BURNHAM RAMBLERS boss Keith Wilson admits excitement is building around the club after the Ryman League fixtures were released on Wednesday.
Wilson's newly-promoted side will begin their season at Waltham Abbey on August 10, with their first home game against Needham Market three days later.
Erith & Belvedere visit on August 17, while seven days later comes their first derby clash of the season when they travel to face Maldon & Tiptree.
A trip to Waltham Forest awaits on Boxing Day, with the return against Maldon on New Year's Day, while the games with Heybridge Swifts are on November 30 and March 29.
And Wilson said: "It's definitely hit home now.
"It might be a little bit strange for some of our lads playing Boxing Day and New Year's Day, but that's what it's about, it's organised, serious football now.
"You've got to play everybody, so we can't moan and groan too much.
"Waltham Abbey away, it could have been an easier start, it could have been a tougher start. Their pitch is notoriously poor so it will be nice to go there when it's probably at its best.
"Then it's Needham Market at home, they're one of the bigger teams so that will be a tough test and then Erith who have just come up from the Kent League.
"The first three games, I'm not going to set a points tally but we've got to play everybody, it could have been worse and it possibly could have been better.
"I'm not going to complain, we're pleased to be in it and the excitement is starting to build, so roll on August 10."
Aside from the clashes with Needham and Maldon, the Ramblers have a decent start to life in the Ryman League Division One North, and Wilson believes they have an opportunity to set a good foundation for the season.
"We have got a chance," he added. "The season won't settle down, especially with the cup competitions, until late September so if we can get a couple of results under our belt early on then you never know.
"Barring Needham and Maldon we haven't really picked out any of the supposed big spenders in the early weeks so there's a chance for us there to make a good start."
Wilson's men began their pre-season campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Canvey Island on Saturday, and he admitted he was frustrated by their first-half showing.
"We didn't do ourselves justice first half but a lot better second half," he added.
"I've had ten or 11 trialists turn up, which has been good and hopefully we've picked out three or four of them to add to the squad, so we're just starting to narrow it down a little bit.
"Everyone's worked hard, they're enjoying it and all getting on, so I think we just want the season to start now."
Meanwhile, the club's groundsman Shaun Pugh has again been nominated for the FA's Groundsman of the Year awards, a nomination which Wilson said was "well-deserved".
The full list of Burnham, Maldon and Heybridge's Ryman League Division One fixtures is available on our website, www.essexchronicle.co.uk.