HUNTINGDON Town will prepare for the new season by testing themselves against tough opposition in a series of friendlies which begins with a visit from Cambridge United. Town are due back in training on July 6 with new manager Paul Swannell at the helm an

HUNTINGDON Town will prepare for the new season by testing themselves against tough opposition in a series of friendlies which begins with a visit from Cambridge United.

Town are due back in training on July 6 with new manager Paul Swannell at the helm and a complete overhaul of the squad.

Swannell told The Hunts Post he expects at least a dozen new faces to line up for the pre-season training at Jubilee Park.

Among these will be Ryan Francis and Paul Turner, both from March, and Luke Weston from Wisbech.

The new-look team's first test will be a home tie against Nationwide Conference outfit Cambridge United on Monday, July 24 (kick off 7.45pm).

United had spent 35 years in the professional football leagues until their recent relegation, but this is the sort of tie the new boss is hoping will test his team.

"I've tried to organise friendlies against teams which play at an equal or higher standard than us," he said.

Town will line up again five days later on Saturday, July 29 against Bedford United and Valerio FC in an away match which begins at 3pm. The team play in Spartan South Midlands FL Division One and finished 10th last season.

Hoddesdon Town will be the next visitors to Huntingdon on Saturday, August 5. Kick-off 3pm. Hoddesdon are in the same league as Bedford and finished three places above their rivals.

Stevenage Borough FC's academy team provide the opponents at Jubilee Park on Wednesday, August 9 (7.45pm) and on Saturday, August 12, the final friendly is scheduled to be played at Huntingdon against Langford United, who play in the Bedfordshire County Reserve League. Kick-off 3pm.

Huntingdon finished 12th in UCL Division 1 last season.