It has been four weeks since Widnes' season came to an end, but supporters can start looking towards the 2018/19 with plenty of dates for your diary this summer.

Fixtures release day is always something to look forward to and Widnes’ Evo-Stik League Division One West schedule will be revealed on Thursday, July 12th, while the new season will kick off on Saturday, August 18th.

The FA have since ratified football’s cup schedule for next term, publishing the round dates for the Emirates FA Cup and Buildbase FA Trophy.

The first fixture fans will be able to pencil into their diaries will be the Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup, the draw for which takes place on Friday, July 6th.

The draw for the Extra Preliminary Round of the Buildbase FA Trophy will take place on the same day, with Widnes entering the competition for the first time in the club's history.

With the World Cup already underway, there will be plenty of football for fans to digest throughout the summer months, but the first taste of club football will come in just under a month’s time as Widnes' pre-season campaign gets underway against Southport on Friday, July 13th (7.30pm).

The full FA fixture schedule, including the round dates for all FA competitions, is set to be announced at the end of June.

Key summer dates:

Monday, July 2nd – First Team return for pre-season training
Friday, July 6th – Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round draw
Friday, July 6th – Buildbase FA Trophy Extra Preliminary Round draw
Friday, July 13th – First pre-season fixture (Southport)
Saturday, July 28th – North West Counties Champions Cup (Runcorn Linnets)
Saturday, August 18th – Opening day of Evo-Stik League Division One West season
Saturday, August 25th – Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round

2018/19 pre-season schedule:

Friday, July 13th: Widnes v Southport – Select Security Stadium (7.30pm)
Tuesday, July 17th: Bootle v Widnes – TDP Solicitors' Stadium (TBC)
Saturday, July 21st: Ashton Town v Widnes – Edge Green Street (3pm)
Tuesday, July 24th: Gresford Athletic v Widnes – Memorial Hall (7pm)
Saturday, July 28th: Runcorn Linnets v Widnes – Millbank Linnets' Stadium (3pm)
Tuesday, July 31st: Billinge v Widnes – Barrows Farm (7pm)
Saturday, August 4th: Prestatyn Town v Widnes – Bastion Gardens (3pm)
Saturday, August 11th: St Marys AFC v Widnes – The Bowl, Isle of Man (2pm)