It has been a busy start to the pre-season training for the Buxton squad with tough workouts over the last two weeks in preparation for the first friendly match against Macclesfield Town this Friday at the Silverlands (KO 7-45).

John Reed has been impressed with the overall fitness of the returning players and Clive Freeman and himself have been assessing a number of trialist players hoping to join the squad this summer. The biggest surprise is the return to the club of the vastly experienced Mark Hume (Pictured) who had a spell here two seasons ago before earning promotion with Eastwood Town and guiding Bradford Park Avenue to the play-offs last season.

Reed is keen to point out that Hume will be returning to the club as a centre-half. Another experienced player training with the club is Chris White following has release from Frickley Athletic. Centre-half Danny Jackson has joined from New Mills as have goalkeeper Matthew Malkin from Chesterfield, James Askey and Tom France from Macclesfield Town and youngster Josh Wilde (Sheffield Wednesday). An experienced left-winger may also be available for the Macc game.

Macclesfield Town will be playing their first pre-season match at Buxton on Friday and will be bringing their complete first team following a summer of change at Moss Rose. New signings include Lewis Chalmers, the ex-Aldershot midfielder, the returning Richard Butcher and ex-Hednesford forward Tyrone Barnett who played at the Silverlands last season when the Bucks knocked Hednesford out of the FA Trophy. Macc boss Gary Simpson will also be looking at a couple of trialists in the match ahead of the Silkmen’s trip to Ireland next weekend.

The match on Friday will be for the Keith Alexander Memorial Trophy following the untimely death of the Macclesfield manager last season. Keith was a regular visitor to the Silverlands and a great promoter of football at grassroots level and Buxton officials would like to thanks Macclesfield Town for so readily agreeing to the fixture.

Admission is just £5 for adults and £3 for concessions. A programme will be available at the match at the bargain price of just £1 and half-time entertainment will be in the form of a penalty shoot-out from players from Chapel Junior Under 10’s. The match will be over 90 minutes with a penalty shoot-out if level, there will be no extra-time.