Cardiff City play their first pre-season fixture when manager Neil Warnock sends his Bluebirds out against Taffs Well at their Rhiw’r Ddar ground on Friday (7pm).
Many first team players are due to attend the fixture, although City are likely to field members of their under-23 squad.
This is the third successive year that Warnock has taken his Bluebirds to Taffs Well and an attendance of 2,000-plus is expected.
“I’ve always gone to a local team to start pre-season with,” says Warnock. “You get critics but it brings the players down to earth.
“I had someone saying to me ‘do you want to get changed at (Cardiff City Stadium)’ and then travel to the game, but I said ‘do I hell?’
“I want to change at Taff’s Well, in their dressing room and let the players have a look at it — because they might be playing there if it wasn’t for me.
The Wellmen play in the FAW Championship South – the new name for Welsh League football – and their pitch is in excellent condition. Cardiff groundstaff have played a major role in preparation for the fixture.
City have won 1-0 and 3-0 on their previous visits to Rhiw’r Ddar and Warnock says: ““Taff’s Well have been so accommodating over the last few years, so we thought we’d do the same again and make a good contribution to the coffers.
“We’re delighted – Taff’s Well are a lovely, friendly club. The boys will be down there, some playing and some around the place, and it will be a lovely night again.”
Chief executive Ken Choo says: “Our matches with Taff’s Well over the past two summers have been great occasions for both sides and the supporters.
“We’re all looking forward to meeting them again as we help to raise funds for a fantastic cause.”
Proceeds from the match will go towards supporting Tŷ Hafan.
“We went to Tŷ Hafan before the end of the season and all said that we’ve got to try and do some fundraising for them,” said Warnock.
Pre-season fixtures for Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County, Wrexham and Merthyr Town
June
Sat 29
Cefn Druids 0, Wrexham 4
July
Fri 5
Taffs Well v Cardiff City (Rhiw’r Ddar, 7pm)
Fleetwood Town v Wrexham (Poolfoot Farm Training Ground, Thornton-Cleveleys, 7.30pm)
Sat 6 Merthyr Town v Swansea City u-23 (MetCoaches Stadium, 3pm)
Tue 9
Portimonense SC v Wrexham (Estádio Municipal de Portimão, Portugal, 7pm)
Sat 13
Crawley Town v Swansea City (People’s Pension Stadium, 3pm)
AFC Telford United v Wrexham (New Bucks Head, 6pm)
Merthyr Town v Abercwmboi (3pm). Alzheimer’s charity match
Sun 14
San Antonio v Cardiff City (San Antonio, USA, 1am BST)
Tues 16
Yeovil Town v Swansea City (Huish Park, 7.45pm)
Undy AFC v Newport County (The Causeway, 7pm)
Merthyr Town v Cwmbran Celtic (MetCoaches Stadium, 7.30pm)
Wed 17
Shrewsbury Town v Newport County (Ludlow Stadium, 7pm)
Wrexham v Stoke (Racecourse Ground, 7pm)
Fri 19
Bath City v Newport County (Twerton Park, 7pm)
New Mexico v Cardiff City (Albuquerque, USA, 3.30 BST)
Sat 20
Exeter City v Swansea City (St James Park, 3pm)
Curzon Ashton v Wrexham (Tameside Stadium, 3pm)
Sat 20 Cardiff Met v Merthyr Town (Away, 2pm)
Sun 21
Real Valladolid v Cardiff City (Edmonton, Canada, 2am BST)
Mon 22
Weston-super-Mare v Newport County (Optima Stadium, 7pm)
Tue 23
Bristol Rovers v Swansea City (Memorial Ground, 7.45pm)
Merthyr Town v Newport County (MetCoaches Stadium, 7.30pm)
Wed 24
Newport County v Chelsea u-23s (Newport Stadium, 7pm)
Thurs 25
Merthyr Town v Penydarren BGC (MetCoaches Stadium, 7.30pm)
Sat 27
Cardiff City v Nice (Cardiff City Stadium, 3pm)
Swansea City v Atalanta (Liberty Stadium, 3pm)
Wrexham v Crewe (Racecourse Ground, 3pm)
Harborough Town v Merthyr Town (Away, 3pm)
Weds 31
Aberfan v Merthyr Town (Away, kick-off TBC)
August
Fri 2 Merthyr Town v Penybont FC (MetCoaches Stadium, 7.30pm)