With five Kent sides in this seasons National League South, the kick-off is more eagerly awaited than usual.

Because of the scheduling of this season FA Cup, our clubs will kick off their seasons on a Tuesday night – Tuesday 6^th October to be precise, with the derby between the United’s of Maidstone and Welling at the Gallagher the undoubted highlight.

The other games on opening night sees Dartford welcome Chelmsford whilst Ebbsfleet begin life in the new division with a tough looking trip to Braintree and Steve McKimm also takes his Tonbridge side to Essex to face Billericay.

XX first home game as Ebbsfleet boss comes on October 10^th when Dulwich visit Stonebridge Road, and on the same day Maidstone head for Havant & Waterlooville; Tonbridge welcome Hungerford to Longmead, and Dartford go to Hampton & Richmond. Welling have no game that day due to the odd number of teams in the division.

Christmas sees derbies galore – Boxing Day, its Ebbsfleet v Dartford and Tonbridge v Maidstone – with Welling going to Dulwich (the reverse fixtures are on January 2^nd). On December 28^th, there are more derbies as Dartford host Tonbridge and Welling welcome Ebbsfleet – for Maidstone it’s a trip to Eastbourne.

The Easter fixtures are as follows;

Good Friday – Dartford v Chippenham; Hungerford v Ebbsfleet; Maidstone v Chelmsford; Braintree v Tonbridge; St Albans v Welling

Easter Monday – Havant v Dartford; Ebbsfleet v Billericay; Concord v Maidstone; Welling v Eastbourne – there’s no scheduled game for Welling.

The League’s final day – Saturday May 29^th – sees some potentially tough fixtures with Dartford, Maidstone and Welling hosting Dulwich, St Albans and Hungerford respectively whilst Ebbsfleet are at Chelmsford and Tonbridge go to Hampton.

Other dates for Kent derbies not already mentioned include;

November 14 – Maidstone v Dartford; November 17 – Ebbsfleet v Maidstone; November 21 – Ebbsfleet v Tonbridge; January 16 – Welling v Tonbridge; February 6 – Dartford v Welling; February 27 – Tonbridge v Ebbsfleet; March 13 – Tonbridge v Dartford & Ebbsfleet v Welling; March 16 – Maidstone v Welling; April 13 – Maidstone v Ebbsfleet; April 24 – Dartford v Maidstone; May 1 – Welling v Dartford; May 8 – Tonbridge v Welling