Manchester City are due to hold their first ever pre-season party with thousands of their supporters.

The former Premier League champions will host the event at Manchester Central, with the club's first team in attendance, as well as new manager Manuel Pellegrini.

Comedian Jason Manford, who is a City fan, is also expected to appear at the celebration, along with a number of musicians, to mark the start of the 2013-14 campaign.

"Manchester City and music have always gone hand-in-hand," said captain Vincent Kompany. "It's in the DNA of our fans and the very fabric of the football club.

"You only need to look around the Etihad stadium on a match day to regularly see musicians such as Noel and Liam Gallagher, Johnny Marr, Mike Pickering, Jimi Goodwin and Damon Gough to name but a few."

The event, which is called 'City Live', will be held on August 8.