YORK City boss Steve Watson is unfazed by the Minstermen's hectic start to next season and believes it will be a good barometer of his side's progress.

By the first week of September, City will have played 10 National League North fixtures in five weeks, including against four of last season's top six.

The Minstermen kick off the 2019/20 campaign with a trip to Altrincham before welcoming newly-promoted Farsley Celtic and last season's beaten play-off semi-finalists Brackley Town to Bootham Crescent. Visits to Blyth Spartans and Spennymoor Town follow in the fortnight after.

But manager Watson is preferring to focus on that which City can control.

"Nothing bothers me about the fixtures," he said. "They're out of our hands. We'll have to play everybody at some stage.

"The important thing is coming out of our pre-season games injury-free with good momentum and loads of positives.

"Altrincham were one of the best teams in the league last season, a good footballing side and they gave us a good game at our place.

"It was only settled by one goal.

"We've strengthened, they've strengthened - it will be a good test and give us an idea where we're at."

York play host to Watson's former side Gateshead on August 26 and visit the Tyneside club in April.

Meanwhile, at 195 miles away, Hereford remains York's longest away day, though Gloucester City (165 miles) is not much closer.

Asked if there were any games he was particularly looking out for, Watson said: "You do as a fan but as a manager and players, you see the fixtures and get on with it.

"There are the trips up to the North East which I didn't get many of last season, so I'll look forward to seeing family there.

"There are some big journeys as well this year.

"It's a tough league and the start of the season will let everybody know where we're at."

The fixtures in full:

Sat Aug 3 - Altrincham A Tue Aug 6 - Farsley Celtic H Sat Aug 10 - Brackley Town H Tue Aug 13 - Blyth Spartans A Sat Aug 17 - Leamington H Sat Aug 24 - Spennymoor A Mon Aug 26 - Gateshead H Sat Aug 31 - Gloucester City A Tue Sep 3 - Guiseley A Sat Sep 7 - Southport H Sat Sep 14 - Darlington A Sat Sep 21 - FA Cup 2Q Sat Sep 28 - King’s Lynn Town H Sat Oct 5 - FA Cup 3Q Sat Oct 12 - Telford Utd A Sat Oct 19 - Boston Utd H Sat Oct 26 - Chester A Sat Nov 2 - Kidderminster H Sat Nov 9 - Hereford A Sat Nov 16 - Curzon Ashton A Sat Nov 23 - FA Trophy 3Q Sat Nov 30 - Alfreton Town H Sat Dec 7 - Kettering Town A Sat Dec 14 - FA Trophy 1 Sat Dec 21 - Darlington H Thu Dec 26 - Bradford PA A Sat Dec 28 - Guiseley H Wed Jan 1 - Bradford PA H Sat Jan 4 - Southport A Sat Jan 11 - Telford Utd H Sat Jan 18 - King’s Lynn Town A Sat Jan 25 - Kettering Town H Sat Feb 1 - Chester H Sat Feb 8 - Boston Utd A Sat Feb 15 - Hereford H Sat Feb 22 - Kidderminster A Sat Feb 29 - Curzon Ashton H Sat Mar 7 - Alfreton Town A Sat Mar 14 - Altrincham H Sat Mar 21 - Farsley Celtic A Sat Mar 28 - Blyth Spartans H Sat Apr 4 - Brackley Town A Fri Apr 10 - Gateshead A Mon Apr 13 - Spennymoor H Sat Apr 18 - Leamington A Sat Apr 25 - Gloucester City H

Compiled in association with Atos