This is an artist's impression of the new 350-seater stand currently under construction at Eastleigh FC's Sparshatts Stadium in Stoneham Lane.

The stand, which will be ready for the start of the new season, will be officially opened on Thursday August 5 by Saints chairman Rupert Lowe, left, ahead of a friendly between the two clubs (7.45pm).

The new stand is part of the ongoing development of Sparshatts Stadium, which has included the refurbishment and repositioning of the old stand and the resurfacing of the car parks.

A new irrigation system has also been installed and this has helped upgrade the playing surface ready for the new season.

Funding for the new stand was largely provided by a £150,000 grant from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, which is funded by the FA and the Premiership.

The FSI Fund provides funding for capital projects targeted at spectator safety and improvement works for non-Premiership clubs.

Eastleigh's other home pre-season friendlies are against Gosport Borough on Saturday 24 July (3pm) and against AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday 27 July (7.45pm).

Winchester City visit Eastleigh on Sunday 1 August (3pm) in the Hampshire Chronicle Cup.

And a week later Matt Le Tissier is bringing an All Star XI, featuring ex-Saints such as Neil Ruddock and Andy Townsend, to play Eastleigh (3pm).

Following these pre-season matches, the first home match in the Isthmian League is on Wednesday 18 August (7.45pm) against Hampton & Richmond.

Eastleigh's scheduled friendly at Lymington & New Milton tomorrow has been cancelled.