Ashton kicks off the weekend

Last updated : 17 July 2015 By Tony Scholes

That means a trip to Hurst Cross and I'm not aware of the two clubs ever having met before. We will be playing at one of the oldest continually used football grounds in world football. It has been Ashton United's home since 1879.

They are members of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League and ended last season in third place behind FC United of Manchester and Workington and they are expected to be one of the strongest sides in the league again in 2015/16.

I was expecting to see a former Burnley youth player in the Ashton side. That's Ashley Young who started his scholarship with us around 2008 before completing it at Bury.

The key man for Ashton is likely to be captain and central defender Jay Gorton. He's a tough player getting ready for a season that will start late for him having been sent off at the end of last season which has landed him a four match ban.

It's difficult to determine what the Burnley team will be. A year ago they kicked off at Chester with Luke Conlan captaining the side but I've just learned he's currently at St. Mirren with a view to a loan with the Scottish Championship club.

I expect players such as Tom Anderson and Cameron Dummigan will be involved with the first team tomorrow so we'll select from the other players listed in the Development Squad alongside some of the youth players and maybe some trialists.

Kick off, as shown on the poster, is 7:30 p.m. tonight.