Fresh off an unbeaten title-winning season in Division One Midlands, where they recorded an impressive 19 victories and three draws, Lightning are now shifting their focus towards what promises to be an exciting new challenge at a higher level.
Their pre-season campaign kicked off last Sunday with an internal training match, and the squad now faces a series of six fixtures as they build towards their league opener on August 17th.
The first test comes this Sunday with a behind-closed-doors clash at home against Oxford United. A proven side in the Southern Premier Division, Oxford finished fifth last season, making them a strong opening opponent to assess Lightning’s readiness for the jump to tier three.
One week later, on July 20th, Lightning hit the road to face Swindon Town. Swindon enjoyed a successful 2024/25 campaign, finishing third in Division One South West with 13 wins, five draws, and just four defeats.
Their preparations continue with another away fixture on July 27th against AFC Wimbledon, a familiar name in the Southern Premier Division. Wimbledon will offer another stern test, having established themselves as a competitive force at this level.
Just days later, Lightning face another Southern Premier opponent, Cheltenham Town, in a midweek fixture on Thursday, July 31st. Cheltenham finished eighth last season and will be looking to make strides under new head coach Luke Beardsmore, providing Lightning with yet another challenging outing.
The penultimate fixture sees Lightning return home to welcome Queens Park Rangers (QPR) to the Loughborough University Stadium on August 3rd. With QPR making several new signings over the summer, this promises to be an entertaining contest for supporters.
Lightning will conclude their pre-season schedule on August 10th with what looks to be their most evenly matched test, a home fixture against Real Bedford. Like Lightning, Real Bedford secured promotion last season after topping the Division One South East table with 14 wins, seven draws, and just a single defeat.
With a well-balanced pre-season line-up, Lightning will hope to fine-tune their squad, build fitness, and gain valuable experience as they prepare for their upcoming season in the Northern Premier Division.