Southport first up for City

PROMOTED Gloucester City will head to one of the biggest clubs in Blue Square North when the 2009/10 campaign kicks off.

The magnitude of the Tigers' achievement last term is emphasised by their opening-day fixture at Southport on August 8, former members of the Football League who regularly attract gates in excess of 1,000.

Dave Mehew's men can then look forward to successive home games at the Corinium Stadium against Eastwood Town on August 11 and Farsley Celtic four days later.

They are also at home on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31, when AFC Telford United should bring a sizeable away following.

City fans joined The Citizen in unsuccessfully campaigning for a place in Blue Square South, which would have avoided long away trips such as Fleetwood Town on February 13 and Blyth Spartans on March 27.

Mehew said he was looking forward to an opening day clash with old foes Southport.

The last time the teams met was in the 2002/3 FA Trophy fifth round replay when Gloucester won 3-1 with goals from Jimmy Cox and Tom Webb.

Mehew said: "Adie Harris and Tom Webb were in the winning side so that will give us a bit of confidence.

"Southport are one of the fancied teams in the league so to get them before they get going is good for us.

"It is a fantastic surface to play on up there and without a Premiership fixture that weekend we might be playing to a good crowd."

But goalscorer Webb is unlikely to feature in the match on August 8 as he continues his recovery from a knee injury picked up in the play-off win at Farnborough in May.

Mehew said: "We think he will be back two weeks into the season but that gives the opportunity for someone else to come in and impress.

"We don't want to rush Webby back for the sake of it."

The Tigers' big trips to Workington and Blyth Spartans have been scheduled for January and March.

Mehew said: "Blyth are coming to us early and we have them at the end of March so hopefully the weather will have started to change by then."

With the first week of pre-season training finished Mehew said his squad were already looking forward to their first game.

He added: "I have been pleasantly surprised by some of the trial players, they have all put the effort in and some of them are not bad at all."