Saints have announced some of the fixtures as they finalise their preparations for pre season.

Saints will get out on the road in the first pre season fixtures announced so far, all three are away but are against teams that could be considered local rivals.

Saints head to Swindon on Monday 21st July for a 7.30pm kick-off. This will be the side’s first visit to the County Ground since the teams faced one another in the second round of the League Cup in 2011/12, coming shortly after the two teams had spent two seasons together in League One, both games resulting in defeats for Saints.

The Cherries are next up on Friday 25th July (kick-off: 7.45pm) as Saints make the short trip through the New Forest to take on AFC Bournemouth another side they have not faced since winning promotion to the Championship in 2011, that visit saw a 3-1 victory as Saints overhauled Bournemouth in the run in to the end of the season to achieve automatic promotion.

Then it’s over to Brighton for Saint’s second-ever visit to the American Express Community Stadium as the side faces the Seagulls on Thursday 31st July (kick-off: 7.45pm), our first visit saw a comprehensive defeat with Rickie Lambert being dismissed after an altercation with a Brighton defender.

Saints fans who travel will see some difference to the grounds at both Bournemouth and Brighton since those visits, Bournemouth have demolished their temporary open stand behind one goal and after a season of it being a car park have erected the covered Ted MacDougall stand named after the old Bournemouth player who also enjoyed a couple of seasons at Saints being a vital member of the side who won promotion back to the top flight in 1977/78.

Down at the Amex things have also changed with the capacity being increased with some of the corners being filled in alongside another tier being added to one stand.

This is obviously just the first fixtures announced in what will be a more comprehensive programme and the club will announce further fixtures in the near future.

Photo: Action Images

landsdownsaint added 12:36 - Jun 5 I just read that they are only opening up a bit of the Ammex for that game ,I live in Brighton & they are very excited about playing us. ,this could be a massive gate I reckon
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