WESTERN League premier side Wellington have lined up three pre-season football friendlies - all away.

They play Chard Town on Tuesday, July 9, Minehead on Wednesday, July 17, and Newton Abbot Spurs on Saturday, July 20.

The premier division fixtures have also been announced with Wellington facing at least ten away matches before their first match at the Playing Field - against Barnstaple Town, on Wednesday, September 18.

Wellington begin their season in the league with an away game against Ilfracombe Town on Saturday, July 27, and follow this with a fixture against Nailsea & Tickenham on Tuesday, July 30.

Saturday, August 3, and Saturday, August 24, are dates set aside for possible games in the FA Cup/FA Vase.

Playing so many away matches at the beginning of the season is a common situation for Wellington who had hoped to find a new ground for first team matches - but this plan has been axed because of the cost.

"It is dead and buried," said the club's vice-chairman Graham Aspin. "We cannot afford it because the cost has doubled since we started looking at the idea (at Longforth Farm).

"We’ll always have the problem while we share our ground with the cricket club."