Stoke City will travel to Chester FC on Thursday night to kick off their preseason campaign.
The National League North team that the Championship team is playing their first match of the month against performed admirably against another EFL team over the weekend.
Despite his successful 2023–24 escape from relegation, Steven Schumacher is aware that a push for promotion is anticipated this time around.
Stoke has momentum after finishing the season with three straight victories, and Schumacher will want to keep it going in the upcoming weeks.
This is the first of five away games for the team; the remaining games are against Cork City, Crewe Alexandra, Stockport County, and Bolton Wanderers. Their preparations will end at home against AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands.
As things stand, their three summer additions have all been on the back end, with Eric Bocat of Sint-Truiden, Ben Gibson of Norwich City, and goalkeeper Viktor Johansson all making the move to the Bet365 Stadium.
Additional acquisitions will be made gradually, but when the upcoming second-tier season begins, this team is anticipated to have a new look.
Chester, on the other hand, is getting ready for another season in the sixth division after missing out on the National League playoffs the previous year.
Despite scoring 69 points from 46 games, the North-West team was six points short of the finish, so Calum McIntyre had to try to assemble a team that could finish higher than 10th.
Chester has already played one game in preparation for the upcoming campaign, losing to Stockport 3-2 at home last weekend.
Their upcoming games against FC Isle of Man, Lancaster City, Altrincham, and Macclesfield Town will follow this main event.
About The Author
