CHIPPENHAM Town chairman Malcolm Lyus is looking forward to seeing bumper crowds at Hardenhuish Park in August after the fixture list for the Dr Martens Premier Division campaign were released last week.

Chippenham, runners-up in the Western Division last term, start their first ever season in the Premier Division with the visit of Chelmsford City on August 17. The Essex outfit are managed by ex-Manchester United and England defender Paul Parker and won the Eastern Division title in 2000/01. They are among the favourites for the drop this time around.

Visits to Welling United and Stafford Rangers, both Nationwide Conference clubs in recent years, follow before Bath City make the trip to Hardenhuish Park on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26.

Lyus added: "It looks like a good start for us. We are all looking forward to the Bath game and there will be more than 1,000 there for sure.

"Seeing the new fixtures does give you a sense of achievement. Five years ago we were playing at places like Bishop Sutton, no disrespect to them or any of the other teams in that league.

"But we also know that, if it all goes wrong, we could be back with them again in two years' time. That's why we won't be taking anything for granted. But we won't be frightened of it either. I'm confident that we can hold our own and I'm looking for a mid-table finish."

New Year's Day sees the return to Hardenhuish Park of former Chippenham hero Nathan Rudge with new club Tiverton Town, while the return game against Bath takes place at Twerton Park on Boxing Day.

Manager Tommy Saunders is looking forward to welcoming Chelmsford boss Paul Parker on the opening day of the season. He said: "We've both won the championship, Paul Parker in the Premiership and me in the Premier Division of the Chippenham and District Sunday League."