THERE is no doubt the visit of Redditch United four games into the new Dr Martens Western season is the highlight of Bromsgrove Rovers' new fixture list.

The computer at league headquarters has been in overdrive once again pairing teams up and has handed Rovers a clash with their arch rivals as early as the second home match on Saturday, August 25.

It is a fixture that will be eagerly anticipated by both sets of fans alike. The return match at the Valley Stadium is on Boxing Day.

But before that Rovers open up with Taunton Town at the Victoria Ground and then ace trips to Bedworth United and Gresley Rovers.

Chairman Tom Herbert said: "It's going to be a tough start, but at the end of the day we are there to compete. We have just got to look after ourselves and get on with it now."

Other key dates for the diary include Halesowen Town, newly relegated, who provide the opposition on New Year's Day and East Monday, home and away respectively.

A hectic six-game schedule in January might strike fear into the Rovers faithful, not to mention league officials who no doubt will be ear-marking extra dates ahead of postponements.

And spare a thought for the team bus driver who has three trips out of Bromsgrove in March, two to the West Country, as Rovers play at home just once in a month.

But they compensate for that with three home games in four in February.