IPSWICH Town will face Cliftonville and Donegal Celtic ahead of their friendly with Glentoran in July.The Blues start their pre-season trip to Northern Ireland with a game on Monday, July 14, which is a Bank Holiday in the province.

Derek Davis

IPSWICH Town will face Cliftonville and Donegal Celtic ahead of their friendly with Glentoran in July.

The Blues start their pre-season trip to Northern Ireland with a game on Monday, July 14, which is a Bank Holiday in the province, at Cliftonville, with a 7.45pm kick off.

On the Thursday they will meet Donegal, also at 7.45pm, and complete the trip with a testimonial for Glentoran's Paul Leeman at the Oval on Saturday, July 19, with a 3pm kick off.

Long-serving skipper Leeman has made 477 appearances for the East Belfast club

Glentoran finished runners-up to Linfield in the Irish League, which is changing format for next season, but have qualified for the UEFA Cup along with Cliftonville.

They are managed by former QPR, Swindon and Northern Ireland defender Alan McDonald who was in the 1986 World cup squad

Cliftonville finished third and the Red Army play at a ground called Solitude.

They are led by Eddie Patterson and could face Manchester City in the qualifying round of the UEFA Cup later in July.

West Belfast club Donegal Celtic, who play at Suffolk Road, have been excluded from the new Premier League after finishing 11th and have not satisfied the IFA's requirements.

They are managed by former Leicester City player Patrick Kelly.

The Blues players are also expected to visit the more notorious areas of Belfast, including the Falls Road, to spread the gospel of Ipswich Town, now managed by Belfast boy Jim Magilton.