Fleetwood Town open their second Football League campaign with a home game against Dagenham and Redbridge on August 3rd followed seven days later by the season’s longest trip, the 650 mile round-trip to Plymouth.
Town manager Graham Alexander was delighted to kick off with at Highbury:
‘It’s good for the supporters to get an early chance to see the team and the new faces we have brought in.’
There are two Lancashire derbies to look forward to over Christmas with the Cod Army travelling to the Globe to face Morecambe on Boxing Day and Accrington Stanley at Highbury on New Year’s Day:
‘I’m delighted to have the two Lancashire derby games on the big Christmas dates,’ added Alexander.’ Morecambe is a massive fixture and there should be a great turnout up there on Boxing Day.’
The long-awaited matches against Portsmouth, a Premier League side just four years ago when Town were in Conference North, see Town travel to Fratton Park on September 21st with Pompey at Highbury on March 15th:
‘Portsmouth are the biggest club in the division this year,’ said Alexander, ‘and it’s not long ago that they won the FA Cup. The chance to play games like these gives all clubs hope.’
The visit of Hartlepool on January 18th will evoke memories of a tight FA Cup Second Round fixture five years ago when Town narrowly lost 2-3.
The last two fixtures are against sides in the mix last season, Southend at home on April 26th, followed by a trip to Chesterfield nine months to the day after the season kicked off! Town’s manager knows how difficult those two teams can be:
‘You would expect two sides of their quality to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season but we will deal with those challenges when we get there. There’s a lot of football to be played before then.’
Everybody has their own personal reasons for scanning the fixtures. Players will look for former clubs, fans will look for fixtures on their birthdays. For Alexander, there is the opportunity to manage against Scunthorpe United where his career began:
‘I have fond memories of Scunthorpe. My career kicked off at Glanford Park and I owe them a lot. However, come the day of the games, I will be putting personal issues aside and focusing on three points.’
The fixture list is bound to be a main topic of conversation when Town’s players return for fitness training on Friday:
‘I’m excited about getting going again, ‘said Alexander. ‘We’ll be able to gauge how the lads have looked after themselves over the summer and I know from my playing days how exciting it is to meet up again and meet some new faces.’
Hospitality Bookings 13/14 Season
Matchday Hospitality is graded for the new season with games Graded A B and C for the new campaign.
Parkside Suite Hospitality Grade A £55 Grade B £49 and Grade C £39 all inclusive of VAT
Executive Boxes Grade A £700, Grade B £625 and Grade C £550 all plus VAT for 12 Guests
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