DARLINGTON'S much-anticipated first game in the Vanarama National League North will be at Altrincham on Saturday, August 6.

Quakers asked for their opening game of the season to be scheduled away from home because the Heritage Park pitch in Bishop Auckland has been relaid during the summer, so the first home game will be the following Tuesday (August 9) against Chorley, quickly followed by another home game against former Football League side Boston United.

It will be a hectic start to the season for Quakers, who will have seven matches in the month of August, three at home and four away, but over the course of the season, they will play four fewer fixtures in total than last season in the NPL, 42 compared to 46. There is also no league cup competition in the Vanarama.

Quakers will be competing against some familiar names from the Football League days: Stockport County will visit on Tuesday, September 6, while there will be back-to-back matches against FC Halifax Town on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Bradford Park Avenue, who left the Football League in 1972, will host Quakers on Wednesday, September 14, while Kidderminster Harriers, the first visitors to the Arena in 2003, will arrive on Saturday, September 3.

Quakers’ local derby against Harrogate Town will be away on Saturday, October 29 and at home on Saturday, February 25.

Because of promotion from the NPL, Quakers have exemption to the second qualifying round of the FA Cup on September 17, and to the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy on November 26.

The full list of Darlington's fixtures is (midweek kick off times are 7.45):

Sat Aug 6: Altrincham (a)

Tues Aug 9: Chorley (h)

Sat Aug 13: Boston United (h)

Mon Aug 15: Curzon Ashton (a)

Sat Aug 20: Gloucester City (a)

Sat Aug 27: Alfreton (h)

Mon Aug 29: FC United of Manchester (a)

Sat Sep 3: Kidderminster Harriers (h)

Tues Sep 6: Stockport County (h)

Sat Sep 10: Nuneaton Town (a)

Wed Sep 14: Bradford Park Avenue (a)

Sat Sep 17: FA Cup 2QR

Sat Sep 24: Stalybridge Celtic (h)

Sat Oct 1: FA Cup 3QR

Sat Oct 8: Brackley Town (a)

Sat Oct 15: Gainsborough Trinity (h) or FA Cup 4Q

Sat Oct 22: Worcester City (h)

Sat Oct 29: Harrogate Town (a)

Sat Nov 5: Tamworth (a) or FA Cup 1

Sat Nov 12: AFC Fylde (h)

Sat Nov 19: AFC Telford United (a)

Sat Nov 26: FA Trophy 3Q

Sat Dec 3: Salford City (h)

Sat Dec 10: FA Trophy 1R

Sat Dec 17: Kidderminster Harriers (a)

Mon Dec 26: FC Halifax Town (h)

Sun Jan 1: FC Halifax Town (a)

Sat Jan 7:Nuneaton Town (h)

Sat Jan 14:Gloucester City (h)

Sat Jan 21: Stockport County (a)

Sat Jan 28: Curzon Ashton (h)

Sat Feb 4: Chorley (a)

Sat Feb 11: Altrincham (h)

Sat Feb 18: Boston United (a)

Sat Feb 25: Harrogate Town (h)

Sat Mar 4: Worcester City (a)

Sat Mar 11: Stalybridge Celtic (a)

Sat Mar 18: Brackley (h)

Tues Mar 21: Bradford Park Avenue (h)

Sat Mar 25: Gainsborough Trinity (a)

Sat Apr 1: AFC Fylde (a)

Sat Apr 8: Tamworth (h)

Sat Apr 15: Alfreton (a)

Mon Apr 17: FC United of Manchester (h)

Sat Apr 22: AFC Telford United (h)

Sat Apr 29: Salford City (a)