YORK City will travel to Carlisle United on the opening day of the new season, it was announced today.

The testing trip to Brunton Park on August 9 will mark a League baptism of fire for City's new player-manager, Chris Brass, and his assistant, Lee Nogan.

City failed to win at Carlisle under former boss Terry Dolan and have not won in Cumbria since 1999.

Said Brass: "It would have been good to have had the first game at home. But it is not too far to travel and we know what Carlisle are all about.

"It would be good to have the fixtures in front of you and we have got a loto of local derbies this year which should create a lot of interest.

"Having Hull City on Boxing day is a big, big plus."

Relegated Northampton Town, who this week tabled a £400,000 bid with Stockport County for one-time City target Luke Beckett, are the first visitors to Bootham Crescent on August 16.

City make their first trip to Conference champions Yeovil Town on September 13 and will entertain old rivals Doncaster Rovers, back in the League after an absence of five seasons, on Saturday, November 15.

City will welcome fierce rivals Hull City to Bootham Crescent on Boxing Day, a game that usually attracts the Minstermen's biggest home gate of the season.

The trip to the Tigers' Kingston Communications Stadium will take place on February 7.

City's first game of 2004 will be at Southend, on January 3, while they will end their Division Three programme at Swansea's Vetch Field on May 8.

Updated: 11:48 Thursday, June 19, 2003