CHORLEY have drawn a double whammy in the FA Cup and FA Trophy in the season starting on August 21 - away in both competitions.

The Magpies travel to Bacup Borough in the FA Cup preliminary round on Saturday, September 4, and they kick off their Trophy challenge away to Stocksbridge Park Steels in the Trophy preliminary round on October 9.

If John Hughes' side get over the cup hurdle at Bacup they will be on the road again - visiting Premier Division Guiseley in the first qualifying round on September 18.

In the Trophy the reward for getting past Stocksbridge is a trip to Premier Division Radcliffe on November 6.

Chorley have a home draw in the UniBond League Cup - to new club Woodley Sports on Tuesday, October 26.

After the pre-season friendlies - a visit to Victory Park from Preston North End for the Jack Kirkland Trophy on Saturday, July 17, is followed by home games against Altrincham, Radcliffe Borough and Morecambe before they visit Marine on August 14.

The season starts with a trip to new club Spalding Town on August 21 and the following Tuesday the Magpies entertain Colwyn Bay.

The re-formed AFC Telford United come to Victory Park on Saturday, August 28.

Chorley will meet local rivals Rossendale United home and away over the Christmas and Easter holidays - on Boxing Day Monday, December 27, and at Dark Lane on Easter Monday, March 28.

THERE will be no Chorley Under-18 side next season.

The experiment of fielding an Academy team in the North West Alliance, has been discontinued after one year of operation.

Chorley Reserves will be made up of youngsters, but manager John Hughes said senior players recovering from injuries or illness would be able to regain match fitness in the second team.

CHORLEY Sporting Club officials and Magpie directors and supporters were among the large throng of mourners at the funeral of former vice-chairman Michael Bolton at St Mary's RC Church, Chorley, on Thursday.

Michael, a selfless worker for the club who was chairman of the Chorley FC Association of Former Players until his death two weeks ago, had many friends in all walks of life.

A retired businessman, he had lived in Pall Mall since coming to the town 18 years ago.

Michael's friend Stan Howard, a former Huddersfield, Barrow and Chorley footballer and Reserve team manager in the 1970s, died recently. One-time team-mates Ray Wilson and Denis Law attended the funeral