YORK City will visit last season’s beaten play-off semi-finalists Chorley on the opening day of the new National League North campaign (Saturday, August 4).

The Lancashire outfit are one of three top-seven sides City will face in August with Martin Gray’s men taking on Stockport County in their first home match three days later and visiting play-off final runners-up Brackley on the final Saturday of the month.

Gray’s old club Darlington, meanwhile, will host the Minstermen on Boxing Day, with the return fixture taking place on New Year’s Day.

In between, there is also scheduled a trip to Blyth Spartans on Saturday, December 29, while Telford visit Bootham Crescent on the final day of the season in what could be, depending on potential play-off fixtures, the final competitive game to be played at the stadium before the move to Monks Cross.

Chorley now include former City pair Louis Almond and Wes Fletcher in their ranks, although ex-striker Jason Walker was released at the end of last season.

The Magpies finished sixth in the 2017/18 final standings and were only beaten 2-1 in the play-offs after Dom Knowles grabbed a stoppage-time winner for Harrogate Town.

Chorley also boasted the division’s second-best defensive record, although former Blackburn midfielder Matt Jensen has since stepped down as manager and been replaced by 36-year-old coach Jamie Vermiglio.

York City’s 2018/19 fixtures: Sat, Aug 4 Chorley (A); Tue, Aug 7 Stockport County (H); Sat, Aug 11 Alfreton Town (H); Tue, Aug 14 Ashton United (A); Sat, Aug 18 Curzon Ashton (H); Sat, Aug 25 Brackley Town (A); Mon, Aug 27 Blyth Spartans (H).

Sat, Sep 1 Hereford (A); Sat, Sep 8 Nuneaton Borough (A); Sat, Sep 15 Kidderminster Harriers (H); Sat, Sep 22 Emirates FA Cup 2Q; Sat, Sep 29 Guiseley (H).

Sat, Oct 6 Emirates FA Cup 3Q; Sat, Oct 13 Southport (A); Sat, Oct 20 Chester (H) (Emirates FA Cup 4Q); Sat, Oct 27 AFC Telford United (A), Tue, Oct 30 Spennymoor Town (A).

Sat, Nov 3 Bradford Park Avenue (H); Sat, Nov 10 Leamington (H) (Emirates FA Cup 1); Sat, Nov 17 Altrincham (A); Sat, Nov 24 Buildbase FA Trophy 3Q.

Sat, Dec 1 FC United Of Manchester (H) (Emirates FA Cup 2), Sat, Dec 8 Boston United (A); Sat, Dec 15 Buildbase FA Trophy 1; Sat Dec 22 Brackley Town (H); Wed, Dec 26 Darlington (A); Sat, Dec 29 Blyth Spartans (A).

Tue, Jan 1 Darlington (H); Sat, Jan 5 Curzon Ashton (A) (Emirates FA Cup 3); Sat, Jan 12 Hereford (H) (Buildbase FA Trophy 2); Sat, Jan 19 Stockport County (A); Sat, Jan 26 Chorley (H) (Emirates FA Cup 4).

Sat, Feb 2 Alfreton Town (A) (Buildbase FA Trophy 3); Sat Feb 9 Ashton United (H); Sat, Feb 16 Kidderminster Harriers (A) (Emirates FA Cup 5); Sat Feb 23 Nuneaton Borough (H) (Buildbase FA Trophy 4).

Sat Mar 2 Leamington (A); Sat Mar 9 Altrincham (H); Sat, Mar 16 FC United Of Manchester (A) (Emirates FA Cup 6/Buildbase FA Trophy Semi 1); Sat, Mar 23 Boston United (H) (Buildbase FA Trophy Semi-Final 2); Sat Mar 30 Guiseley (A).

Sat, Apr 6 Southport (H) (Emirates FA Cup Semi-Final); Sat Apr 13 Chester (A); Sat, Apr 20 Spennymoor Town (H); Mon, Apr 22 Bradford Park Avenue (A); Sat, Apr 27 AFC Telford United (H); Sat, May 18 Emirates FA Cup Final; Sun, May 19 Buildbase FA Trophy Final.