Trinity set for first pre-season test at Frickley Athletic

Manager Russ Wilcox leads his new look squad into their first pre-season game of the 2026/27 on Saturday when he takes his Gainsborough Trinity team to one of his former sides, Frickley Athletic (3pm).

It's set to be another blistering hot day as the intensive preparations step up a gear with what is sure to be a tough test against a side that already have two games under their belt.

Trinity's players are put through their paces in pre-season training. Photo by Sean Cook, Foxby Media.

placeholder image — Trinity's players are put through their paces in pre-season training. Photo by Sean Cook, Foxby Media.

Wilcox's charges will be looking to gel, and for supporters it will be a first look at new signings Callum Hawkins, Elliott Whitehouse, Connor Brown and permanent signing Theo Williams.

Goalkeeper Hawkins signed following his release from Curzon Ashton.

Experienced midfielder Whitehouse, brings a wealth experience having played at sides including Scunthorpe United, Grimsby Town and Lincoln City in an impressive career.

Striker Connor Brown - an exciting forward - is preparing to make the step up from Lincoln United, where he spent the season following his release from Nottingham Forest.

But old favourites like Ash Jackson and local lad Lewis Butroid will bring a sense of the familiar, after Wilcox opted to tune up his squad rather than make wholesale changes.

A trip to Lincoln United follows the Frickley opener next Tuesday in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup, before Basford United are the hosts at 1pm in Trinity's third successive away warm-up fixture a week on Saturday.

With league fixtures due to land in the next fortnight, the opening to the campaign is quickly approaching - and with extra play-off spots up for grabs, Trinity will be hoping this could finally be their year.