Bradford Park Avenue have played all-comers in pre-season so far and, with a fortnight to go before their first league game, they are still packing friendly games in.

On Saturday, they are at Harrogate Town, who almost joined them in the Evo-Stik Premier League.

While Avenue missed promotion to the Blue Square North after a play-off final defeat, Town finished bottom of that section.

The club were saved from relegation, though, partly due to the demise of another local club.

With Farsley Celtic having to resign from the BSN because of administration, it appeared that only one club would be relegated.

When Northwich Victoria were demoted, also for financial reasons, Town were safe, despite finishing last.

Avenue manager Simon Collins feels the North Yorkshire outfit have made the most of their late reprieve.

He said: “Harrogate Town have got a good squad this season - Simon Weaver has done very well over the close season and made some very good signings.

“All the friendlies have given us a test of sorts and we have tried to give ourselves as much of a wide scope as possible.

"We are planning for August 21 and the home game against Chasetown that has three points riding on it.

“All the clubs we have faced in pre-season friendlies have done their best against us, and that has been great for us.

"The games against Durham, Liversedge and Pontefract Collieries were really good for fitness.

“Huddersfield Town and Bradford City were top quality. They put full-scale squads out against us, and that was a fantastic learning curve for our players.

"When you are playing against lads who have cost or are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds - in Town’s case nearly a million - then our players are going to benefit.

“I expect Harrogate to provide a similar test to what Droylsden gave us.

"They were good - slightly better than us but we gave them a good run for their money in the first half, and if we do that on Saturday and get a couple of goals while we are at it, we might get the result.”