A look ahead to City’s first pre-season game of the summer

Opponents: Queens Park Rangers

Date: Monday, July 18

Venue: Clarence Park

QUEENS Park Rangers will provide the opposition in David Howell’s first game in charge of St Albans City.

The Premier League new boys have been busy adding to their squad in the build up to the new season with England internationals Jay Bothroyd and Kieron Dyer both joining the Loftus Road side for their first season in England’s top flight in 15 years.

Last season Neil Warnock’s side romped to the npower Championship title gaining promotion to the Premier League, despite having the possibility of a points deduction, linked to the transfer of Alejandro Faurlin, hanging over the club for much of the run-in.

One face familiar to City boss David Howell in the Londoners’ squad is striker Troy Hewitt, who Howell had with him at Harrow Borough last term.

The front man’s goalscoring exploits with Borough, that helped the Ryman League side into the FA Cup First Round, earned the 21-year-old a dream move into the professional ranks of the game.

Rangers are due to start their pre-season campaign tomorrow (Friday) night when they travel to Howell’s former employers, Harrow Borough.

Warnock’s side then have fixtures lined up against Tavistock, Plymouth Argyle, Bodmin Town, Cesena, Braga, Atalanta and Crawley Town.