The 2026-27 Isle of Man football season will kick off in earnest next week.

The traditional curtain-raiser, the Eric Fletcher Charity Shield, will see last season's Canada Life Premier League champions Peel take on Hospital and FA Cup winners Corinthians under the lights at the Bowl next Friday evening (August 21), kicking off at 7pm.

The sides met no fewer than four times during the 2025-26 campaign, with the Whites claiming the bragging rights in the cup competitions – including the Railway Cup final - but the westerners stunned the Ballafletcher side 5-0 in the league, a result which proved pivotal in the destination of the title.

It remains to be seen how the two teams are shaping up ahead of the new campaign, but Peel star and Golden Boot winner Tomas Brown has been in action for FC Isle of Man recently so it will be interesting to see what his involvement is like over the coming weeks and months.

Eight days after the Charity Shield, the league programme kicks off following the Manx Grand Prix/Classic TT with a whole host of games on Saturday, August 29.

The pick of the bunch in the top flight is arguably at Ballafletcher when Corinthians take on Rushen United which should be a good gauge of both sides' progress.

Peel begin the defence of their league title when welcoming Ramsey to Douglas Road, while Laxey face a potentially tricky trip to Mullen-e-Cloie to face St John's.

St Mary's make the relatively short journey to Victoria Road to take on Braddan, while newly-promoted sides Colby and RYCOB take on Ayre United and Union Mills respectively.

The big news in Ardern and Druggan Division Two is the merger between Gymns and Douglas Athletic (see back page).

The newly-formed side will play their home games at Tromode and it appears as if they will stick to Gymns' original fixtures for the 2026-27 season.

This means that the new team will travel to Glencrutchery Road on the opening day of the campaign to take on St George's.

Having missed out on promotion by only a single point last season, Castletown will be hoping to start 2026-27 on a high note but face a tricky home test against DHSOB.

The other games in the second tier see Douglas Royal host Douglas and District, Governor’s Athletic entertain Michael United and Malew host Foxdale at Clagh Vane.

FIXTURES

Friday, August 21:

Eric Fletcher Charity Shield

(7pm KO at the Bowl)

Peel v Corinthians

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Saturday, August 29:

(2.30pm KO)

Canada Life Premier League

Colby v Ayre

St John's v Laxey

Braddan v St Mary's

Peel v Ramsey

Corinthians v Rushen

RYCOB v Union Mills

Ardern and Druggan Division Two

Douglas Royal v Douglas and District

Governor’s Athletic v Michael United

Castletown v DHSOB

Malew v Foxdale

St George's v Gymns/Douglas Athletic*

Canada Life Combination One

Ayre Utd v Colby

Laxey v St John's

St Mary’s v Braddan (1.45pm KO)

Ramsey v Peel

Rushen v Corinthians

Union Mills v RYCOB

Ardern and Druggan Combination Two

Douglas and District v Douglas Royal

Michael United v Governor’s Athletic

DHSOB v Castletown

Foxdale v Malew

Gymns/Douglas Athletic* v St George's