A busy summer is fast taking shape for West Ham United with time ticking away until the first fixture of the 2009/10 pre-season.
Gianfranco Zola will take a strong squad to south Essex to take on Grays Athletic in the opening fixture on Sunday 12 July. Although he may be without some of his internationals due to the extra time being given for some to return to Chadwell Heath, it could be a welcome chance to see some of the manager's fit-again players in action while any new faces at the club may also figure for the first time.
It is the only match the first team are playing in England before a training camp, featuring games, in Austria and then a high-profile trip to China to take part in the Barclays Asia Trophy. A derby against Tottenham Hotspur is guaranteed on Wednesday 29 July - the first of two televised matches the Hammers will play in Beijing's Workers Stadium.
With the 2009/10 Barclays Premier League fixtures being confirmed first and fastest by the club's official text alert service on Wednesday 17 June and then on whufc.com, the final warm-up game will be the visit of Zola's former club SSC Napoli on Saturday 8 August. Played for the Bobby Moore Cup, the match is the final chance to see the players before it all gets under way a week later.
2009/10 pre-season fixtures (for the latest ticket information, click the relevant fixture)
12 JUL - Grays Athletic v West Ham United
18 JUL - Cambridge United v West Ham United XI
24 JUL - Thurrock FC v West Ham United XI
29 JUL - West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (Barclays Asia Trophy, Beijing)
31 JUL - Kingstonian v West Ham United XI
31 JUL - West Ham United v Hull City/Beijing Guoan (Barclays Asia Trophy, Beijing)
8 AUG - West Ham United v SSC Napoli