CHIPPENHAM Town will open their 2019-20 National League South campaign on the road, starting with a trip to St Albans City on Saturday, August 3.

The Bluebirds’ first home match of the new season will be against Oxford City three days later on Tuesday, August 6, before they continue a tough opening month of fixtures that includes ties against Billericay Town, Wealdstone and Braintree Town.

Mark Collier’s men also face a local derby in the first month as they travel to Hungerford Town on Saturday, August 17.

There is a repeat of the festive fixture schedule from the same period 12 months ago as Chippenham take on Bath City on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

The Bluebirds will be on the road against City on December 26 before hosting the return fixture six days later.

Chippenham’s final game of the season will be against Hungerford at Hardenhuish Park.

Reacting to the fixture release, Collier would not be drawn on a particular highlight, but admitted the strength of the league might be at its toughest for a number of years.

Collier said: “We look forward to playing against every club in the division.

“It’s a difficult league, there are some big clubs in the division now.

“Torquay were the biggest club, but the fact is they have been replaced by the three very good teams that have come down in Havant and Waterlooville, Maidstone and Braintree.

“They were all relegated having nearly reached 40 points in the National League. It wasn’t as though they were relegated months before the season ended.

“There are some big grounds to go to. I’m expecting some big crowds, and there’s some very experienced clubs.

“There’s no denying the fact that we’re a relatively small club in what I call the top table of non-league football.”

CHIPPENHAM TOWN 2019-20 NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH FIXTURES

Fixtures are subject to change. Home games in CAPS

AUGUST

Sat 3 – St Albans City (A)

TUE 6 – OXFORD CITY (H)

SAT 10 – BILLERICAY TOWN (H)

Tue 13 – Wealdstone (A)

Sat 17 – Hungerford Town (A)

SAT 24 – WEYMOUTH (H)

Mon 26 – Hampton & Richmond Borough (A)

SAT 31 – BRAINTREE TOWN (H)

SEPTEMBER

Tue 3 – Dorking Wanderers (A)

SAT 7 – TONBRIDGE ANGELS (H)

Sat 14 – Chelmsford City (A)

SAT 28 – DULWICH HAMLET (H)

OCTOBER

Sat 12 – Concord Rangers (A)

SAT 19 – HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN (H)

Sat 26 – Dartford (A)

NOVEMBER

SAT 2 – WELLING UNITED (H)

Sat 9 – Maidstone United (A)

SAT 16 – SLOUGH TOWN (H)

Sat 30 – Eastbourne Borough (A)

DECEMBER

Sat 7 – Havant & Waterlooville (A)

SAT 21 – CHELMSFORD CITY (H)

Thu 26 – Bath City (A)

SAT 28 – DORKING WANDERERS (H)

JANUARY

WED 1 – BATH CITY (H)

Sat 4 – Tonbridge Angels (A)

SAT 11 – CONCORD RANGERS (H)

Sat 18 – Dulwich Hamlet (A)

SAT 25 – HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE (H)

FEBRUARY

SAT 1 – DARTFORD (H)

Sat 8 – Hemel Hempstead Town (A)

SAT 15 – MAIDSTONE UNITED (H)

Sat 22 – Welling United (A)

SAT 29 – ST ALBANS CITY (H)

MARCH

Sat 7 – Oxford City (A)

SAT 14 – WEALDSTONE (H)

Sat 21 – Billericay Town (A)

SAT 28 – EASTBOURNE BOROUGH (H)

APRIL

Sat 4 – Slough Town (A)

Fri 10 – Weymouth (A)

MON 13 – HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH (H)

Sat 18 – Braintree Town (A)

SAT 25 – HUNGERFORD TOWN (H)