LESS than a month remains before Kendal Town FC kick off the 2018/19 season in the newly-formed Evo-Stik West Division.

While there is a new look to the format of the leagues, the Mintcakes start the new campaign against a familiar opponent as they travel to take on Welsh outfit Colwyn Bay for the curtain raiser on August 18.

The first home tie for David Foster’s side sees Skelmersdale visit on August 21.

Mintcakes faithful will have to wait until September to see a Saturday league game at the ST&B Accountants Stadium when Newcastle Town are the visitors.

Last time around in the now defunct North division, Kendal struggled to 18th in the 22-team league. The year began with play-off ambitions but they finished some 22 points short of the mark.

In advance of the club’s first pre-season fixture against Furness last night – an earlier match against a Morecambe XI was cancelled – details of the 2018/19 playing squad were revealed.

The Mintcakes will once again be led by Stuart McDonald with the long-serving midfielder hoping to lead by example and set the tone from the middle of the park.

His deputy will be former Lancaster and Bamber Bridge man Gavin Clark.

Clark, who can play in either defence or midfield, joined the club in February.

Brad Carroll is another player who joined midway through last season to commit his future to club, with the former Clitheroe skipper turning down opportunities to move from Kendal.

Matthew Clarke impressed on the flanks for the first team having worked his way through the ranks at Parkside Road, and he is also set to remain at the club.

Last season’s joint-top scorer Charlie Bowman, and the Mintcakes’ longest-serving player Ben Thomas, are two more who will continue to wear the black and white stripes next season.

Other familiar faces retained to Kendal are experienced midfielder Martin Grundy, right-sided player Danny McGahon, creative midfielder Sam Staunton-Turner, midfielder Danny Penswick, defender Jacob Davis and forward Mark Buchan.

The club has also confirmed details of a new player who has arrived to bolster the ranks of Foster’s squad.

Aaron Fleming has put pen to paper on terms for the coming season.

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder was formerly on the books of Blackpool FC.

He has also represented AFC Fylde, Bamber Bridge, Ramsbottom, Droylsden, Padiham and Colne.

On the flip side, five key first team players have departed the club, including first-choice goalkeeper Will Kitchen who has left to join Garstang in the North West Counties Division.

Rick Seear and Connor Gaul were two of Kendal’s biggest attacking threats last time around but they too have sought pastures new.

Paul Dawson and Josh Wardle are another two players to have moved on since the end of last season.