After an impressive end to last season, we will look forward to preparing for next season with a whole host of friendlies, with a few big names involved that a lot of people will have heard of.

We have five friendlies scheduled, with the first one being on Saturday the 2nd July against fellow West Yorkshire side Garforth Town, kick off will be at 2:30pm. This friendly will signal the start of a pre-season campaign which ends on Wednesday the 3rd August, a few days before the 2016/17 NCEL season kicks off on Saturday the 6th August.

The next friendly is a big one, as Eccleshill United FC will face off against local Vanarama National League North side Bradford Park Avenue at the Mitton Group Stadium. The two sides will meet on Tuesday the 5th July, and this will be an evening fixture, with the game kicking off at 7:30pm.

The third friendly will take place at 7:30pm on Tuesday the 19th July, and we suggest that you keep this date in your diaries, as Eccleshill United FC will be facing League 1 play-off semi-finalists Bradford City at home. The game will be against a very strong select XI Bradford City side, hopefully there will be a few well-known first team players involved, but they will not field a full strength squad.

The penultimate friendly will see the Eagles face another Vanarama National League North side, in the form of a select XI of Curzon Ashton. The Manchester based side will be visiting the Mitton Group Stadium on Saturday the 23rd July at 3pm.

The final friendly will take place on Wednesday the 3rd August at 7:45pm, and it is against ex- Eccleshill United FC striker James Hanson’s old club; Guiseley FC. Similarly to the two prior friendlies, Guiseley FC will field a select XI.

That concludes our five home friendlies over summer in preparation for the new season, with these friendlies getting us closer to the new season, there’s plenty to be excited about.