AFC Emley have switched three pre-season games to nearby Hall Green United so their annual clash with Huddersfield Town will be the first on the new Welfare Ground pitch.

The Championship club are sending their development side to Emley on Friday, July 26 (7.15) to compete for the Adrian Wright Memorial Trophy.

Before that the Northern Counties East League First Division outfit will relocate to Wakefield club Hall Green for an internal club game on Tuesday, July 9 (7.00) and work-outs against Altofts on Thursday, July 18 (7.00) and Harrogate Railway on Sunday, July 21 (1.00).

After taking on Town, the Welfare Ground will host games against a West Riding select side on Monday, July 29 (7.30), Brighouse Town on Friday, August 2 (7.30) and Ossett Town on Tuesday, August 6 (7.30).

Emley, who say they are close to completing a tie-up with an as-yet unnamed professional club, are also set to take part in a four-team tournament at Nostell Miners Welfare on the weekend on August 3/4.

Eager boss Darren Hepworth starts his build-up with a game at Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League side Kinsley Boys on Tuesday (7.30).

The pre-season programme brings games against sides from a variety of levels, with Altofts playing in the West Yorkshire League First Division and Harrogate Railway in the Northern Premier First Division North.

Brighouse will be again be pushing for promotion from the NCEL Premier Division this season while Ossett Town play in the Northern Premier First Division North.

Town have been visiting the Welfare Ground since 1976, when a reserve side suffered a 2-1 defeat against the original Emley (now Wakefield FC).

AFC Emley have existed since 2005, initially playing in the West Yorkshire League before a year later switching to the NCEL, of which the original club were founder members in 1982.

They achieved their highest final position of seventh last season, when they beat a Town XI 3-1 during the build-up.

Dean Wharam (2) and Ash Flynn were on target for Emley and Jordan Sinnott for Town, who have now completed first-year professional deals with keeper Ed Wilczynski, midfielder Duane Holmes and striker Paul Mullin.

Centre-back Joe Wright has also been retained as part of Steve Eyre’s Professional Development League II squad and is continuing his comeback from a long-term leg injury.