CARL FORSTER says North Wales Crusaders just can’t wait for the new League One season to get underway.

Crusaders have returned to training this month in preparation for the 2025 league season, which will kick-off in February.

North Wales discovered their league fixtures earlier this week and first up will be their trip to Dewsbury Rams on Sunday, February 23.

It may be a few months away, but head coach Forster and the side are raring to go once more.

He told the club’s website: “I think this is the moment it all becomes real again isn’t it, both for fans but also for us as a playing group and coaching staff – we’ve got those dates to look forward to, and we just can’t wait to get going.”

Crusaders, who narrowly missed out on a spot in the end-of-season League One play-offs this year, will become away day specialists to get the ball rolling next season.

The clash with Dewsbury will then be followed by trips to Goole Vikings and Workington Town, before Crusaders can look forward to their first home match of the season against Cornwall on April 5.

North Wales’ final home match of last season came against Cornwall, with the Crusaders running out comfortable 40-10 winners.

Head coach Forster brought the curtain down on his playing career with a try during that contest.

Looking ahead to the league campaign, Forster said: “It’s a cliche that there’s no easy games, but when you look at League One this season, I think that’s never been more of the case.

“The fixtures come through and you think ‘that’s a tough start’, but in reality the further down you look through the list you realise that there really are no easy games.

“You’ve got three strong teams relegated into the division in Whitehaven, Dewsbury and Swinton, then Keighley who will have been disappointed to not get promoted last season and Goole who are promoted into League One but have recruited very strongly.

“You add into that the remaining sides who will all be looking to improve on 2024 and want to be in and around the play-offs.”

A new league structure shall see the four highest placed teams come the end of the season entered into the Super Eights series joined by the four lowest placed teams from the Championship to decide on promotion and relegation between the divisions for the 2026 season.

On this new format, Forster said: “It makes it harder, doesn’t it?

“You’re no longer looking at a top-six finish for the play-offs, but finishing inside the top four, so, given the side which we’ve recruited, top four has to be our aim going into the season – however, that is no easy task given the strength of the division this season.”

Crusaders have managed to secure the services of Matt Reid for the forthcoming season.

The centre, who has had two spells in North Wales, has put pen to paper on a new one-year-deal to extending his stint with the club for another season.

Reid said: “It was a pretty disappointing season in 2024, but with Jamie (Elkaleh) coming on board, the way the squad is looking, Foz’s (Carl Forster) vision for the club and generally how we are progressing, I think I have one more year in me, and it’s exciting to see where we can go, and I really want to be part of that.”

Reid, who scored six tries in 15 games this season, has an association with the Crusaders spanning a decade.

In all, he has made 75 appearances and scored 32 tries.