Peter Taylor will follow a tried and tested pre-season route by taking City to Essex for five days.

The nine-game schedule of friendlies includes four matches in the south.

City will be based in a sports hotel complex near Colchester which Taylor has used with previous clubs.

He said: “I’ve done it nearly every year and it’s a really good training place.

“It’s good for the players and they will enjoy it.

“It’s going to be hard work but there are plenty of activities.

“We will be taking at least 22 players and nobody will play a full 90 minutes. We will still be training every day.”

The list, which kicks off at Eccleshill on July 9, includes a match with little-known Stambridge United from the Southend Borough Combination.

“You try and play the weaker teams early on,” added Taylor. “With Stambridge, I’m doing them a favour from many moons ago.

“It’s always good for the players to be playing games. They’d rather play 45 minutes than train all the time.

“But there will be plenty of running and once the first pre-season matches start, I’m sure they will thoroughly enjoy it.”

City will again go to Guiseley – as part of the James Hanson tribunal agreement – and North Ferriby. The only league opposition will be newly-promoted Rochdale, who the Bantams face at Spotland on the last weekend before the season kicks off.

Valley Parade’s relaid pitch will get its first test for the final friendly with a rare home Bradford derby against Park Avenue.

City pre-season: Friday, July 9, Eccleshill A (7pm); Tuesday, July 13, Guiseley A (7pm); Saturday, July 17, North Ferriby A (1pm); Tuesday, July 20, Stambridge A (7pm); Wednesday, July 21, Canvey Island A (7pm); Friday, July 23, Ashford Town (Middlesex) A (tbc); Saturday, July 24, Chelmsford A (3pm); Saturday, July 31, Rochdale A (3pm); Tuesday, August 3, Park Avenue H (7.45pm).