FOR Warrington Town manager Mark Beesley, this festive period will be a particularly special one.

Awaiting his side over the next week is a double-header against Chester – the club he served with distinction during his playing career.

Town visit the Leap76 Stadium this afternoon for a Boxing Day clash before the Cestrians make the return journey to Cantilever Park on New Year’s Day.

And as a result of Beesley’s impressive guiding of his newly-promoted side through their first half-season in the National League North, the sides go into today’s match just two points apart in the upper reaches of the table.

As a player, Beesley made close to 100 appearances for the original Chester City FC between 2000 and 2003, scoring 34 times and proving a popular figure before briefly returning on loan in 2009.

And while he is looking forward to returning to his old stomping ground, the former striker is looking to make sure said return is a happy one.

“For me personally, the Chester games were the ones I was looking forward to when we got into this league,” he said.

“I’ve not really been back since I left there as a player funnily enough, so it will be great to go back there.

“It’s a great club that means something to me because I was there for so long, they’re doing great and they’re looking after themselves.

“For us, it’s a game we relish and look forward to. We’ve played some big clubs already this year and Chester are right up there.

“We’ve got good players that enjoy the big occasions and the good pitches, so it’s something to look forward to.”

Town go into the game in good form, with Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Banbury United making it seven points from a possible nine during December.

They were boosted during that game by the return of midfielder Matty McDonald, who came off the bench to make his first appearance since the opening day of the season having struggled since then with a knee issue.

They will also have McDonald’s fellow midfielder Bohan Dixon available again after he completed a two-match ban, but forward Connor Woods still has one game of his own suspension to serve – he will be eligible for the reverse fixture on New Year’s Day.