Darlington’s much-anticipated first game in the Vanarama National League North will be at Altrincham on Saturday 6th August.

Quakers asked for their opening game of the season to be scheduled away from home because the Heritage Park pitch in Bishop Auckland has been relaid during the summer, so the first home game will be the following Tuesday 9th August against Chorley, quickly followed by another home game against former Football League side Boston United.

It will be hectic start to the season for Quakers, who will have seven matches in the month of August, three at home and four away, but over the course of the season, they will play four fewer fixtures in total than last season in the NPL, 42 compared to 46. There is also no league cup competition in the Vanarama.

Quakers will be competing against some familiar names from the Football League days: Stockport County will visit on Tuesday 6th September, while there will be back-to-back matches against FC Halifax Town on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Bradford Park Avenue, who left the Football League in 1972, will host Quakers on Wednesday September 14th, while Kidderminster Harriers, the first visitors to the Arena in 2003, will arrive on Saturday September 3rd.

Quakers’ local derby against Harrogate Town will be away on Saturday 29th October and at home on Saturday 25th February.

Because of  promotion from the NPL, Quakers have exemption to the second qualifying round of the FA Cup on 17th September, and to the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy on 26th November.

The full list of fixtures is (midweek kick off times are 7.45):

Sat August 6th: Altrincham (away)

Tues August 9th: Chorley (home)

Sat August 13th: Boston United (home)

Mon August 15th: Curzon Ashton (away)

Sat August 20th: Gloucester City (away)

Sat August 27th: Alfreton (home)

Mon August 29th: FC United of Manchester (away)

Sat September 3rd: Kidderminster Harriers (home)

Tues September 6th: Stockport County (home)

Sat September 10th: Nuneaton Town (away)

Wed September 14th: Bradford Park Avenue (away)

Sat September 17th: FA Cup 2QR

Sat September 24th: Stalybridge Celtic (home)

Sat October 1st: FA Cup 3QR

Sat October 8th: Brackley Town (away)

Sat October 15th: Gainsborough Trinity (home) or FA Cup 4Q

Sat October 22nd: Worcester City (home)

Sat October 29th: Harrogate Town (away)

Sat November 5th Tamworth (away) or FA Cup 1

Sat November 12th: AFC Fylde (home)

Sat November 19th: AFC Telford United (away)

Sat November 26th: FA Trophy 3Q

Sat December 3rd: Salford City (home)

Sat December 10th: FA Trophy 1R

Sat December 17th: Kidderminster Harriers (away)

Mon December 26th: FC Halifax Town (home)

Sun January 1st: FC Halifax Town (away)

Sat January 7th:Nuneaton Town (home)

Sat January 14th:Gloucester City (home)

Sat January 21st: Stockport County (away)

Sat January 28th: Curzon Ashton (home)

Sat February 4th: Chorley (away)

Sat February 11th: Altrincham (home)

Sat February 18th: Boston United (away)

Sat February 25th: Harrogate Town (home)

Sat March 4th: Worcester City (away)

Sat March 11th: Stalybridge Celtic (away)

Sat March 18th: Brackley (home)

Tues March 21st: Bradford Park Avenue (home)

Sat March 25th: Gainsborough Trinity (away)

Sat April 1st: AFC Fylde (away)

Sat April 8th: Tamworth (home)

Sat April 15th: Alfreton (away)

Mon April 17th: FC United of Manchester (home)

Sat April 22nd: AFC Telford United (home)

Sat April 29th: Salford City (away)