THE JAMES Cropper Westmorland Football League season is scheduled to begin in September and its fixtures have been revealed.

The new campaign is expected to get underway on September 5, in line with other leagues across the UK.

While the 2019/2020 season was cut short with due to the Covid 19 pandemic, all the teams in the three divisions are aiming to battle through the current uncertainty in the new campaign.

Announcements of the fixtures has given clubs the clarity they have sought in recent months.

Division One will see a return of the defending champions and their old rivals.

Current League champions Keswick will begin with an away game against Kirkby Stephen on matchday one.

This will be followed by the visit of Penrith’s reserve team to Crosthwaite Road the following weekend.

Appleby, who are one of the nearest challenges to Keswick, will begin by playing two away games against Penrith Reserves and Marsh United.

United, who are one of the newer teams to join the division after the recent approval of their application, will start at home game against Kirkoswald.

Ibis are hoping to make a good start to the season, although they will begin with a difficult away game at Wetheriggs United.

Stephen Bowmans’ Endmoor KGR squad will be away at Carleton Banks in their first game.

The second weekend of the season will see a number of teams such as Sedbergh & Dent United, Kirkoswald, Shap and Windermere starting their campaigns.

Division Two promises to be competitive with 14 teams in total, including Cartmel & District Reserves, who are the latest team to join the division.

The most significant fixture on the opening day will be Ibis Reserves against AFC Carlisle, while Cartmel begin their campaign in the James Cropper Westmorland League with an away game at Burneside.

Kendal County Reserves will face Ambleside away while with Kendal United Reserves will be making the away trip to play Greystoke. In the other games Staveley United host Appleby Reserves while Keswick Reserves play Penrith Academy.

In Division Three, Kendal United’s newly formed A Team will start at home against Braithwaite, while Lunesdale United, who are returning to The Westmorland League, begin at home to Wetherigg United Reserves.

Many of the games will still be subject to Covid-19 regulations, however a limited number of supporters are now allowed to watch grassroots football across the country.