Long trek south beckons again as Latics face National League opener at Southend

Latics will start their second season in the National League again with a long road trip away for their supporters, following the release of the 2023/24 fixtures.

Last year, the fans had to travel to Torquay to start their National League programme.

This season they will open their campaign away at cash-strapped Southend United.

The Shrimpers, who face yet another winding up order in the courts on July 12, will host Latics at Roots Hall on Saturday August 5.

Despite their financial worries off the field, Southend will provide a stern test.

They were unlucky to finish outside the playoff places in a respectable eighth position in 22/23.

Fans will only get to see their team playing National League football for the first time on the new £1m pitch laid in the summer when Aldershot Town are the visitors one week later, before local rivals Halifax Town come to Boundary Park for an evening game on Tuesday, August 15.

Six new teams are in the league, including local rivals Rochdale who dropped down from League Two last season.

Oldham travel to Dale on October 21, before entertaining them late on in the season on April 6.

New Years Day sees Hartlepool, who also lost their league status in 22/23, at Latics’ stadium, with the two teams already having played the reverse fixture at Victoria Park on Boxing Day.

The new fixtures see Latics facing the four newly-promoted sides for the first time, starting in September (at home to Oxford City and away at Kidderminster Harriers), October (away at Fylde) and November (Ebbsfleet United at home).

They will finish the 23/24 campaign at Boundary Park on Saturday April 20 when Wealdstone are the visitors.

It has already been a busy summer for manager David Unsworth after last season ended on a high by winning four of their final five games and ending in mid table.

After the club announced the release of nine players and four loanees at the beginning of May, the squad has already been strengthened with several new players brought in, including midfielder Josh Lundstram from Altrincham, striker Kurt Willoughby from Chester FC, midfielder Dan Ward, who has come from Gateshead, and defenders Charlie Raglan and Shaun Hobson who joined from Cheltenham Town and Southend United respectively.

The Latics players have now returned to training and will play a friendly away at Hyde United on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

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