A tricky first month awaits Chester FC in their opening few matches to the 2024/25 National League North campaign.

The Blues will aim to be contenders for promotion, after falling short of the play-offs last season with a 10th-placed finish in the table.

Now the National League has today (Wednesday, July 10) released the fixtures for the upcoming season.

Calum McIntyre's men will begin with an away trip to Spennymoor Town, who finished last season in ninth, on Saturday, August 10.

The Blues' first home match will be against Brackley Town on Saturday, August 17. Brackley were third in last season's table and missed out on promotion in the play-offs.

After that it's a home game game against newly promoted Radcliffe (August 20), a visit to fifth-last-season Alfreton Town (August 24), home to Scarborough Athletic on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26 and away to Peterborough Sports on August 31.

A change to the fixtures during the holiday seasons means Chester no longer play the same local side home and away over the Christmas and New Year period. The reverse fixtures against the two teams faced during that time instead take place over Easter.

Thus, Chester are away to Marine on Boxing Day and home to Southport on January 1, while they are at Southport on Good Friday, April 18, and home to Marine on Easter Monday, April 21.

The final league game of the season will be a trip to King's Lynn Town on April 26.

Chester FC continue their pre-season games with a home game against Stoke City on Thursday (7.45pm kick-off), before a tour of matches on the Isle of Man next week.

The Blues have also announced a pre-season friendly at home to a Manchester United XI on Wednesday, July 24 (7.30pm kick-off).

For more information, and to buy tickets, visit chesterfc.com.