CHIPPENHAM Town hope to entice Premiership side Southampton to Hardenhuish Park for a glamourous pre-season friendly this summer.

Bluebirds general manager Chris Blake has written to the FA Cup finalists to discover whether they would be prepared to send a team, and is now awaiting a concrete response.

Said Blake: "It would be nice. I've written to them and received a reply to say they are considering the request.

"But, particularly with them being in the FA Cup final, I expect we are one of hundreds to have asked."

Third Division Bristol Rovers have also been invited, while Nationwide Conference champions Yeovil Town and Bobby Gould's Cheltenham Town have both confirmed they will visit Hardenhuish Park in the build up to 2003/04.

Chippenham will also visit Screwfix Direct Premier Division outfit Paulton Rovers and Welsh outfit Ton Pentre during the summer.

Dates for the games against Yeovil and Cheltenham have yet to be finalised.

But manager Tommy Saunders is looking forward to tackling Football League opposition.

He said: "We have sometimes been criticised for not having decent friendlies, but to get two league clubs is fantastic."

Chippenham hold their annual presentation evening at the Neeld Hall tomorrow night. Tickets are available from Deb Bolter on (01249) 445272.