GUISELEY will prepare for their first Blue Square North campaign with a programme of eight pre-season friendlies.

Manager Steve Kittrick will be taking the opportunity to get his squad match fit before the new season kicks off on August 14.

Their first match is due to be against Bradford City at Nethermoor on Tuesday, July 13.

The match could mark the return to the club of striker James Hanson who joined Bradford City last year and made a big impact during his debut season.

The match between the clubs was part of the settlement determined by an FA Tribunal when they failed to reach agreement on a transfer fee.

City are regular pre-season visitors to Guiseley and the match against Peter Taylor’s new-look squad will have added interest.

City are the only Football League side in Guiseley’s list with the remaining matches all being against non league opponents.

Significantly the City match is one of only two home games that Guiseley will stage in their warm up programme.

The other one is their final friendly against Gateshead on Saturday, August 7, seven days before the big kick off.

After facing City on Tuesday, July 13, Guiseley travel to Ossett Albion on Saturday, July 17 to face their old UniBond Premier Division rivals.

A visit to Northern Counties East League outfit Garforth Town on Tuesday, July 20 is followed by an away encounter at another UniBond Premier Division club, Frickley Athletic.

A trip to Clitheroe on Tuesday, July 27 is followed by a match at Throstle Nest against local rivals Farsley Celtic who are setting out again after their financial problems of last season.

Manager Kittrick takes his squad to face his old club Ossett Town on August 3, before Guiseley tackle Gateshead in their final friendly.

Kittrick has been busy building his squad for the Blue Square North campaign and has been engaged in negotiations with existing squad members and potential new players.

He has already added fire power with the sign ing of Halifax Town’s 24-year-old striker Ryan Toulson.

Existing squad members Jon Worsnop, Simon Ainge, James Cotterill, Jez Fitzgerald, Dave Merris, Andy Bell, Liam Needham, Steve Burton, Chris Holland, Matt Young, Craig Bentham, James Walshaw and Simon Johnson have all committed their immediate futures to the club following last season’s title triumph.