BANBRIDGE Town return to action this week with a friendly match against IFA Premiership side Dungannon Swifts at Cheney Park on Thursday evening (7.30pm).
The game provides manager Colin Malone with his first opportunity to run his eye over his squad ahead of the new IFA Championship season which starts on August 2.
The league takes a new look this season with 17 teams involved.
With no fewer than 1
0 new signings arriving at Crystal Park in the summer break Malone certainly has plenty to mull over in preparation of the new season.
Also mulling over things is Town captain Barry Tumilty who trained with Newry City last night (Monday), having trained with Banbridge on Saturday.
The match also provides a return to Banbridge for Aaron Baker who signed for the Swifts in the period between former manager Michael Lamont's dismissal and Malone's appointment.
game
The game marks the start of the Town's pre-season friendly run with Newry City the next visitors to Banbridge on Tuesday July 15.Supporters are asked to note that both the games between Newry and Dungannon at Cheney Park will only be accessable through the turnstiles at Crystal Park. The Burnview Terrace entrance will be closed.
Meanwhile the Town have also been included in the new look Cooperative Insurance Cup.
Last season's competition featured solely Premier League sides but the competition has been extended to include teams from the new look IFA Championship.
The competition opens on August 26 with a preliminary tie between two as yet undecided Championship sides.
Rounds One and Two of the competition will feature exclusively Championship sides before the big boys of the Premiership get involved in Round Three. All ties will be played over two legs up until the semi final which will be played over 90 minutes with extra time and penalties if necessary.
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