Gillingham will have a few stern tests ahead of them after the 2018/19 season fixtures were announced.

Steve Lovell’s side will start the new campaign away from home, facing Accrington Stanley on Saturday 4th August.

They will then entertain Burton Albion at Priestfield a week later for what will be the first of 23 home league fixtures.

After a trip to Walsall a week later, Gillingham will play host to former Premier League sides Sunderland on Tuesday 21st August and then Coventry City on Saturday 25th August.

Boxing Day will see another former Premier League side come to Kent with Portsmouth making the trip for the festive fixture.

That comes just four days after Gillingham make the short journey to The Valley to take on local rivals Charlton Athletic.

A home game against Doncaster Rovers on 29th December is followed up by a journey into Essex for Gillingham on New Year’s Day as they take on Southend United.

The long trip north to face Sunderland comes on Saturday 26th January for Steve Lovell’s side.

Their last home league game of the campaign comes against Charlton Athletic on Saturday 27th April and they will end the season as they started it, away from home, facing Blackpool on May 4th.