New Fixtures Released as Champions travel to Citizens in Tasty Opener
Champions Llanelli will begin their Principality Building Society Welsh Premier League title defence away at Bangor City's Farrar Road home on Saturday 16th August 2008.
Peter Nicholas' side, who were pipped by the Citizens in the Welsh Cup Final in May, will be seeking revenge for that defeat, in a game which will see Bangor's Peter Hoy and Llanelli's Rhys Griffiths and Wyn Thomas all suspended following their Cup Final dismissals.
The Reds will then close the season on Saturday 25th April 2009 at Stebonheath against Connah's Quay Nomads on a packed Saturday afternoon with eight other fixtures.
The Champions face all three of their fellow-European qualifiers in the opening six weeks of the campaign, as they travel to Rhyl on 30th August and host TNS on 20th September.
Current Runners-Up, TNS start their campaign on Saturday 16th August with a difficult test at Park Hall against Nicky Tucker's Port Talbot Town. The following Friday will see them travel to nearby NEWI Cefn Druids, where they were defeated on the opening day last year by a solitary Ricky Evans goal.
New Rhyl Coach Alan Bickerstaff starts his domestic campaign with a home game against Newtown and only has to wait until Friday 5th September before he returns to his former stomping ground Porthmadog.
Cymru Alliance winners Prestatyn Town will enjoy their first two games in the Top Flight at their improved Bastion Road ground against Gareth Owen's Airbus UK Broughton on Friday 15th August and then against Welshpool Town the following Saturday. Their first away trip of the campaign will be a difficult Friday evening encounter on the 29th August against professional outfit, The New Saints.
The League's New Boys, will certainly be looking forward to the Festive period when they make the short journey to Denbighshire rivals, Rhyl on Boxing Day before welcoming the Lilywhites back to their home on New Years Day.
Other Festive Back-to-Back highlights will include Bangor versus Caernarfon, with the Canaries at home on Boxing Day. There should be a bumper Boxing Day crowd at the Gnoll for Neath Athletic versus Port Talbot Town, and Caersws will expect a large attendance at their home fixture against Newtown. The Carmarthenshire derbies between Llanelli and Carmarthen Town will be exciting, as will TNS and Welshpool Town's Double-Header.
The Big Kick-Off starts on Friday 15th August with three games, as NEWI Cefn Druids host Welshpool, Aberystwyth Town entertain Neath and Neil Gibson's Prestatyn have their early opportunity to impress against the Wingmakers.
Full list of Fixtures can be found Here
Opening Weekend Fixtures
Friday 15th August 2008
Aberystwyth Town v Neath Athletic
Newi Cefn Druids v Welshpool Town
Prestatyn Town v Airbus UK Broughton FC
Saturday 16th August 2008
Bangor City v Llanelli AFC
Caersws FC v Caernarfon Town
Carmarthen Town AFC v CPD Porthmadog
Connah's Quay Nomads v Haverfordwest County
Rhyl FC v Newtown AFC
The New Saints v Port Talbot Town
