Football Chippenham looking to cash in as Rovers visit for opening pre-season clash

YOU know the start of a new football season is on the horizon once the preseason friendly schedule gets underway and that will be the case for Bristol Rovers tonight.

- Dan HARGRAVES

In recent years, the Gas have kicked off their preparations with a game at Melksham Town but this time around the Pirates will have an alternative opening opponent.

Rovers are maintaining the trend of facing a local non-League club away, but will instead play Chippenham Town, another outfit that has forged a strong relationship with the Gas down the years.

The Bluebirds finished 14th in National League South last season and hold ambitions of kicking on and progressing up the sixth-tier table with playoff positions the target this season, even if they are set to be in the same division as the likes of Dagenham & Redbridge and Torquay United this year.

Although some Gasheads may be more excited for an upcoming home fixture against last season's Championship playoff semifinalists Coventry City or will be waiting for the real stuff to start, the financial significance of hosting a local league club for Chippenham cannot be underestimated.

"A friendly against a league club like Rovers is absolutely essential, really," Bluebirds chairman Neil Blackmore told the Bristol Post. "We're hoping for a good crowd. It will give the opportunity to both Rovers and Chippenham fans to see their new teams.

"For Chippenham, if we hopefully get a good crowd in, it would give the club a really good financial boost to start the season with, which would be fantastic.