The Development Squad will kick-off with a home game - at Hitchin's Top Field ground - against our Spartan South Midlands League tenants, Crawley Green, on Tuesday 12th July.

Three successive Friday night fixtures follow, with a visit to another SSML club in Harpenden Town on 15th July, then Pitching In Southern League Division One Central side Biggleswade FC – who play at Bedford Town – on the 22nd, and Premier Division Central outfit AFC Rushden & Diamonds on the 29th.

A swift return to The Eyrie to take on Division One Central champions Bedford Town comes on Tuesday 2nd August, ahead of the Eagles’ first season back in the Southern League’s top flight since 2013-14, before another Friday night game against Charlton Athletic’s U23s at Hitchin on the 5th.

All of the development squad’s matches will kick-off at 7pm.

The Under-18s open up with a behind closed doors home friendly against their counterparts who play on the full-time football and education programme at Southern League club Redditch United.

That game, on Wednesday 13th July, will be played behind closed doors at The Brache.

Three days later the boys travel to Peterborough United for an 11am kick-off, before a trip to take on fellow Championship club Norwich City’s youth team on Saturday 23rd July in a midday kick-off.

A week later, the young Hatters play host to the senior team from Non-League neighbours Dunstable Town at The Brache, in another 12pm kick-off.

Development Squad Friendlies:

Tuesday 12th July: Crawley Green (H – at Hitchin Town) – 7pm

Friday 15th July: Harpenden Town (A) – 7pm

Friday 22nd July: Biggleswade FC (A – at Bedford Town) – 7pm

Friday 29th July: AFC Rushden & Diamonds (A) – 7pm

Under-18 Friendlies:

Wednesday 13th July: Redditch United (H – Behind Closed Doors) – 11am

Saturday 16th July: Peterborough Utd (A) – 11am

Saturday 23rd July: Norwich City (A) – 12pm

Saturday 30th July: Dunstable Town (H – The Brache) – 12pm

And a reminder of the first team's pre-season friendlies: