MALVERN Town have secured a friendly against Gloucester City following the departure of Reece King to the Vanarama National League South outfit.

Midfielder King was offered terms to stay at Gloucester after signing for Tigers on a dual registration deal last season.

But Town’s former captain now looks set to return to the HDanywhere Community Stadium after the two teams agreed to face each other in pre-season.

Malvern manager Les Jones revealed they would play host to Gloucester on Tuesday, July 18 (7.45pm) and said it would be their first game on their revamped pitch.

“Our pitch is being dug up and resurfaced, so Gloucester will be our first home game on it,” Jones said.

“I spoke to their manager (Tim Harris) and he wanted to take Reece, so he has signed a contract with them.

“It was not a case of us saying you can’t have him unless we have a friendly. I know Tim well as he used to be at Malvern and we agreed to have a game.”

Jones said Malvern, who finished fourth in West Midlands League Premier Division had also lined up fixtures against Coventry Sphinx and Westfields this summer.

“The players are coming back for training in the last week in June and we have already got some friendlies arranged,” he added.

“We have got Coventry Sphinx and Westfields at our place.

“We are also talking to three or four clubs to try to get some away friendlies when we don’t have our pitch available in early July.”