A Closer Look At Next Season's Fixtures - Gearing up for a new season

The fixtures are out and we start with a home match against relegated Gillingham on Saturday August 9th. It promises to be an exciting start to the season with both clubs looking to bounce back quickly after falling through the League One trapdoor on the final day of last season.

Following another home match against Cardiff in the Carling Cup comes the nearest away game of the season. Conference Champions Aldershot Town host the Cherries in their first Football League match since going out of business in the 1990s. The match will also provide a new ground on the list for many travelling supporters.

Also in August, Cherries play host to the other promoted Conference club in Exeter City.

Saturday August 18th will provide a first for AFC Bournemouth. Shrewsbury Town is the destination and a first visit to their new 10,000 all-seater Oteley Stadium. Three days later the Cherries will play Dagenham and Redbridge for the first ever time in a competitive match under the lights at Dean Court.

Cherries fans will be hoping for a home fixture in the FA Cup first round on Saturday November 8th. The proceeding two weeks see Bournemouth rack up over 1,100 miles in trips to Accrington and Grimsby.

Cherries are away on Boxing Day as the popular fixture amongst fans to Brentford returns to the schedule. Two days later it's Barnet at home followed by a gruelling trip to Darlington on Saturday January 3rd. Manchester United at home in FA Cup round three sounds more appealing! But the Quakers' Darlington Arena is another new ground for away day Cherries.

The Christmas combo is repeated in reverse at Easter. If this is consistent throughout the fixtures, it's pleasing to see that clubs have a home tie on Boxing Day or Easter Monday with little travelling on the corresponding date. It's Barnet away on Easter Saturday and Brentford at home two days later.

The run-in will be a stern test of Cherries stamina. Four of the final five away games are at northern M6 outposts, but Bournemouth do have recent good memories at Macclesfield and Bury.

A mutual groan at respective away fixtures will be emanating from Morecambe. Fresh from having to travel to Carlisle on the last day of last season, it's Morecambe's Christie Park this season. It provides the last of five stadiums visited by AFC Bournemouth for the first time. But spare a thought for our Lancashire rivals who have to make the long trip south on a Tuesday night in November!