Bradford City are doing their bit for local semi-professional clubs (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford City are doing their bit for local semi-professional clubs

2:50pm Friday 3rd June 2011 in Football By Ian Whiting

Proof that the forthcoming season is getting nearer is clear after clubs began publishing dates for pre-season friendlies this week.

Bradford City are doing their bit for the local sides and have confirmed trips to Silsden and Guiseley (as part of the James Hanson transfer) and are settling a date with Bradford Park Avenue.

Leeds United have announced that they will be sending a side to face Avenue on Wednesday, July 27 and also to Farsley AFC on Saturday, August 6, which will be a reserve team as the Championship begins on that day.

Albion Sports may be new to the non-league scene but their manager Kulwinder Sandhu is using some of his contacts at Football League clubs to try to get some high-profile friendly games.

He has spoken to Peter Hall and David Wetherall about the possibility of a side representing Bradford City playing them at their new base at Horsfall Stadium.

Movement on the management and coaching staff between local semi-pro outfits is also likely to prove fruitful.

Mick Couzens left Avenue’s reserve team behind to take over at Brighouse Town, while Vince Brockie moved from running Guiseley’s second strings to managing Thackley’s first team.

Blue Square Bet North outfit Guiseley’s boss Steve Kittrick is in talks with Brockie and Farsley manager Neil Parsley to arrange suitable dates for their clubs to meet.

Brighouse will face Avenue at some point in the build-up to the coming season, following Couzens’ move to the Calderdale outfit.

Brockie is counting on a visit from Guiseley and also has a date to play Eccleshill United pencilled in, while a time and place for a game against Silsden is also under discussion.

Liversedge have already announced a schedule of five pre-season warm-up games, including Silsden and Farsley, but are hoping to add another two.