York City boss Russ Wilcox declares "let's bring it on" as League Two fixtures are released

The Minstermen will open their campaign on Saturday, August 8 with a trip to defeated play-off finalists Wycombe Wanderers before hosting Hartlepool United in their first game at Bootham Crescent the following weekend.

The busy Christmas period sees City host Northampton Town on Boxing Day before travelling to Mansfield Town on December 28 and then a long journey to Yeovil Town on January 2. Easter sees Crawley visit before an Easter Monday slog to Plymouth Argyle.

The final League game at Bootham Crescent will see promoted Bristol Rovers arrive on April 30, while the season ends the following Saturday at Morecambe. Manager Russ Wilcox said he couldn't wait to get cracking.

"It is an exciting time," he said. "You look at the challenges and we go into the season full of positivity. At the end of last season, we took 15 points from our last nine games and we will hopefully add a few players to the squad to improve.

"Let's bring it on. Let's have a go at League Two. There is nothing to fear there. Wycombe will be a good fixture and they are a perfect example of going into the season with no fear. They stayed up on goal difference the year before going on to the play-off final at Wembley. It shows what can be achieved if you have a positive frame of mind."

Asked whether Wycombe could suffer a play-off hangover, after a last minute extra-time Southend goal at Wembley eventually saw them denied promotion on penalties, Wilcox added: "You talk about small margins in football games.

"They had a brilliant season and were in the top three all year. They had the heartbreak of dropping out of that and then the final dagger in the heart was the last minute goal in extra time and losing on penalties.

"Gareth Ainsworth has done a terrific job and he will look at bringing them round, looking at the positives through the season and they did have a great year."

On Hartlepool as the first Bootham Crescent game, Wilcox remembered the crucial 1-0 win over the North East club last year that proved pivotal in the Minstermen's successful fight for League Two survival.

"I think that's a great fixture," he added. "You have to look forward to your first home game and I don't think we could have chosen a better one. That was a key game for us last season and it is important for us this time as well.

"We need to hit the ground running at home. They will bring a terrific following and it will be a great atmosphere for the first game at Bootham Crescent."

Wilcox continued: "Northampton will bring a few as well on Boxing Day. They are a club that probably need to be further up the league. They have had success before and I was there, a long time ago, when we won the (fourth division) championship in 1987."

The City boss acknowledged that the final game at Bootham Crescent would be a bittersweet occasion for some fans with the promise of moving to a new stadium tinged with the sorrow of the club leaving their home since 1932.

But Wilcox was pleased it was Bristol Rovers who would contest the last match at the old ground and, with the fixture now confirmed, he said: "They have done brilliantly to be relegated from League Two and then bounce back at the first attempt.

"There is no way Bristol Rovers should be in non-league and it just goes back to hard League Two is. It will be a great day. It will be a day full of emotion - both positive and negative. The positive side is taking the club forward into a new stadium.

"If you look at the clubs that have done that - like Rotherham and Chesterfield - success has come because there is greater revenue and, as a manager, you can bring in more quality players to the football club. The club have been there since 1932 and there will be plenty of older supporters, who have been there since they were a boy, who will have mixed emotions.

"Hopefully, we will be at the right end of the table. We just have to be positive and approach the season with a positive mindset. We finished last season well. Let's take that into the new season."

Full fixtures (3pm kick off unless stated)

August 8, Wycombe Wanderers v York City; August 15, York City v Hartlepool United; August 18, York City v Yeovil Town (7.45pm); August 22, Exeter City v York City; August 29, York City v Mansfield Town.

September 5, Newport County v York City; September 12, Stevenage v York City; September 19, York City v Carlisle United; September 26, Notts County v York City; September 29, York City v Oxford United (7.45pm).

October 3, York City v Cambridge United; October 10, Luton Town v York City; October 17, Barnet v York City; October 20, York City v Dagenham & Redbridge (7.45pm); October 24, York City v AFC Wimbledon; October 31, Crawley Town v York City.

November 14, York City v Plymouth Argyle; November 21, Leyton Orient v York City; November 24, Portsmouth v York City (7.45pm); November 28, York City v Accrington Stanley.

December 12, Bristol Rovers v York City; December 19, York City v Morecambe; December 26, York City v Northampton Town; December 28, Mansfield Town v York City.

January 2, Yeovil Town v York City; January 9, York City v Exeter City; January 16, York City v Newport County; January 23, Carlisle United v York City; January 30, York City v Stevenage.

February 6, Northampton Town v York City; February 13, York City v Notts County; February 20, Cambridge United v York City; February 27, York City v Luton Town.

March 1, Oxford United v York City (7.45pm); March 5, Dagenham & Redbridge v York City; March 12, York City v Barnet; March 19, AFC Wimbledon v York City; March 26, York City v Crawley Town; March 28, Plymouth Argyle v York City.

April 2, York City v Leyton Orient; April 9, York City v Wycombe Wanderers; April 16, Hartlepool United v York City; April 19, York City v Portsmouth (7.45pm); April 23, Accrington Stanley v York City; April 30, York City v Bristol Rovers; May 7, Morecambe v York City.