BALLYMENA United will begin their preparations for the new season this Saturday with a trip to Ashley Park to face Amateur League side, Dunmurry Rec.

There have been a number of changes to the United team over the summer with a host of departures, as a host of first-team players such as Stuart King, Alan Blayney and Neil Teggart have moved elsewhere in the Irish League.

Walker has had his players back in training since the end of June and will finally get a chance to give a run-out to his new signings; Philip Carson, Noel Anderson, Darren Lockhart and Gavin Taggart. Defender Mark Surgenor who has been away at the World Student Games in Serbia representing the Irish Universities, returned last week and will take part.

Dunmurry Rec, who play in the Amateur League Premier Division are three times previous winners of the Steel & Sons Cup, the last of which was in 1999, they are also managed by former Loughgall manager David Johnstone. The team that normally play in an all blue strip finished seventh in the Amateur League last season.

Their pre-season preparations have been in full swing for a number of weeks having already came up against Glentoran and Glenavon at Ashley Park. With the Premiership sides picking up two hard-fought wins; 4-1 to Glentoran and 2-0 to Glenavon.

LAST TIME OUT

The last time the two sides met was back in February 1988 when Dunmurry Rec. travelled to the Warden Street Showgrounds for an Irish Cup Second Round clash. Alex McKee's Sky Blues ran out comfortable 4-0 winners that day with David 'Dibby' Dougherty, Stevie Conville, Michael Smyth and Alan Boyd getting the goals.

The United line-up that day was: Phil McGaughey, Jim Scott, Michael Smyth, John Garrett, Brian Donnelly, Stephen Young, Stevie Conville, Alan Boyd, Billy Pyper, David Dougherty and Ricky Simpson. Subs were Michael Nicholl and Harry Kernohan.

PLAYER CONNECTIONS

Dunmurry Rec. midfielder Barry Tumilty is seemingly the only player from the two sides who has played for both sides; the midfielder left Banbridge Town a few weeks ago and has spent his pre-season with Dunmurry. Tumilty was signed by Nigel Best from Newry Town in 1999 and spent two seasons at the Showgrounds cumlinating in Ballymena's relegation, he made 68 appearances scoring 3 goals before moving to Portadown in 2001.

SUPPORTER INFORMATION

- The Seven Towers Supporters Club will be running a bus from Henry Street car park in Harryville. The bus will depart at 12.45am and all non members are welcome.

- Directions to the ground for those travelling by car are as follows:
Come down the M2, over the Westlink onto the M1, take junction 3 off towards Dunmurry. The slip road will take you down to a junction with a bridge on the right, turn left here. Carry on to the crossroads (School directly in front of you), take a right, under the bridge and past Makro (on your right). You'll come to another crossroads, Tesco on the left and PSNI station on the right, take a right at the crossroads. Head up this road, under the railway bridge, follow the bend round to the left, then turn left at Sunnymede Park (3rd left). Go right to the end of this road, turn right and that'll take you up to the ground, at which there's a fairly sizeable car park.