Weston-super-Mare AFC have announced the dates of four pre-season friendlies to be played at The Optima Stadium as they get ready for the 2024-2025 season.

Weston are preparing for their second season in a row in the Vanarama National League South after an excellent first season back in the division.

Their efforts in 2023/24 saw them finish in 13th place after a long 46 game season, claiming 59 points by winning 17 games and drawing eight, whilst scoring 66 goals along the way.

The Seagulls’ season was made even more impressive when considering the challenges that manager Scott Bartlett and his squad had to face.

After a sea of injuries hit the Weston squad after the Christmas break key players were forced to miss several matches.

Unsurprisingly this disrupted the flow of the squad, with Bartlett unable to field a consistent XI on a weekly basis, but Weston continued to pick up important points where needed.

The Seagulls then had to face tough end of season run-in when they had to play their last six fixtures across the span of just two weeks to make up for games that were rained off earlier in the year.

Despite the major challenges the Weston squad and manager Bartlett faced in the 2023/24 season they were able to succeed and thrive in the National League South against some very strong opposition.

They have now organised four home pre-season fixtures; fixtures they will hope can simulate the high-quality football that they will once again be playing and facing during their league campaign.

First of the four matches at The Optima Stadium will be against “local” League One side Exeter City on July 12th, KO 7:00pm.

Exeter City are coming off the back of a good season in the third tier of English football where they finished in the same league position as The Seagulls, 13th.

Weston’s next friendly will be against Bristol City U21s on July 23rd in a clash that will honour Bristol City and Weston legend Ray Cashley, KO 7:45pm.

Their third game will see them take on another academy team in Cardiff City U21s for the first of the Saturday pre-season fixtures on July 27th, KO 1:00pm.

Weston’s last pre-season game at home will then be a week later, against the recently promoted Yeovil Town on August 3rd, KO 3:00pm.

Tickets for the games are available to buy here now.

Full fixture list:

Friday 12th July, Exeter City (H), 7:00pm KO

Tuesday 23rd July, Bristol City U21s, 7:45pm KO

Saturday 27th July, Cardiff City U21s, 1:00pm KO

Saturday 3rd August, Yeovil Town, 3:00pm KO