BRADFORD Park Avenue’s new head coach Alex Meechan wasted no time in getting to work once his appointment was confirmed on Saturday, with the club quickly announcing another three pre-season friendly games.

League One neighbours Bradford City will be travelling to the Horsfall Stadium, as will National League near-neighbours Guiseley. Meechan will also be taking his side to the north east to face Consett on their 3G pitch.

The games are added to Bradford’s first warm-up game at local Toolstation Northern Counties East Division One side Eccleshill United and the commemorative visit from a Newcastle United XI.

Bradford are paying tribute to Donald Bell throughout the coming season, one hundred years after the great man fell in the Great War.

Bell is one of Park Avenue’s most renowned former players – he was a professional with the club when World War One broke out and he asked to released so that he could take up the call to arms from his country.

He served with distinction and one particular act of bravery, at Horseshoe Trench on July 5 1916, earned him the Victoria Cross.

He was never to know he had been awarded the highest military honour, however, as just five days later he was killed leading by example yet again.

Bell remains the only professional footballer to have been awarded the VC. He played as an amateur for Newcastle United prior to signing for Bradford and the two clubs will meet at Horsfall on July 10, the date he fell in battle, at what has since been known as, Bell’s Redoubt on the Somme.

The Magpies have confirmed that Rafa Benitez and his first team squad will be away on a pre-season tour at the time but they will be sending a representative side.

The game will still be a big occasion and the Army will be represented on the day, while some of Bell’s family will also be in attendance.

Bradford’s proposed first friendly was set to be at home against Worksop Town – scheduled for Saturday July 2 – but the club have confirmed that it has been cancelled to allow the pitch more time to recover from remedial work carried out over the close season.

l Avenue's 2016-17 home kit will also commemorate Donald Bell VC, on the 100-year anniversary of his death.

The kit is a replica of the one Bell wore whilst playing for Avenue, with thin green and white hoops. It also carries a small tribute to the great man as well as a photograph of him wearing the kit.