CHERRIES will start their FA Women’s National League season away at newly-promoted Bristol Rovers.
The full fixture list for Division One South West has now been confirmed, giving Steve Cuss’s side an away day to start the campaign on Sunday, August 18.
Cherries’ first home fixture comes the following weekend, against Worthing, who finished third in Division One South East last season and have moved laterally across to the west league.
Derby games against newly-promoted Bournemouth Sports are scheduled for September 25 (away) and February 12 (home), with the season ending at home to Portishead Town on April 27.
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Cherries narrowly missed out on promotion last season, despite going the whole campaign unbeaten.
Looking ahead to the new campaign, midfielder Katie James told the club’s website: “The league was really strong last season but it’s going to be much tougher this season.
“Some good teams have joined the league in Bournemouth Sports, Bristol Rovers and Worthing, and Moneyfields have started paying their players so they will have a strong and experienced squad.
“I think there will be four or five teams up there competing for top spot.
“It was a two-horse race between us and Exeter last season, but I don’t expect it to be the same this season.
“Playing for a big club whose men’s first team are in the Premier League is great, but it comes with pressure because everyone wants to beat you.
“Opposition players know we have the backing of the club and a lot of teams would like to be in the same position, so they always step up when they play us and put us under a lot of pressure.
“Beating AFC Bournemouth is what every other team wants to do so it’s our job to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“We know we have the capability to win the league but we are under no illusions and we know it’s not going to be easy. Some people think we’re going to smash it this season but it’s going to be hard.
“We went through the whole of last season undefeated in the league and the challenge is to do that again. It’s not going to be easy doing that over back-to-back seasons but we have the talent, work-rate and ambition to make it happen.
“Last season is behind us now and we’re fully focused on going one better this season and taking this club up the leagues.”
Cherries’ league fixture list:
AUGUST
Sun 18: Bristol Rovers (a)
Sun 25: Worthing (h)
SEPTEMBER
Sun 1: Moneyfields (a)
Sun 8: Maidenhead United (h)
Sun 15: Bridgwater United (h)
Sun 22: Abingdon United (a)
Wed 25: Bournemouth Sports (a)
OCTOBER
Sun 6: Keynsham Town (h)
Sun 27: Southampton (a)
NOVEMBER
Sun 10: Swindon Town (h)
Sun 17: Portishead Town (a)
DECEMBER
Sun 8: Bristol Rovers (h)
Sun 15: Worthing (a)
JANUARY
Sun 5: Moneyfields (h)
Sun 12: Maidenhead United (a)
FEBRUARY
Sun 2: Keynsham Town (a)
Wed 12: Bournemouth Sports (h)
Sun 23: Bridgwater United (a)
MARCH
Sun 9: Abingdon United (h)
Sun 23: Southampton (h)
APRIL
Sun 13: Swindon Town (a)
Sun 27: Portishead Town (h)
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