YATE TOWN will be the first club to kick-off their pre-season friendly fixtures this weekend when they take on League One outfit Bristol Rovers at Lodge Road.

The match on Saturday kicks-off at 3pm and will be followed by four away trips. They go to Thornbury Town on Tuesday July 18 at 6.30pm, followed by Longwell Green two days later, a game at Stonehouse Town on Saturday July 22 and Lydney Town on Tuesday July 25 (7.30pm).

The Bluebells then have two home clashes, the first against National League South side Bath City on Saturday July 29 and then the final warm-up match of the summer against local rivals Chipping Sodbury Town on Tuesday August 1 (7.30pm).

Thornbury Town and Chipping Sodbury Town begin their campaigns a few days later. Thornbury Town take on Cheddar at the Mundy Playing Fields on Tuesday July 25 before their game with Yate and then an away game at Hallen on Saturday July 22, a home match with Bitton on Saturday July 29 and finishing off against Bristol Manor Farm away on Wednesday August 2 at 7.30pm.

Sodbury are at home to Royal Wotton Bassett Town on Tuesday night (7.30pm) and then face Larkhall Athletic and Wantage Town on Tuesday July 18 and Saturday July 22 respectively at home, before they go to Brimscombe and Thrupp on Tuesday July 25 and their final match at Yate on August 1.

Fixtures for the new Evo-Stik Southern League division, which features Yate Town, the Western League, featuring Chipping Sodbury Town, and the Gloucestershire County League, where Thornbury Town play, are yet to be released but are due out in the coming weeks.