THERE have been changes to the area's top semi-professional clubs' pre-season schedules after Bradford Park Avenue had to delay their opening friendly and Guiseley announced a plumb warm-up game against Leeds United.

The Championship outfit will visit Nethermoor on Saturday, July 8, with new boss Thomas Christiansen in charge of the Elland Road club for the first time.

Christiansen's predecessors Dave Hockaday and Garry Monk both made their managerial debuts for Leeds in the dugout at Guiseley as their sides faced the Lions in what has become a traditional opener. The match will be all-ticket, with Leeds being allocated 1500.

Avenue should have opened their pre-season schedule against Albion Sports this Saturday but that game has now been put back a fortnight.

Albion are tenants of Farsley Celtic and the Celts' pitch at Throstle Nest will not be ready following work done on it over the summer.

Mark Bower's men will now begin with a midweek friendly at Campion next Tuesday, before they host the Horsfall manager's old club Bradford City on Saturday, July 8.

Old rivals Avenue and City will once again compete for the Tom Banks Memorial Trophy, which was shared after a 2-2 draw last year.

That result meant the Bantams retained the trophy following victory in the previous Bradford derby fixture – a 3-0 victory in 2014 courtesy of a hat-trick from French trialist Achille Campion, who is currently with League of Ireland club Cork City.

City have also rescheduled a pre-season fixture. They were due to send a side to Eccleshill United on Tuesday, July 18 but Stuart McCall's outfit later agreed to travel to Nethermoor on that date to take on Guiseley.

A Bradford City XI will now visit Eccleshill a day later, as they are determined to honour their promise to the Eagles without detracting from it.