Silsden boss Chris Reape has expressed his delight at landing a plum friendly at home to neighbours City.

The Bantams will kick off their pre-season campaign at the Asda Foundation Stadium on Wednesday, July 13 (7.45pm).

And a big crowd looks in prospect as City fans get their first look at Peter Jackson’s side in his opening game in charge after he was named the club’s permanent new boss this week.

“It’s a cracking pre-season game for us and one we’re really looking forward to,” said Reape.

“It’s a good one not just for Silsden but for local people generally as there are a lot of City fans around this area.”

It is not the first time Jackson, who was a Greenhead School pupil and played for Keighley Boys, has brought a Football League club to play the Cobbydalers.

He was manager of Huddersfield Town when the Terriers beat Silsden 1-0 in a friendly at Cougar Park in November 2005.

Reape, who has been told to expect a largely first-team Bantams squad at Keighley Road, said: “Peter Jackson is a Keighley lad and it’s nice of him to think of his own roots.

“We approached the club, like we have done with others, and it’s nice of him to oblige.”

The match will also be a chance for the North West Counties League Premier Division club to showcase their new ground in Silsden, which they returned to last year, and help them put the finishing touches to it.

Reape said: “We’ve been doing a lot of work off the field (with the ground) in our first year back and there are still a few things that need finishing off. Hopefully this fixture can help us do that.”

Silsden have also arranged a fixture at home to Oldham Athletic four days earlier, when the Latics are set to send a youth team. Reape is an under-16 coach at Oldham’s centre of excellence.

Having moved back to the town following several years at Cougar Park, Silsden found it tough last season but an impressive end to the campaign preserved their top-flight status.

“We were always going to struggle as whatever finances we had went into the ground,” said Reape.

“There was a lot of swapping and changing but in our last 16 games we won eight, drew four and lost four.

“We’re speaking to players about next season but they’re not committing yet as the last campaign has only just finished. But we’ve sewn a few seeds.”