The Northern League have finally been able to release their fixtures for the new season – but only after an appeal by new-boys Carlisle City was rejected by the Football Association.
The Cumbrian outfit appealed against their lateral movement from the North West Counties League, but that was rejected by the FA at a hearing on Monday.
The Northern League wasted little time in producing their fixtures for the new campaign – which gets under way on Saturday, August 3.
The opening-day fixtures in Division One have thrown up some interesting meetings with the three new sides all facing tough tests.
Division Two champions Billingham Town will host Stockton Town at Bedford Terrace in a Teesside derby, while Northallerton Town will travel to Belle View to face a much-fancied Consett side.
The third promoted side – Thornaby – will kick off their season with a visit to Durham Challenge Cup winners Shildon.
Elsewhere, Division One runners-up Hebburn Town will host Ashington and Newcastle Benfield make the short trip to Whitley Bay.
Whickham could hand competitive debuts to the likes of Adam Bartlett and Carl Finnigan when they head to Newton Aycliffe and Marc Nash’s North Shields face a tough-looking trip to Sunderland RCA.
West Auckland Town begin their quest to improve on last season’s eighth place finish with a home game against Ryhope CW and Seaham Red Star will entertain Guisborough Town at the Ferguson Motor Repairs
Three sides will be making their Northern League debuts in Division Two.
Newcastle University have been handed an opening day trip to Ryton and Crawcrook Albion and Wearside League runners-up Sunderland West End will host Crook Town.
Carlisle City begin life as a Northern League club with a home fixture against Chester-le-Street Town.
There is a battle of tenants and landlords at Hall Lane as Durham City face Willington and Heaton Stannington will host Bedlington Terriers at Grounsell Park.
Jarrow FC begin their third season as a Northern League club with a visit to Brandon United and Jamie Pollock’s Billingham Synthonia will travel to Easington Colliery.
Redcar Athletic impressed during their first season in the league and they will host another side that showed up well last season – West Allotment Celtic.
Washington get their campaign underway with a home game against Esh Winning and Birtley Town travel to Tow Law Town.
The Northern League season will actually get under way with the annual Cleator Cup match as league champions Dunston UTS host Mitre Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup winners West Auckland Town at the UTS Stadium on Saturday, July 27.
