KIDDERMINSTER Harriers will open the new season with a home fixture for the fourth time in a row since joining the Football League in the year 2000.

Harriers, who have previously met Torquay, Scunthorpe and Lincoln on the first day, will this time encounter relegated Mansfield at Aggborough on Saturday, August 9.

And for the first away fixture, they make one of their longer trips of the campaign to the north-east to face Darlington on Saturday, August 16.

The County Durham club should be opening their new 25,000 all-seater stadium on the day.

Harriers complete their first month by entertaining Bury on Saturday, August 23, travelling to rivals Cheltenham on Monday, August 25, and hosting Oxford on Saturday, August 30.

The away visit to Oxford is on Saturday, January 31, while Cheltenham, who were relegated from Division Two last season, will visit Kidderminster on Saturday, January 3.

There is no New Year's Day fixture next year but Harriers' Boxing Day clash will be a visit to Conference champions Yeovil with the return match set for Saturday, February 7.

Larger-than-average crowds are also likely to be at Aggborough for the games with Bristol Rovers on Sunday, December 28, Swansea on Saturday, February 21, Northampton on Tuesday, March 2, and Hull on Saturday, April 3.

Harriers also end their season with a home fixture, taking on former non-league opponents Boston on Saturday, May 8.

Ian Britton's men play another former Conference side Doncaster, who went up via the play-offs, at home on Saturday, October 25, and away on Saturday, February 28.

Fans will be looking forward to some of the shorter away trips which include Bristol Rovers on Saturday, September 6, Macclesfield on Saturday, September 13, Northampton on Tuesday, October 21, and Mansfield on Saturday, January 10.

Kidderminster travel to relegated Huddersfield on Tuesday, September 30, and tackle them at home on Monday, April 12.

Drewe Broughton, signed by Southend, will be back in town on Saturday, February 14, while Harriers head to Essex on Saturday, October 11.

Remaining fixtures: Scunthorpe (h) Tuesday, September 16, (a) Tuesday, March 16.

Lincoln (h) Saturday, September 20, (a) Saturday, March 27.

Hull (a) Saturday, September 27.

Carlisle (h) Saturday, October 4, (a) Saturday, April 10.

Swansea (a) Saturday, October 18.

Cambridge (h) Saturday, November 1, (a) Saturday, April 17.

Rochdale (a) Saturday, November 15, (h) Saturday, April 24.

Torquay (h) Saturday, November 22, (a) Saturday, May 1.

Boston (a) Saturday, November 29.

Leyton Orient (h) Saturday, December 13, (a) Saturday, March 13.

York (a) Saturday, December 20, (h) Saturday, March 6.

Darlington (h) Saturday, January 17.

Bury (a) Saturday, January 24.

Macclesfield (h) Saturday, March 20.