ALCESTER and Ragley Park skipper Mark Fawthrop is trying to rearrange his side's first two home fixtures because of the foot and mouth crisis.

The disease has forced the closure of Alcester's Ragley Park base for months and although the Park will provisionally reopen on Thursday, May 17, the club's opening Cotswold Hills One fixtures have been affected.

Alcester start the season at Shipston-on-Stour Seconds on Saturday (2pm start) but are set to entertain Twining the following week and Badsey the Saturday after.

The Twining match is set to be played when the park is closed and Fawthrop says the Badsey fixture, two days after the reopening, is too soon because of work needed on the pitch.

The Alcester captain is hoping to use Alveston's ground as an alternative.

"Alveston only have one side and don't play many Sunday matches so we're hoping to play the two home games on Sundays," said the captain.

Planned pre-season matches against Elmley Castle and Astwood Bank were called off at the weekend because of damp pitches but Alcester are at full-strength for the trip to Shipston.