Wimbledon Are First Up For Rovers

9.00 AM Friday morning came the release of the Football League's fixtures for the 2011/12 season, fans around the country were waiting on edge, Gasheads included.

And so the time came, the website was updated and phones were bleeping, AFC Wimbledon away, a fascinating start to the new season.

It will be the Wombles first ever game in League football following their penalty shoot-out promotion from the Conference last season and, as such, fans will no doubt be packed into Kingsmeadow like proverbial sardines as supporters look to take in a slice of history.

Rovers will also end their campaign in the capital, Dagenham & Redbridge away pencilled in for May 5th in what could prove to be a promotion catfight between two of the teams relegated from League 1 last term.

The first home league game of the season for the Pirates will be a tasty affair in itself as Torquay travel to the Memorial Stadium for a clash with former manager Paul Buckle, hoping to prove that they were more than just a one man show.

Prior to that will be a cup tie at home against Watford, the Gas hoping to take revenge for a 1-0 Carling Cup defeat back in 2008, Rovers taking a first look at goalscorer Will Hoskins who would go on to become a fans favourite last term.

The Christmas and new year period will see Rovers play Plymouth Argyle at home on Boxing Day, Crewe Alexandra on new years eve and Barnet away on January 2nd. Gillingham will be visiting Bristol on April 7th before an away trip to Crewe on Easter Monday, two days later on the 9th.

Local rivals Swindon will be the opposition on December 10th (home) and March 31st (away) while there will also be trips to west country rivals Cheltenham on January 21st, Torquay on March 10th and Plymouth ten days later on the 20th, a Tuesday night jaunt. Relatively short trips to Oxford United and Hereford will occur on October 8th and January 7th respectively.

Accrington Stanley, defeated in last season play-off semi finals, will be the last home opposition for Rovers on April 28th.

As well as AFC Wimbledon Rovers will play Conference champions Crawley, Morecambe and Burton Albion for the first time, while also making their debut at Shrewsbury's Greenhous Meadow.

Manager Paull Buckle was interviewed following the announcement of the fixtures and spoke about the excitement that the new season would produce:

"That first game will be extra special, as it will be a carnival atmosphere for AFC Wimbledon and a fantastic way to kick off the season.

"That first game is going to be a big game, and interesting for many reasons. Combined with the Carling Cup game against Watford it will be a good way to start the season.

"I do not want to look too far ahead, as we need to concentrate on making a good start.

"However, it will be good for the fans to have the two festive fixtures at home, as they are always popular games."

Fixture release day whets the appetite for the new season and fans will be already scheduling those all important journeys for the year to come.

The full fixture list can be found here.