The fixtures for the new season in both the Conference Premier and Conference South for the five Kent sides who play at that level are out.

In the Premier, after their reprieve from relegation Dartford face a tough start with their first two visitors to Princes Park being Wrexham (on opening day) and Torquay United.

Indeed all three Kent sides are at home on August 9th as Dover Athletic’s return to this level begins with a visit to Crabble by AFC Halifax Town, whilst Welling United play AFC Telford United at Park View Road.

There are always some eye raising midweek trips and it’s no different as on the first Tuesday (August 12th), Welling must travel to Devon to face Torquay!

But the Devon side don’t get off lightly as they have to come to Kent and play Dover on Tuesday 2nd December!

The six Kent derbies in the division are as follows:
Sept 16 – Dartford v Dover Athletic
Sept 30 – Welling United v Dartford
Nov 11 – Dartford v Welling United
Boxing Day – Dover Athletic v Welling United
New Years Day – Welling United v Dover Athletic
Jan 17 – Dover Athletic v Dartford

With Dover and Welling facing each other over Christmas, Dartford face home and away games with Braintree Town – with the Darts at home Boxing Day.

The Easter programme sees all three sides on the road on Easter Saturday – Dartford at Torquay; Dover at Eastleigh; Welling at Woking – and all three at home on Easter Monday – Dartford v Barnet; Dover v Woking; Welling v Eastleigh. And on the final day of the season, Dartford play Lincoln, Dover go to Forest Green Rovers and Welling host Southport.

In Conference South, Ebbsfleet United at the moment have a longer pre season than anyone else as the fixture computer has given them an away game on August 9th at Salisbury City, whose very involvement in the competition is very much in doubt following last week’s release from the Conference that expelled the Wiltshire club from the competition for not meeting stipulations set by the League.

And so whilst Bromley begin with a trip to Havant and Waterlooville, the Fleet’s campaign won’t begin until Tuesday 12th August with a home game against Concord Rangers.

That said, Salisbury are set to challenge to decision and so Steve Brown’s planning at the moment can’t be an easy job at all!

The two Kent derbies are on January 24th at Stonebridge Road and on March 7th at Hayes Lane.

Easter sees home games on the Saturday – Bromley v Boreham Wood and Ebbsfleet v Whitehawk – and both travelling on the Monday to Maidenhead and Wealdstone respectively – and then on the last day of the season it’s Gosport Borough v Bromley and Ebbsfleet United v Bishops Stortford.

The two sides face contrasting Christmas fixtures against Essex clubs, with Bromley facing home and away games with Concord Rangers whilst Ebbsfleet play Chelmsford City – both Kent sides being at home on Boxing Day.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.