NEXT season’s Ryman League fixtures have been released.

Heybridge Swifts will begin the new season with a home match against Thamesmead Town, on Saturday, August 8.

Brightlingsea Regent travel to Waltham Abbey, while Maldon & Tiptree face a trip to newly-promoted Phoenix Sports.

Witham Town, relegated from the premier division last season, start at Redbridge.

All four sides then have midweek fixtures in the opening week.

Swifts visit Aveley on the Monday night (August 10), while 24 hours later it’s Regent against Bury Town, Maldon against Redbridge and Witham against Great Wakering.

There will be a break from tradition on Boxing Day.

Rather than neighbours Heybridge and Maldon meeting, Swifts instead face a trip to Brightlingsea’s North Road.

Maldon will entertain Tilbury while Witham host AFC Sudbury.

The league programme continues on Saturday, January 2, rather than New Year’s Day.

Heybridge and Maldon will meet that day instead, while Witham will kick-off 2016 at AFC Hornchurch and Brightlingsea head to Norfolk to meet Wroxham.

There are two fixtures over the Easter weekend.

On Saturday, March 26, it’s Swifts v Bury, Tilbury v Brightlingsea and Wroxham v Maldon.

Then, two days later, the Bank Holiday schedule sees Maldon and Heybridge meet again, this time at Park Drive, while Brightlingsea host Wroxham and Witham entertain AFC Hornchurch.

The Ryman League season finishes on Saturday, April 23.

Swifts will finish at home to Phoenix Sports, while elsewhere it’s Cray Wanderers against Maldon, Thamesmead against Brightlingsea and Witham against Cheshunt.