REDDITCH United will be getting the Blues next month -- a week ahead of their new Nationwide Conference North campaign!

Bosses at the Valley Stadium club have landed a lucrative friendly against Birmingham City on Wednesday, August 2 -- their only match at home before the season starts.

Manager Gary Whild said he was hoping for a big crowd for the match.

"It is the only friendly we have at home and will be the ideal time to see the new signings," he explained.

"It is also good to have a League side coming to play us and there should be a big crowd."

The United players returned to training last week and Whild said he was delighted with the turnout.

"We have had two good sessions and Jermaine Clarke, Matt Clarke and Vaughan Thomas spent time working with the physios following their operations."

Alvechurch manager Shaun Cunnington admits he has had a tough few days in his bid to sign a new striker for his Midland Alliance side.

"I have had a few irons in the fire but I just cannot compete with some of the money being banded about in this division," the Lye Meadow boss explained.

"I am working to the same budget as last season but it seems that quite a few clubs are paying out big money. We are not prepared to do that at Alvechurch -- our approach is all about stability."

Cunnington's players -- he re-signed his squad from last season -- returned for training at the weekend and have two weeks before the first of their pre-season friendlies at Moreton Rangers on Saturday, July 15.

Midfielder Mark Faulkner and defender Adie Fitzhugh could be lining up for Midland Combination side Feckenham this season.

Millers boss Lee Adams will talk to the pair when the team return for training tomorrow and he had hopes of another campaign challenging at the top of the table.

"We have a good bunch of lads and we play football in the right manner," he said.

"We cannot go out and target anyone because we don't have the resources. But after finishing fourth in the league and having reached a cup final, then I don't think we are too far away."

Faulkner finished last season with Combination outfit Northfield Town while Southam United's Fitzhugh can list Stratford Town, Shepshed Dynamo and Bedworth United among his former clubs.