Kendal Town have a date with a former manager tomorrow when they travel to Fulwood Amateurs in the FA Vase.
Tony Hesketh, a popular figure when he was in charge at Parkside Road, moved to general manager last season when Fulwood finished fourth in the West Lancashire Premier Division.
That was high enough for them to apply to move up to the NW Counties Division One North, the highest level of football they have been at in their 101-year history.
They have made a decent start, too, at the higher level and after seven games have 12 points which has put them fifth in the table.
Hesketh, who has also managed Barrow and Lancaster as well as Kendal, is a legend in non-League circles and has been a catalyst in Fulwood’s rise up the ranks.
Kendal had a good 3-0 win in mid-week against Northallerton to move fifth in the Northern League Division One table.
But this will be no walk in the park and everyone with the Mintcakes – management and players – expect a tough test.
Penrith have a free week because they were knocked out of the Vase by Campion.
Carlisle City are not involved yet because of the progress they have made in the competition over the last two years.
They are, however, playing a League game at Birtley just 10 days after they played-out a 1-1 draw at Gillford Park.
City are eighth in the table, three points off the play-offs, but they are four points better off than Birtley who lie 15th.
Holker Old Boys are also involved in FA Vase action with a home tie against Route One Rovers, a Bradford club who play their home games in Keighley.
They are mid-table in North Countiers East with five wins and six defeats from their 11 League games so far.
The club was formed in 2013, choosing the name Route One Rovers as a joke about playing styles.
In the West Lancashire League’s Premier Division, Milnthorpe Corinthians have no game but the other three Cumbrian sides are all away.
Millom have lost ground after a great start to life in the top flight and three recent defeats have seen them slip to eighth.
Tomorrow they travel to Rossendale, who started the season slowly but have rallied, although last week they went down 5-2 at Lostock St. Gerard’s.
Cleator Moor Celtic were the only one of the Cumbrian teams to pick up a point last week in a 1-1 home draw with Haslingden St Mary’s.
But as in the previous home game with Blackpool Wren Rovers they were denied all three points by a late equaliser.
Tomorrow they travel to Burscough Richmond who have three wins, a draw and one defeat on their own patch.
Whitehaven continue to have player availability problems which is seriously holding back their chances of pushing up the League.
Only one recognised defender, a part-time goalkeeper and two teenagers on an under-manned bench didn’t help last week when they lost 5-1 at home to a recently reinforced Burscough Richmond side.
Tomorrow they travel to Poulton who have only played three of their nine games at home, winning two and losing one. They sit ninth in the table.
