National League Fixtures Released

Stockport County and Altrincham will meet in a festive double-header, with The Hatters hosting their Vanarama National League neighbours on Boxing Day, before the reverse fixture on New Year’s Day.

Simon Rusk’s start the season at home to Dagenham & Redbridge on August 21, and end the season with a tasty-looking game away at Wrexham on May 22.

Stockport will once again be among the favourites for promotion to the Football League, having narrowly missed out in the playoffs last season, eliminated in the semi finals by eventual winners Hartlepool United.

Hatters set for bank holiday double against Grimsby

Other eye-catching fixtures for County fans include early season games against relegated pair Southend United (away, August 28) and Grimsby Town (home, August 30) across the late summer bank holiday weekend.

The return fixture with Grimsby takes place on Good Friday, with Solihull Moors visiting Edgeley Park on Easter Monday.

Altrincham on early season road trip

Altrincham meanwhile, begin their campaign with a trip to the English Riviera, with beaten play-off finalists Torquay United set to provide tough opposition on the opening day.

A trip to FC Halifax is next, with two early away games needed to allow the newly relaid playing surface at Moss Lane to bed in.  Phil Parkinson’s side’s first taste of the new pitch will be against Dover Athletic on September 4. May 15.  All final-day fixtures in the National League will be on Sunday.

Both teams will note that the FA Cup fourth qualifying round takes place on October 18 - with £9,375 up for grabs for the winners. Both clubs enter the FA Trophy in round one on November 13.

Difficult start for Curzon

Curzon Ashton will start their National League North season a week earlier than Altrincham and County, and face a difficult start on the road to Chester on August 14.

The Nash will host Guiseley at The Tameside Stadium a week later, before the bank holiday fixtures away at Boston and at home to Darlington.

The National League’s traditional Christmas-New Year double header sees Curzon take on Southport home and away in a six-day time period, with a trip to Chorley sandwiched in between.

Steve Cunnigham’s team will finish the regular season by hosting Kettering Town on May 7. Curzon enter the FA Cup at the second qualifying round on September 18.