the season, it has left them playing catch-up.

Their run starts with a home game against Billinge on Saturday and sees them face all of sides currently in the Premier Division’s top four – FC St Helens, Egerton, Broadheath Central and Lostock Gralam – as well as local derbies against neighbours Daten and Greenalls PSO.

To joint-managers Richard Chinn and Danny Nixon, however, this is nothing new.

They played for the club the last time they had such a run around a decade ago and they are keen to pass their experiences on to the current crop of players.

Eagle Sports joint-managers Richard Chinn and Danny Nixon

They currently sit eighth in the table with games in hand on teams around them, and they are in good form having put together an eight-match unbeaten run.

“We are on a good run currently and whilst the lads will be pushed in the coming six weeks,” Nixon said.

“If you get on a roll in this time, it really can get the place buzzing.

“We have a strong squad who will have to be rotated from week to week – the lads understand that.

“We are in this big period as a club on the up and who want to prove that we are one of the best sides in this league.”

Seven of their remaining fixtures are home games, with three of those set to be played outside of the usual Saturday afternoon slot.

And Nixon thinks this will play into his side’s hands.

“Midweek games regularly bring three-figure crowds at Thornton Road and we want that to help push the lads on, knowing that the local community is supporting us,” he said.

“We haven't had one of these runs of fixtures in a few years, but Richard and I have done it as players.

“It's something that we are experienced and the hope is that we can help our current squad cope with what is required.

“There are some big games between now and the end of the year and we are ready for them.”

Saturday’s home game against Billinge gets underway at 2pm at Thornton Road and falls on Non-League Day, with no Premier League or Championship action due to the international break.

EAGLE SPORTS’ MARATHON RUN IN FULL

Saturday, March 26 – Billinge (h)

Wednesday, March 30 – Winstanley Warriors (a)

Saturday, April 2 – Lostock Gralam (a)

Tuesday, April 5 – Garswood United (a)

Saturday, April 9 – Egerton (h)

Tuesday, April 12 – FC St Helens (h)

Saturday, April 16 – Whaley Bridge (a)

Wednesday, April 20 – AFC Knowsley (a)

Saturday, April 23 – Broadheath Central (h)

Tuesday, April 26 – Greenalls PSO (h)

Thursday, April 28 – Knutsford (a)

Monday, May 2 – Lostock Gralam (h)

Thursday, May 5 – Daten (a)

Saturday, May 7 – Crewe FC (h)