IT'S derby day delight for Pickering Town in their first fixture back in the Toolstation Northern Counties East premier division.

Rudy Funk's Pikes will make the short trip to Manse Lane on the opening weekend, with Knaresborough Town their opponents on Saturday, July 29 (3pm).

That fixture will be Pickering's first back in the division since 2018, having spent four seasons in the Pitching In Northern Premier League division one east before their relegation to the Ebac Northern League for the 2022/23 season.

While the Pikes only maintained their position at Step Five on the final day of the season - having claimed a remarkable 10 points from their final four matches before being moved back to their natural home in the NCEL - things were easier going for Simon Parkes' Knaresborough, who finished in 10th place.

The Pikes' first home fixture of the season will see them entertain newly-promoted Rossington Main at Mill Lane on Tuesday, August 1 (7:45pm).

That will be just the Doncaster-based side's second-ever Step Five fixture, having sealed promotion from the NCEL division one with victory over Horbury Town in the play-off final last term - ending a 30-year spell at Step Six.

Funk, who has achieved a quartet of promotions from the division, has set his sights on sealing a fifth with the Pikes as he begins his revolution at the club, both on and off the pitch.

The charismatic manager's plans, outlined at a meeting at the club last month, encompass everything from developing the skills of the town's younger generation to offering care home residents an outlet.

With a lot of interest generated, Funk confirmed to the Gazette & Herald earlier this week that his plans had been moving firmly in the right direction.