NAC tests itself in Lokeren and concludes the summer in England
The final weeks of preparation are intense. On Saturday, NAC will travel to the Daknamstadion for a friendly match against KSC Lokeren, and a week later, the trip to England for the match against Bolton Wanderers follows. These two fixtures precisely show where Carl Hoefkens' team stands, just before their first season in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.
Saturday: KSC Lokeren - NAC
Kick-off is at 4:00 PM in the Daknamstadion. Lokeren is a friendly club, with a link to Breda that goes beyond just this friendly match: former NAC coach Stijn Vreven once stood along the sideline there. It's not a match that counts for the standings, but it is one where you can see if the new players in the squad are already gelling.
For those who want to be there, tickets are available through Lokeren themselves. We are mainly looking forward to the answer to the question on everyone's mind: how will this team be doing in mid-August, when the real season starts against TOP Oss.
A week later: Bolton Wanderers - NAC
Then the absolute highlight of this preparation. On Saturday, August 1st, NAC will play against Bolton Wanderers, a Championship club, at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Kick-off is 3:00 PM English time. The Pearl of the South concludes the summer with a weekend trip to England, and these kinds of fixtures immediately feel different from a friendly match on an amateur pitch in the region.
Precisely these kinds of matches, against a renowned opponent on foreign soil, are what make you, as a supporter, draw a line under the summer. Those who make the journey prefer to bring something that works everywhere: in the stands, in the city, or simply on the facade at home if you can't join yourself.
Two tests, one goal
Lokeren and Bolton are not just two checkboxes on a list. They are the final benchmarks for a season that will be different for NAC than in previous years. Rhythm, form, a squad that needs to grow together. These two matches will provide answers to that.
Follow the matches, share your experience with us via @nacsfeer, and check the shop for items to bring on Saturday, or in England.
