Tulips and Tigers ready for pre-season bows on Saturday

Both Spalding United and Holbeach United face two friendly fixtures in four days as they kick-off their respective pre-season campaigns on Saturday.

The Tulips make the trip to UCL Premier Division side Wisbech Town on Saturday (3pm), before visiting UCL Division One newboys Oakham United on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

Meanwhile, the Tigers travel to Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Premier Division Swaffham Town on Saturday (3pm) ahead of another away clash at Sills & Betteridge Solicitors

Lincolnshire League Premier Division Horncastle Town on Tuesday evening (7.45pm).

The friendly games are particularly important for Spalding, who face Stamford in their first competitive game of the season on July 17 (Lincs Senior Trophy, 7.45pm).

Meanwhile, Holbeach have been handed a tough home tie against Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Premier Division side Ely City in The Emirates FA Cup extra preliminary round.

That tie will take place on Saturday, August 15 – with the winners to receive £1,500 in prize money.

Should they progress, the Tigers face a trip to either Wisbech Town or Diss Town in the Preliminary round on Saturday, August 29.

Spalding enter the competition at that stage – and will travel to either Radford or Sleaford Town.

The prize fund for that round is £1,925 for each winning side.

The Tulips are also on the road in the FA Trophy, having been handed a trip to Evo-Stik League First Division South rivals Newcastle Town in the preliminary round on Saturday, October 3.

Should they win that tie, they’ll bank £2,500 in prize money and secure a home clash against either Loughborough Dynamo or Kidsgrove Athletic.

Again, both of those sides are league rivals for Pat Rayment’s side. The prize fund for the first qualifying round is £2,700.

In the FA Vase, Holbeach have been granted exemption to the second round proper on Saturday, November 21.