Following this afternoons fixture release it has now been confirmed who Concord Rangers will play and when in their first campaign back in the Isthmian Premier Division in a decade, and just like last season it will begin and end with the Beach Boys playing away from home facing Enfield Town and Horsham respectively.
Essex Derbies
Derby days are often the first fixtures that fans look for and this season sees Concord face four fellow Essex outfits.
Rangers' nearest and fiercest rivals Canvey Island will make the short trip to the Aspect Arena on the 28th of August (Bank Holiday Monday) with the reverse fixture taking place on New Year's Day. The Gulls will be looking to get revenge on Concord following the Beach Boys' Essex Senior Cup success at the Moviestarr Stadium last term.
Hornchurch were another side beaten by Rob Small's men in the Senior Cup last season with the Beach Boys edging past the Urchins in the semi-finals following a penalty shootout. Hornchurch have been big spenders so far this summer under the new management of former Cardiff City boss Steve Morison. They'll visit the island on the 28th of October with the reverse fixture taking place on the 20th of January.
Similarly to Hornchurch, Billericay Town have been big spenders this summer in a bid to win promotion back to the National League South at the second time of asking. Sammy Collins will be looking to give the Concord faithful a late Christmas present when Ricay visit on Boxing Day before taking his side to the New Lodge on Easter Monday.
The final Essex club in the division this season is Hashtag United. The Tags will be the first side to visit the Aspect Arena this term with the recently promoted side visiting Concord on Tuesday the 15th of August. The reverse fixture will be Rangers' penultimate away game of the season taking place at the Len Salmon Stadium on the 13th of April.
London's Calling
Compared to last season London will be a much more regular location on the Beach Boys' fixture list. In the National League South only three clubs resided in the capital compared to seven in the Isthmian Premier Division - namely: Carshalton Athletic, Cray Wanderers, Dulwich Hamlet, Enfield Town, Haringey Borough, Kingstonian and Wingate & Finchley.
Concord have a 100% record against Carshalton and they will look to keep that up with a trip to the Robins on September the 9th before entertaining Athletic on the 30th March.
Cray were playoff semi-finalists last term and they'll be looking to go one step further and win promotion in the coming campaign. They visit Concord on the 16th of September with the reverse fixture happening on the 10th of February.
Dulwich Hamlet were relegated from step two alongside Concord last season much to the surprise of many people. The Beach Boys travel to Champion Hill on the 23rd of September prior to welcoming the Hamlet on the 17th of February.
Enfield is where the campaign begins for Concord with the Beach Boys travelling to the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium on opening day (12th of August). The Towners will then be Concord's first visitors of 2024 with the two sides meeting at the Aspect Arena on the 6th of January.
Haringey are the only side scheduled to take on Concord on a Tuesday night twice this season. On Tuesday the 24th of October Haringey are the home side with the Borough travelling to Rangers on Tuesday the 30th of January.
Kingstonian have never won at home to Concord, a record they'll be looking to end on the 4th of November. They then visit the Beach Boys on the 27th of January looking to make it three wins on the spin at the Aspect Arena.
Finally Wingate & Finchley will take on Concord for the first time since an FA Cup tie in 2015. The Blues were triumphant that day and they'll be looking to repeat the feat at home to Concord on the 16th of December and away to Rangers on April the 6th.
Un-Happy Hertfordshire
Last season trips to Hertfordshire proved to be frustrating for the Concord faithful with the Beach Boys losing all four of their visits to the county. They'll be hoping to turn their fortunes around when they travel to Cheshunt and Potters Bar Town this campaign on the 9th of December and the 3rd of February respectively. The Beach Boys are then at home to the Ambers on the 16th of March and welcome the Bar on the 11th of November.
Coastal Clashes
The upcoming season sees Rangers embark on five trips to the coast with Rangers facing off against Bognor Regis Town, Folkestone Invicta, Hastings United, Margate and Whitehawk.
Bognor, like Concord, lost the final of their county cup last season with the Rocks losing on penalties to Worthing (who coincidentally played Essex Senior Cup winners Braintree Town in the playoffs). Concord travel to West Sussex on October the 14th before entertaining Bognor on the 2nd of March.
On the 30th of September Concord will take on Folkestone Invicta for the first ever time with the Seasiders making the trip to Canvey before hosting the Beach Boys on the 24th of February.
Hastings are the second side that Concord will play away to this season with Collins' side travelling to Pilot Field on the 26th of August before welcoming the U's as the final visitors to the Aspect Arena of 2023 on the 30th of December.
On the other hand Margate will be the second side that Concord play at home to with the Gate coming to Canvey on the 19th of August. Rangers will then embark on a jolly boys outing to the Kent based club on the 13th of January.
Whitehawk are back in third step of the non-league system following their playoff win last season. They host Concord on the 18th of November before travelling to the Aspect Arena on the 20th of April - Concord's final home game of the campaign.
Other clubs not yet mentioned include Chatham Town, Horsham and Lewes. The Chats achieved back to back promotions last term and will travel to Concord on October 21st before hosting the Beach Boys on the 9th of March.
Horsham will be the final destination of the campaign for Rangers with the two sides facing off on final day. The reverse fixture will take place at Concord on the 25th of November.
Finally Lewes will visit the Aspect Arena on the 2nd of December with Rangers visiting the Dripping Pan on the 23rd of March.
Fixtures in full
August
- 12th Aug: Enfield Town (A)
- 15th Aug: Hashtag United (H)
- 19th Aug: Margate (H)
- 26th Aug: Hastings United (A)
- 28th Aug: Canvey Island (A)
September
- 2nd Sep: FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
- 9th Sep: Carshalton Athletic (A)
- 16th Sep: Cray Wanderers (H) / FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
- 23rd Sep: Dulwich Hamlet (A)
- 30th Sep: Folkestone Invicta (H) / FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
October
- 7th Oct: FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
- 14th Oct: Bognor Regis Town (A) / FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round
- 21st Oct: Chatham Town (H)
- 24th Oct: Haringey Borough (A)
- 28th Oct: Hornchurch (H) / FA Trophy 1st Round Proper
November
- 4th Nov: Kingstonian (A) / FA Cup 1st Round Proper
- 11th Nov: Potters Bar Town (H)
- 18th Nov: Whitehawk (A)
- 25th Nov: Horsham (H)
December
- 2nd Dec: Lewes (H)
- 9th Dec: Cheshunt (A)
- 16th Dec: Wingate & Finchley (A)
- 26th Dec: Billericay Town (H)
- 30th Dec: Hastings United (H)
January
- 1st Jan: Canvey Island (A)
- 6th Jan: Enfield Town (H)
- 13th Jan: Margate (A)
- 20th Jan: Hornchurch (A)
- 27th Jan: Kingstonian (H)
- 30th Jan: Haringey Borough (H)
February
- 3rd Feb: Potters Bar Town (A)
- 10th Feb: Cray Wanderers (A)
- 17th Feb: Dulwich Hamlet (H)
- 24th Feb: Folkestone Invicta (A)
March
- 2nd Mar: Bognor Regis Town (H)
- 9th Mar: Chatham Town (A)
- 16th Mar: Cheshunt (H)
- 23rd Mar: Lewes (A)
- 30th Mar: Carshalton Athletic (H)
April
- 1st Apr: Billericay Town (A)
- 6th April: Wingate & Finchley (H)
- 13th April: Hashtag United (A)
- 20th April: Whitehawk (H)
- 27th April: Horsham (A)
Very informative, good writing
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