The Harwich and Parkeston first team kick off their pre-season on Saturday (July 5) at home to FC Clacton in the annual Kevin Beattie Foundation Cup match.
Fans visiting the Royal Oak for the 3pm kick-off can expect to see the majority of last season’s promotion-winning squad - Gareth Heath and Alfie Smith have this week become the latest to sign up for 2025/26.
Meanwhile, boss Matt Carmichael has also added three new players over the summer. Former Clacton midfielder James Letts could go up against his old club, who opened their pre-season on Tuesday by drawing 1-1 with Ipswich Wanderers. Max Long has joined from Wivenhoe, while winger Charlie Lindoe has returned from Cornard.
Entry prices for the match – and the other pre-season friendlies – will be as follows:
Adults - £5
Concessions - £3
16-18-year-olds - £1
Under 16s – Free

Click here to read about season-ticket prices for 2025/26!

Proceeds from Saturday’s match will be donated to the KBF, which sets out to raise awareness of certain illnesses and fundraise for related charities.
Beattie, who has been voted Ipswich’s best-ever player in multiple polls, played 50 times for the Shrimpers between 1986 and 1987, scoring 28 goals.
The charitable foundation was set up following the death in 2018 of the former Ipswich and England star (pictured playing for Harwich).
Saturday’s match, which will see former manager Kieron Shelley return to the Oak in charge of the Thurlow Nunn League Division One North side, is the first of five scheduled friendlies which will lead up to the Shrimpers’ Essex Senior League opener on July 26 at Great Wakering Rovers.
The first home league game will be on Tuesday July 29 against Halstead Town.
The club’s return to the FA Cup was officially confirmed last week and the draw will take place this Friday (July 4). The FA Vase draw will also be conducted on the same day.
The Shrimpers’ first FA Cup tie will take place on Saturday August 2.
Meanwhile, the Under-23 side also kick-off their pre-season this Saturday, hosting Essex and Suffolk Border League Division Two club Silver End on the 4G pitch at Harwich and Dovercourt High School. Kick-off is at 11am.
1st XI pre-season fixture list:
Sat Jul 5 – FC Clacton, H (3pm)
Sat Jul 12 – Stanway Rovers, H (1pm)
Tue Jul 15 – Holland, H (7.45pm)
Sat Jul 19 – Kings Park Rangers, H (3pm)
Tue Jul 22 – Brantham Athletic, H (7.45pm)
Under-23 pre-season fixture list:
Sat Jul 5 - Silver End, H (11am)
Wed Jul 9 - Harwich & Parkeston 'A', H (KO TBC)
Sat Jul 19 - East Bergholt, A (KO TBC)
Sat Aug 2 - Stanway Pegasus U23, A (KO TBC)