IT’S not often you kick-off a new season with an FA Cup tie but Danny Livesey will just be glad to play a competitive match on October 3.

The 2020-21 campaign has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic and Chester will begin with a second qualifying round in the famous cup competition before heading to Kidderminster Harriers for their opening National League North fixture three days later.

Blues centre-back Livesey admits it will be weird starting off on FA Cup duty but the 35-year-old former Carlisle and Wrexham man is just looking forward to competitive action once again.

“It is a strange one and my record in the FA Cup is not great so I wouldn’t like to start off with that,” said Livesey.

“I hit the bar once in the third round for Carlisle against Everton at 1-1 in the last minute, they went up the other end and scored.

“That is the closest I came to any sort of upset and furthest I have ever got, my record is not too great!

“But it is a game. There was a time when you didn’t know if you would come back in any sort of capacity this year and the lads are just ready for it now.

“We just want to get back to a little bit of normality; it has been a weird off-season. We had the play-offs and we were keeping fit for that, we had that game and then before you know it we were back in for pre-season.”

After the 2019-20 season was suspended in March, Chester, who finished sixth in the standings, returned for July’s play-off eliminator tie against Altrincham but the Blues lost 3-2.

Livesey is hoping to launch another promotion push this term and have something to celebrate as he nears the end of his career.

“We did alright last season,” said Livesey. “It was disappointing how it ended but the lads gave everything.

“It is a great group and sooner or later I would like to think we get the results that we deserve and are pushing at the right end.

“You start thinking ‘is this going to be my last year?’ And quite possibly it might be. I want to give it my best shot and hopefully we do something this year.”

Livesey is pleased with how things are panning out as Chester, who have won four of their six friendlies, prepare for the new season.

“Pre-season is going well,” said Livesey. “Results have been hit and miss but you get that when you are working hard and trying different things. You don’t really look into results, it is all about minutes on the pitch and getting it in your legs.”

Saturday’s friendly with Macclesfield Town was postponed after the Silkmen were wound up in High Court over debts exceeding £500,000.

Livesey feels other clubs could fear for their future due to the financial implications of Covid 19.

“Macclesfield flirted with it for a little bit,” said Livesey. “I don’t know if they can be saved but you would like to think they come back in some capacity.

“It is a shame. A good club like Macclesfield, you don’t expect these sort of things but they seem to be happening more and more.

“I think that is the way it is going to go with more clubs with what is going on.”