Crusaders and Dungannon Swifts had already agreed to visit Dixon Park and during the past few days fixtures against Ballymena United and Cliftonville have been confirmed.

First up will be the clash with the Crues on Saturday 4th July, followed by Dungannon on Saturday 18th which will coincide with the club's annual Open Day.

Ballymena will be in town for an evening kick-off on Thursday 23rd, with Cliftonville providing the opposition on Saturday August 1st.

In addition there will be several away games against junior opposition, so the lads should be in good shape for the start of the new season on August 8th.

Training commenced on Saturday morning at the City of Belfast Playing Fields at Mallusk, where over thirty players were put through their paces by coaches Gordon Chambers, Glenn McCrum, Aaron Cowan, Michael McWilliams, Allen Huxley and Keith McAuley.

Commenting Gordon Chambers said, "There were sixteen newcomers in the squad of thirty plus. These included some young players and some more experienced ones, and over the next few weeks our squad for the new season will begin to take shape.

"It was most encouraging to have so many at our first training session, and we will be monitoring progress as our training programme develops."