Penrhyncoch manager Gari Lewis anticipates a tricky start when his side kick off their new campaign in the FAW Championship North with a trip to take on mid Wales rivals Llanrhaeadr.

The first day fixture on Saturday, 17 August will see Llan buoyed by returning to their village ground after sharing with Llansantffraid FC at Treflan last term.

Although early in the campaign, it is a big game for both sides who survived a survival scrap, with Llan finishing one place and two points above the Roosters.

Lewis’ men will have a score to settle after losing twice to their opponents last term, first suffering a 1-0 reverse at home, before they then went down 2-1 away.

“It’s a tough start as Llanrhaeadr will be glad to be back on their own patch and will want to do well,” said manager Lewis. “They are a strong and physical outfit that did amazingly well last season, and are looking for the same again this time. Although we lost twice to them, there was not much between the sides, but they took their chances and we missed ours.”

Penrhyn’s first home game is the following week against Ruthin, before they head to newly-promoted Mid Wales champions Llanfair United on Tuesday, 28 August, for a midweek derby tussle.

Meanwhile, experienced campaigner Sion Meredith has joined the Roosters’ management team, linking up with Lewis and Iwan Roberts. With Antonio Corbisiero having taken on coaching duties at neighbours Aberystwyth Town, the Roosters chief was looking for another experienced campaigner to fill his shoes.

The players returned to training on Tuesday as they prepare for their opening pre-season friendly match at home against Afan Lido on Saturday, 13 July.

On the playing front, Lewis has made an approach to bring in a midfielder with Huws Gray Cymru Alliance experience as he looks to fill the void after Luke Sherbon announced he was stepping down.Meanwhile the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance officially signed off with its AGM, where the Manager of the Season award was presented Steve O’Shaughnessy of champions Airbus Broughton, with Mel McGuiness of Holyhead Hotspur being awarded with the Player of the Season.

The Top Scorer was Llyr Morris of Ruthin Town, the Club of the Season was Airbus Broughton, the Programme of the Season award went to Porthmadog and Best Disciplinary Record to Bangor City.It has been confirmed that Bangor have been spared relegation to the third tier - after a 42-point deduction was halved. The three-time Welsh champions were issued with multiple charges for alleged breaches of FAW rules in May, but after submitting fresh information, an appeal panel reduced the sanction to 21 points, with third-from-bottom Holywell Town relegated on goal difference to Bangor.

The Citizens, who were demoted from the Welsh Premier League at the end of the 2017-18 season after being refused a domestic licence by the FAW, have also been fined £700 over the charges that included fielding ineligible players. The club also staved off a High Court winding up order for the third time in 12 months.