West Ham United can confirm the first team's away schedule for the 2008/09 pre-season campaign ahead of the traditional curtain-raiser at the Boleyn Ground which has yet to be finalised.
The highlight of the summer programme will be the North American tour between 18-25 July when the club will play in-form Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew in Ohio, USA on Sunday 20 July before travelling across the Canadian border to face the MLS All-Stars in Toronto in a prestige friendly on Thursday 24 July. Before that trip, Alan Curbishley will put his players through their paces for the first time with a visit to Alan Devonshire's Hampton & Richmond Borough on Thursday 17 July.
Ticket information will follow for all games as and when available, including for the two overseas fixtures, although the club can confirm selling details for the Southampton away match on Friday 1 August. The south-coast club have allocated 2,000 seats for away fans, priced at £15 for adults, £10 for seniors and £5 for Under-16s. Further information can be found in the ticket office section, with the ticket office open for a general sale from 9am on Monday 9 June. The new Premier League fixtures will be announced via whufc.com on Monday 16 June.
2008/09 pre-season schedule
Thursday 17 July, 7.30pm - Hampton & Richmond Borough v West Ham United
Sunday 20 July, 5pm - Columbus Crew v West Ham United (Columbus, USA)
Thursday 24 July, 7.20pm - MLS All-Stars v West Ham United (Toronto, Canada)
Tuesday 29 July, 7.45pm - Peterborough United v West Ham United
Wednesday 30 July, 7.45pm - Cambridge United v West Ham United XI
Friday 1 August, 7.45pm - Southampton v West Ham United
Monday 4 August, 7.45pm - Ipswich Town v West Ham United
Saturday 9 August, 3pm - West Ham United v TBC