Gillingham last played in Montreuil in July 2003 against Lille Picture: Paul Dennis

Gillingham will take on French side Le Havre next month as part of their preparations for the new League 1 season.

The game will be the highlight of a four day training camp which will take place at the sporting complex in Le Touquet.

Mark Stimson’s side will stay make the short trip from their base to play Le Havre in Montreuil - a stadium the Gills played in five years ago against Lille.

Le Havre will provide Gills with their hardest test of the pre-season sechudle having only recently been relegated from Ligue 1.

Gillingham will face 12 pre-season matches, all away from home, after a request to all Championship and Premiership teams has so far failed to generate a home fixture.

*The Gills have been forced to move two of their away league fixtures. The game at Southend has been moved forward a day to Friday, October 30 after a request from the police, while the trip to Brighton has been moved from Tuesday, September 29 to Tuesday, October 13 to avoid clashing with the Labour Party Conference.

Gills' pre-season fixture list;

Saturday, July 11 v Tonbridge Angels

Tuesday, July 14 v Dartford

Thursday, July 16 v Faversham Town

Saturday, July 18 v Welling

Tuesday, July 21 v Bishop’s Stortford

Wednesday, July 22 v Aveley*

Saturday, July 25 v Le Havre

Saturday, July 25 v Folkestone Invicta*

Tuesday, July 28 v Bromley

Thursday, July 30 v Croydon Athletic*

Saturday, August 1 v Thurrock

Tuesday, August 4 v Whitstable Town

*These games will feature a Gillingham XI side.