Away trip for starters

Latics face Rovers on opening day

THE guessing game is over, the fixtures are out, and Athletic have been handed an away-day to kick off their npower League One campaign.

They travel to Tranmere Rovers on August 7 for Paul Dickov’s first competitive match in charge.

Les Parry’s side avoided relegation on the last day of the season courtesy of a 3-0 victory at doomed Stockport County, lifting Rovers to 19th place.

Athletic’s first home game comes a week later, when Notts County and former Athletic striker Lee Hughes visit Boundary Park.

The Magpies capped an eventful season at Meadow Lane by winning the League Two title despite a mysterious take over, a winding up order and appearances of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Sol Campbell.

Derby day falls on November 2 at newly-promoted Rochdale’s Spotland Stadium. The return fixture is due to take place on January 3.

Athletic have home comforts on the last day of the season as they host Milton Keynes Dons on May 7.

Dickov said: “Looking at the fixture list makes the job feel real for me so I can’t wait to start playing the games.

“It hits home when you see what’s to come, especially when there are so many big clubs in the division, like Charlton, Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday.

“Obviously in an ideal world my first match in charge would have been at home, but I haven’t got long to wait for Notts County’s visit, when I’ll be up against my good friend Craig Short, who I played with at Blackburn.”

Player-manager Dickov couldn’t resist a light-hearted observation, adding: “It’s nice to be at home on the last day of the season so we can celebrate promotion in front of our own fans!”

Keith Hill’s Rochdale finished third in League Two, ending 36 consecutive campaigns which resulted in neither promotion nor relegation from the Football League’s bottom division.

They face Hartlepool at home on the opening day.


SEASON tickets are now available for collection at Boundary Park. Inside is a voucher for free admission to a warm-up game in July.


FIXTURES 2010-2011
August

7 Tranmere, (A)

14 Notts County, (H)

21 Charlton, (A)August

7 Tranmere, (A)

14 Notts County, (H)

21 Charlton, (A)

28 Yeovil, (H)



September

4 Bristol Rovers, (H)

11 Peterborough, (A)

18 Bournemouth, (H)

25 Brighton, (A)

28 Sheff Wed, (A)



October

2 Leyton Orient, (H)

9 Brentford, (A)

16 Colchester, (H)

23 Southampton, (A)

30 Plymouth, (H)



November

2 Rochdale, (A)

13 Huddersfield, (H)

20 Dag & Red, (A)

23 Exeter, (H)



December

4 Walsall, (A)

11 Swindon, (H)

18 Milton Keynes Dons, (A)

26 Carlisle, (H)

28 Colchester, (A)



January

1 Hartlepool, (A)

3 Rochdale, (H)

8 Southampton, (H)

15 Plymouth, (A)

22 Brentford, (H)

29 Carlisle, (A)



February

1 Hartlepool, (H)

5 Dag & Red, (H)

12 Huddersfield, (A)

19 Bristol Rovers, (A)

26 Peterborough, (H)



March

5 Bournemouth, (A)

8 Sheff Wed, (H)

12 Leyton Orient, (A)

19 Brighton, (H)

26 Tranmere, (H)



April

2 Notts County, (A)

9 Charlton, (H)

16 Yeovil, (A)

23 Exeter, (A)

25 Walsall, (H)

30 Swindon, (A)



May

7 Milton Keynes Dons, (H)

28 Yeovil, (H)




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