Tigers land FC United of Manchester in plum opening tie

And boss Mark Shaw is delighted.

He told the Guardian: “I can imagine the first day of the season being very warm, with a bumper crowd and a great game of football to start with.”

“It’s actually one of the games I wanted.”

A trip to Grantham Town follows, before the long trip to Blyth Spartans on 24th August.

Tigers will hope for a good Bank Holiday crowd when Matlock Town visit on 26th.

On Boxing Day Tigers host Ilkeston, and then visit Matlock on New Year’s Day.

The season will end at Sandy Lane, when Frickley Athletic will be the visitors.

Shaw added: “All the Bank Holiday games are good, good decisions from the league.”

Fixtures

Sat Aug 17 FC United (H)

Tue Aug 20 Grantham Tn (A)

Sat Aug 24 Blyth Spartans (A)

Mon Aug 26 Matlock Town (H)

Sat Aug 31 AFC Fylde (H)

Wed Sep 4 Whitby Town (A)

Sat Sep 7 Stamford (A)

Wed Sep 11 Kings Lynn Tn (H)

Sat Sep 14 F.A. Cup Q1

Wed Sep 18 Barwell (H)

Sat Sep 21 Nantwich Town (A)

Wed Sep 25 Buxton (A)

Sat Sep 28 F.A. Cup Q2

Sat Oct 5 Witton Albion (H) Sat Oct 12 Marine (A)

Wed Oct 16 Stafford ‘Gers (H)

Tue Oct 22 Stocksbridge PS (A)

Sat Oct 26 Chorley (H) Wed Oct 30 Whitby Town (H)

Tue Nov 5 Kings Lynn Tn (A)

Sat Nov 9 Stamford (H) Sat Nov 16 AFC Fylde (A) Sat Nov 23 Droylsden (H)

Sat Nov 30 Rushall Olympic (A) Sat Dec 7 FC United (A) Sat Dec 14 Grantham Town (H) Sat Dec 21 Frickley Athletic (A)

Thu Dec 26 Ilkeston FC (H)

Sat Dec 28 Skelmersdale U (H)

Wed Jan 1 Matlock Town (A)

Sat Jan 4 Ashton United (A) Sat Jan 11 Trafford (H) Sat Jan 18 Barwell (A)

Sat Jan 25 Buxton (H) Sat Feb 1 Witton Albion (A) Sat Feb 8 Nantwich Town (H)

Sat Feb 15 Trafford

Sat Feb 22 Ashton United (H)

Sat Mar 1 Stocksbridge PS (H) Sat Mar 8 Chorley (A) Sat Mar 15 Marine (H)

Sat Mar 22 Stafford ‘Gers (A)

Sat Mar 29 Droylsden (A)

Sat Apr 5 Rushall Olympic (H)

Sat Apr 12 Skelmersdale U (A)Sat Apr 19 Blyth Spartans (H)

Mon Apr 21 Ilkeston FC (A)

Sat Apr 26 Frickley Athletic (H)