THE pride of the Lions are heading to Bootham Crescent this summer.

Scottish Premier League outfit Livingston have been confirmed as one of York City's pre-season opponents.

The friendly encounter will take place on Thursday, July 31, kick-off 7.45pm.

Admission prices and ticket details have yet to be announced for what is sure to be an eagerly anticipated encounter.

Livingston have endured a meteoric rise in recent seasons, winning two championships, reaching a Scottish Cup semi-final and participating in the UEFA Cup in the last five years.

Bossed by Jim Leishman and coached by ex-Celtic legend David Hay, Livingston are currently lying in eighth place in the SPL with two games still to play.

The Livi Lions' include a vast array of foreign imports and internationals from France, Argentina, Trinidad & Tobago, Canada, Australia, Togo, Italy, the Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

Perhaps the club's most famous current player is Spanish international Guillermo Amor, a European Cup winner with Barcelona.

City are also awaiting confirmation for two more pre-season friendlies with two big-names in British football to be played at Bootham Crescent.

Manager Terry Dolan confirmed the first team squad will return for pre-season training on Tuesday, July 1.

As part of their preparations for the new campaign and in a repeat of their 2001-02 pre-season regime, the squad will gather for a training camp at Keele University in Staffordshire from July 18 to 23.

During the week on campus, City will play non-League Newcastle Town.

As well as games against Livingston and the two other unconfirmed Bootham Crescent curtain-raisers, City will also play Pickering Town at the Pikes' Recreation Ground on Monday, August 4.

The game against the Northern Counties East League outfit will be the last before City's Division Three campaign gets underway on August 9.

The City players were gathering at Bootham Crescent today for fitness tests before going their separate ways for the summer.

Their fitness levels will then be assessed on their return for the start of pre-season in July.

The season may be over and the chance of promotion long since gone, but fans of City are gearing up to party.

The end of season bash and presentation night in aid of the football club will be staged at the Ikon & Diva night-club, Clifton Moor, on Sunday.

The first-team squad and a number of City legends, including former fan favourite Andy McMillan, will be in attendance.

Current skipper Chris Brass will also be presented with the prestigious Clubman of the Year award, the Billy Fenton Memorial Trophy.

Admission to the event, which will kick-off at 7.30pm and is scheduled to finish at 12.30am, costs £5 in advance, £4 for season ticket holders and Trust members, and £6 on the night.

As well as brushing shoulders with their heroes past and present, fans will also be able to take advantage of a reduced prices at the bar and celebrate the saving of the Minstermen from extinction.

Updated: 11:24 Wednesday, May 14, 2003