WITTON Albion will start the new season at home to Ilkeston before back-to-back away matches at Rushall and then Workington.

The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League fixtures were released today, Thursday, with the Premier Division season starting on Saturday, August 16.

After returning from Cumbria, Brian Pritchard’s men host Marine on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Crosby-based outfit visited Wincham Park in the opening week of the previous campaign, returning to Merseyside with maximum points after recovering from conceding two early goals.

Albion complete the opening month, during which they will travel more than 700 miles to three away matches, at Whitby.

They began last term with a 3-1 defeat at Buxton, a team they visit this time around during a difficult run of matches during October.

Trips to King’s Lynn, Skelmersdale United, Curzon Ashton and Halesowen Town complete a list of five away games that month.

Providing building work is completed on time, Witton are scheduled to visit FC United of Manchester’s new home at Broadhurst Park in November.

Karl Marginson’s men, who have reached the promotion play-offs in each of the past four seasons, visit Northwich during the run-in.

Albion will play three of their final five matches on home turf, completing their calendar with a journey to another new stadium – this time at Stamford. 

Cheshire neighbours Nantwich provide the opposition at Wincham Park on Boxing Day, with the return match at the Weaver Stadium arranged for Easter Monday.

Meanwhile Witton are due at Marine on New Year’s Day.

They will have to wait to discover their opponents in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy, though in both competitions they have been drawn away from home.

Bootle, Runcorn Town or Goole await in the former while a road trip to Yorkshire - to either former league rivals Stocksbridge Park Steels or Sheffield – is a certainty in the latter.

Albion exited the FA Cup at the first qualifying stage last season following a 2-1 defeat at Ashton United.

They bid to do better this time around on Saturday, September 13.

Their first FA Trophy tie will take place in November.

To see Witton’s fixture list for the new season in full, click here: http://bit.ly/TJMgHF

Premier Division matches for the opening day (August 16)
Barwell v FC United of Manchester
Belper Town v Ashton United
Blyth Spartans v Grantham Town
Buxton v Nantwich Town
Curzon Ashton v Marine
Frickley Athletic v Rushall Olympic
Ramsbottom United v King’s Lynn Town
Skelmersdale United v Halesowen Town
Stamford v Workington
Stourbridge v Whitby Town
Trafford v Matlock Town
Witton Albion v Ilkeston