STOURBRIDGE report back for pre-season training this Saturday, but the Glassboys have been advised by West Bromwich Albion that their scheduled opening pre-season match will be closed to spectators at their training ground.

Albion have confirmed that they are unable to accommodate the number of Glassboys fans likely to attend the match between Stour and the club's under-23 side on Saturday, July 8.

It means that Glassboys supporters' first opportunity to run their eyes over Gary Hackett's new-look squad will be on Tuesday, July 18, when Stourbridge will welcome Birmingham City's under-23s to the War Memorial Ground (7.30 pm), a game arranged as part of the Dan Scarr transfer deal.

Meanwhile, the new Stourbridge FC academy side has been accepted as members of the National League U19 Alliance.

The academy team, set up in conjunction with Dudley College, has been allocated to Group I which will feature nine other academy teams, namely Boldmere St Michaels, Chasetown, Kidderminster Harriers, Mansfield Town, Romulus, Solihull Moors, Stratford Town, Sutton Coldfield Town and Tamworth. Matches will begin in September and will be played on Wednesday afternoons.

The newly formed academy will be overseen by John Kearney as manager, Lee Wood will be the assistant manager and coach, while Keith Grainger will be the secretary. There are already over 20 players enrolled on the scheme.

With the formation of the academy set-up, Steve Fellows will now take over as the head of the development centre.

The Stourbridge FC development centre will be launching a new under-8s team for next season. An open session will take place on Saturday, July 1 between 10am and 11.30am at Dudley College 3G on Priory Road, Dudley, for all interested players.

Parents/guardians should e-mail Steve Fellows at headofdevelopment@stourbridgefc.com or call Andy Hamilton on 07951 319514 to register an interest.