Updated: Peebles Rovers to kick off pre-season friendly schedule with Borders derby v Hawick Royal Albert

That match will take place at East of Scotland Football League second division outfit Rovers’ Whitestone Park home ground this coming Saturday, June 29, with kick-off at 1pm.

Rovers last played Albert, now in the EoSFL’s third division, in the second division in April 2023 prior to their relegation last summer, losing 2-0 away, having drawn the reverse fixture the previous September 2-2.

That’s one of two friendlies Rovers have lined up at home so far, the other being against EoSFL first division side Preston Athletic on Tuesday, July 2, at 7pm.

Manager Paul Dickson’s team have also got four warm-ups lined up on the road, starting with a trip to the first division’s Blackburn United on Saturday, July 6, at 2pm.

That’s to be followed by trips to first division Newtongrange Star on Thursday, July 18, at 7.45pm, and two third division teams – Fife’s Lochgelly Albert on Saturday, July 20, at 1pm and West Lothian’s Pumpherston Juniors on Wednesday, July 24, at 7.15pm.

Hawick’s Royalists, managed by Kenny Aitchison, have three other friendlies arranged so far.

They’re away to Midlothian’s Whitehill Welfare on Thursday, July 4, and Edinburgh South on Tuesday, July 16, both 7pm kick-offs, sandwiching a visit to Albert Park from Tweedmouth Rangers on Saturday, July 13, with kick-off at 2.30pm.

EoSFL second division newcomers Vale of Leithen, relegated from the division above this summer, have added another pre-season friendly to the four they’d already arranged.

It’s away to EoSFL third division outfit Ormiston Primrose on Saturday, July 20, with kick-off at 2.30pm.

It follows four friendlies at Innerleithen’s Victoria Park for manager Ian Flynn’s team, their other opponents being South of Scotland Football League side Upper Annandale, upcoming second division rivals Coldstream and Scottish Lowland Football League outfits Heart of Midlothian B and Gala Fairydean Rovers.

They host the Moffat men this Saturday at 3pm; the Scottish Premiership side’s colts on Thursday, July 4, at 7.15pm; the Streamers on July 6 at 3pm; and Fairydean on Tuesday, July 9, at 7.30pm.

Vale last took on a Hearts XI in September 2023, losing 7-1 in a friendly at home; their most recent game against Gala was a 3-0 Scottish Lowland Football League Cup play-off defeat, also at home, in April 2022; and their last game versus Ormiston was a 2-0 King Cup second-round defeat on the road in East Lothian in March.

Albert’s third division rivals Linton Hotspur have got five friendlies lined up, four of them on the road, starting this Saturday with a trip to Scone Thistle and concluding with a home game against the same opponents on July 20.

In between are away-days at Tweedmouth on July 6, Arniston Rangers on July 9, Armadale Thistle on July 13 and Leith Victoria on July 18.

Coldstream have got four other friendlies arranged – hosting Earlston Rhymers this Saturday, Ormiston on July 13 and Langlee Amateurs on July 20, plus a trip to play Dunbar United’s under-20s on July 24.