The 2005/06 campaign will start and end with away games for United as the opening Saturday of the season sees us make the long journey to Wycombe Wanderers to face old United hero John Gorman and his well drilled side.
The Wanderers finished in a steady 10th place last time round but with England veteran Rob Lee having just signed a one year contract extension Gorman will be looking for much more this time round.
Paul Simpson said, "that will be a really tough game because if you look around League Two, and look for teams that are really throwing cash in to their squad, then Wycombe are the ones who catch your eye. They have been very active in signing players so it will be good to get a test like that under our belts."
The first home match brings Mark Wright, and his Peterborough side, to Brunton Park for an evening kick off on Tuesday 9 August with the intriguing follow up, the Saturday immediately after (13 Aug), pitting the Conference Champions against the Conference Play Off winners here in Carlisle.
Simmo added, "if you look at those first 4 games they are all difficult prospects. We've spoken about Wycombe, and they will be a real threat, and both Peterborough and Barnet are teams that are on a real high. As for Wrexham, they are a side who I always associate with good football so it will be up to us to get out there and do our thing as well. Our first home fixture could have been better for the fans, I suppose, because it is a long way for a team from down South to travel for a night game, but I'm sure our lot won't let that spoil things too much."
Boxing Day should be a good one with Darlington making the short trip across the A66 for a local derby and New Years Eve is just as good with Simmo's old club, Rochdale, coming to Brunton Park.
The final game of the season, in May 2006, is a journey to Stockport where, hopefully, we'll be bringing a close to another successful campaign.
Just before we left him the manager told us, "I looked at that fixture list and I have to say that it is great for us all to be talking about League football again. When I saw the heading on the fax saying 'Coca Cola League Two' it sent a shiver down my spine. It's fantastic that we're involved again, and it's really sunk in for me now that we have got ourselves back. Great stuff."
Click on the Fixtures and Results section of the site for the full fixture list.
