YORK City will kick-off their first season in Vanarama National League North with a home game against AFC Telford United on Saturday August 5.

With just over four weeks to go before the 'big kick-off', the release of the new fixture list has fuelled the current mood of optimism among City supporters.

Over 1,400 supporters have already snapped up season tickets and the club, despite being relegated last season, is now looking to draw the biggest crowds in the sixth tier of English football.

Inevitably, there are new challenges on the way.

AFC Telford competed on equal terms with York six seasons ago and won at Bootham Crescent in the Blue Square Premier League. They finished only seven points clear of the relegation zone last season but have appointed former Welsh international Rob Edwards as manager in the past fortnight.

York's first away fixture at newly-promoted Blyth Spartans on August 8 will be a first league meeting between the two clubs.

The second weekend of the season throws up a Yorkshire derby at Bradford Park Avenue - a club who have not provided league opposition for York since being relegated from the Football League in 1970.

Neighbours Harrogate Town are based only 20 miles down the road from York but, in footballing terms, have always been a greater distance away. Until now!

Town have signalled their intentions by going 'full-time' this summer and will host York in a league game for the first time on Saturday September 23. The return fixture takes place at Bootham Crescent in the final month of the season.

For the second consecutive year, the Minstermen have been given back-to-back fixtures against Yorkshire rivals North Ferriby United on Boxing Day (A) and New Year's Day (H).

Stockport County and FC United of Manchester were the two clubs with the biggest support in the division last season. FC United will visit York on August Bank Holiday Monday - a game guaranteed to attract a bumper attendance - and County will arrive at Bootham Crescent 12 days later.

Sandwiched in between are away fixtures at Chorley and Spennymoor Town - another two clubs who have never played competitive fixtures with York until now.

Salford City, the club owned by former Manchester United players Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, and Nicky Butt, host York for the first time on Saturday October 21.

The final league game of the season is away at Brackley Town on Saturday April 28.

Only the league champions are promoted automatically in National League North and the teams finishing second to seventh are involved in a new SIX team play-off competition.

The qualifying round is scheduled to take place on Wednesday May 2, the semifinals on Sunday May 6, and the final on Saturday May 12 (at the home of the club finishing highest in the league).