Crawley Town will play two Premier League sides including Chelsea in their build-up to the new season.

The Reds will take on a Chelsea XI at the Broadfield Stadium in their opening domestic friendly on Saturday July 16.

They will also entertain top-flight new boys Queens Park Rangers in the final game of their pre-season schedule on Tuesday August 2. In between the Reds will host Crystal Palace on Friday July 22, Peterborough on Tuesday July 26 and Leyton Orient on Friday July 29.

These matches will be against full-strength line-ups and will include a first return to Sussex for Glenn Murray, assuming his transfer from Albion to Crystal Palace goes through in the next few days.

The programme will also include visits to Bognor on Tuesday July 19, Dartford on Saturday July 23 and Three Bridges on Saturday July 30.

The hard work ahead of Crawley’s first ever season in the Football League will begin with a visit to Portugal from July 5 which will include a friendly against Championship opposition to be announced on Monday July 11.

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