The area’s two biggest non-league clubs announced their pre-season friendly fixtures this week, and Bradford Park Avenue’s includes a tasty derby with City at Valley Parade.

The Bantams will host Avenue on Tuesday, August 3, less than a week before City begin their League Two campaign.

Avenue’s opening warm-up game will be at Horsfall Stadium against another Football League near- neighbour, with Huddersfield Town providing the opposition on Wednesday, July 14.

Guiseley begin a day earlier when they host City, and the Bantams are expected to send a full squad as the fixture was agreed as part of the deal that took James Hanson to Valley Parade 12 months ago.

Hanson had just finished his second season as the UniBond League Premier Division club’s top scorer, a feat he emulated in his first season in the Football League.

The young striker also scooped a couple of player awards to boot at Valley Parade.

The Nethermoor pitch will be back under wraps after City’s visit.

The Lions are gearing up for their first season in the Conference North following promotion as champions of the UniBond Premier last May.

Their only other home friendly is against Conference outfit Gateshead on Saturday, August 7.

The pitch at Brighouse Town’s Dual Seal Stadium will take a hammering before Town’s season gets underway as they have six home friendlies booked.

Town, like Guiseley, will begin their new season in a higher division, after winning promotion to the Kool Sport Northern Counties East League Premier Division as runners-up of Division One last term.

They will be league rivals of Farsley AFC, as will Thackley and Liversedge.

Farsley were confirmed as new members after the club, born out of the demise of Farsley Celtic, was offered a place on the recommendation of the FA.