Goodbye

We’re closing our live coverage of the fixtures announcement now so thanks for joining us. To recap, the Blues will start the 2016/17 season with a trip to the International Stadium to face Neil Aspin’s Gateshead on Saturday, August 6.

Not long to wait now for the big kick-off and remember there’s a new signing to come this afternoon too.

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Festive fixtures

The Blues will face newcomers Solihull Moors on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

The National League North champions aren’t the most obvious of festive opponents with the Boxing Day clash in the West Midlands and the New Year’s Day return at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium.

Akwasi Asante was in superb form for Solihull Moors last season
Akwasi Asante will be a danger for Solihull Moors this season
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Opening month

There’s going to be some long trips for the Blues this season with several in the month of August:

Sat Aug 6 Gateshead (A)

Tue Aug 9 Dagenham & Redbridge (H)

Sat Aug 13 Maidstone United (H)

Tue Aug 16 Barrow (A)

Sat Aug 20 Boreham Wood (A)

Sat Aug 27 Sutton United (H)

Mon Aug 29 Woking (A)

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Derby dates

This season’s cross-border derbies with Wrexham will take place in September and January.

The first will be at the Racecourse on Saturday, September 24 with the return fixture at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium on Saturday, January 21.

You would think John Rooney will be in for a warm reception from the Blues fans.

John Rooney opens the scoring with a stunning free-kick against Wrexham
John Rooney scores against Wrexham last season but has now signed for the Dragons (Image: Terry Marland)
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Full fixture list

Print this out and stick it on the fridge door.

Sat Aug 6 Gateshead (A)

Tue Aug 9 Dagenham & Redbridge (H)

Sat Aug 13 Maidstone United (H)

Tue Aug 16 Barrow (A)

Sat Aug 20 Boreham Wood (A)

Sat Aug 27 Sutton United (H)

Mon Aug 29 Woking (A)

Sat Sep 3 Forest Green Rovers (H)

Sat Sep 10 Aldershot Town (A)

Tue Sep 13 Guiseley (H)

Sat Sep 17 Braintree Town (H)

Sat Sep 24 Wrexham (A)

Sat Oct 1 Dover Athletic (H)

Tue Oct 4 North Ferriby United (A)

Sat Oct 8 Torquay United (H)

Sat Oct 22 York City (A)

Tue Oct 25 Macclesfield Town (A)

Sat Oct 29 Lincoln City (H)

Sat Nov 12 Tranmere Rovers (A)

Sat Nov 19 Bromley (H)

Tue Nov 22 Southport (H)

Sat Nov 26 Eastleigh (A)

Tue Nov 29 North Ferriby United (H)

Sat Dec 3 Guiseley (A)

Sat Dec 17 Aldershot Town (H)

Mon Dec 26 Solihull Moors (A)

Sun Jan 1 Solihull Moors (H)

Sat Jan 7 Braintree Town (A)

Sat Jan 21 Wrexham (H)

Sat Jan 28 Dover Athletic (A)

Sat Feb 4 Dagenham & Redbridge (A)

Sat Feb 11 Gateshead (H)

Sat Feb 18 Maidstone United (A)

Sat Feb 25 Barrow (H)

Tue Feb 28 Southport (A)

Sat Mar 4 Tranmere Rovers (H)

Sat Mar 11 Lincoln City (A)

Sat Mar 18 Eastleigh (H)

Tue Mar 21 Macclesfield Town (H)

Sat Mar 25 Bromley (A)

Sat Apr 1 Torquay United (A)

Sat Apr 8 York City (H)

Fri Apr 14 Forest Green Rovers (A)

Mon Apr 17 Woking (H)

Sat Apr 22 Sutton United (A)

Sat Apr 29 Boreham Wood (H)

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And the Daggers in the first home game

Chester’s first game at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium will be a tough one as Dagenham & Redbridge, relegated from League Two at the end of last season, come to town.

kEverton FC vs Dagenham and Redbridge. FA Cup Third Round at Goodison Park. Everton manager Roberto Martinez & Dagenham manager John Still. Photo by Colin Lane
Dagenham & Redbridge manager John Still pictured during last season's FA Cup tie at Everton (Image: Colin Lane)
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It's Gateshead first up!

The Blues will start the 2016-17 season with a trip to the International Stadium to face Neil Aspin’s Gateshead. Thoughts? Let us know on Twitter @ChesterFC_Chron.

Gateshead's International Stadium
Gateshead's International Stadium (Image: Mike Hewitt)
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Don't forget pre-season

Remember there’s a full pre-season schedule to be completed before the first league game and that begins this weekend.

The Blues have lined up eight games starting with a trip to Sandbach United.

You can check out the full list of who Jon McCarthy’s side will face and when here.

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Could be the Blues start the season on TV?

BT Sport have confirmed they will be broadcasting one of the opening day fixtures and will announce which one later today. Could Chester feature? It’s a possibility but the likelihood is the chosen game will include one of the relegated sides or favourites for promotion.

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When will the first derby be?

One of the first dates Blues fans will look for will be the season’s first cross-border derby.

The bragging rights are with Wrexham after a comfortable win for the Dragons at the Racecourse in the most recent meeting, but Chester took the spoils earlier in the season so it’s one apiece.

It’s been a long time since the Blues completed a derby double so maybe 2016/17 could see an end to that wait?

Kane Richards wheels away after netting Chester FC's third in their 3-2 win over Wrexham
Kane Richards wheels away after netting Chester's third in their 3-2 win over Wrexham (Image: Ben Taylor Photography)
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Fan predictions for the opening afternoon

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Last season's opener

Do you remember the start of the 2015/16 season? Feels like a long time ago now but the Blues got the ball rolling with a 1-0 win at home to Braintree Town.

The game was just four minutes old when Chester took the lead through Johnny Hunt as the left-back collected a short corner from John Rooney and drove into the box, checking inside three defenders and curling his shot around keeper Will Norris and in off the post.

It was a perfect start to the season but unfortunately proved false down as aspirations of a play-off challenge turned into a battle against relegation.

Action from Chester FC 1 Braintree Town 0: Ross Hannah keeps a close eye on the ball
Ross Hannah keeps a close eye on the ball in the 1-0 win over Braintree at the start of last season (Image: Ben Taylor Photography)
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Who else is in the division this season?

Along with the 17 other clubs that were in the National League last term, the Blues will face six new opponents: relegated Dagenham & Redbridge and York City, and promoted Maidstone United, North Ferriby United, Solihull Moors and Sutton United.

The full line-up is as follows:

Aldershot Town, Barrow AFC, Boreham Wood, Braintree Town, Bromley, Chester, Dagenham & Redbridge, Dover Athletic, Eastleigh, Forest Green Rovers, Gateshead, Guiseley, Lincoln City, Macclesfield Town, Maidstone United, North Ferriby United, Solihull Moors, Southport, Sutton United, Torquay United, Tranmere Rovers, Woking, Wrexham, York City.

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Who do you want on the opening day?

The fixtures will be released at 1pm, so that’s a little under an hour. Of course the first one we’ll look for will be the opening afternoon of Saturday, August 6 but the dates for the Wrexham and Tranmere Rovers games will be close behind.

Let us know who you want or who you think the Blues will be facing on the opening day on Twitter @ChesterFC_Chron.

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There's more big news on the way

Before we get started, it’s not just the fixtures to get excited about. The Blues have finalised a deal for a new left-back and will announce his signing at 4pm.

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Welcome

Hello and welcome to our live blog as we countdown to the release of the 2016/17 National League fixtures.

The fixtures will be published at 1pm but before then we’ll be looking at past season starts, highlighting your hopes for the opening day and much more.

Get involved on Twitter @ChesterFC_Chron as we wait to find out who the Blues will face on August 6.

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