Cobblers start the season with a trip to Bristol Rovers

Rovers will go into the game on a high following their promotion via the play-offs, with the Gas having spent just one season in the Football Conference.

Town’s first home league game of the season sees Exeter City and former Cobblers striker Alex Nicholls play at Sixfields on August 15, a game that comes a few days after the home date against Blackpool in the Capital One Cup.

The Cobblers’ most recent trip to Bristol Rovers saw Aidy Boothroyd’s team lose 1-0 in August, 2013.

A busy opening month also sees Chris Wilder’s men travel to the other promoted side, Barnet, on Tuesday, August 18, before hosting Plymouth (Aug 22) and travelling to Accrington Stanley (Aug 29).

The festive fixtures see Town on the road on Boxing Day, and it’s a bit of a trek as well, as they go to York City, while they entertain Accrington om December 28 and Barnet on January 2.

Just before Christmas, on December 19, Portsmouth are the visitors to Sixfields, with the Cobblers travelling to Fratton Park on the final day of the season on Saturday, May 7.

That Pompey trip comes just a week after a home date with near-neighbours Luton Town in what looks an exciting end to the season, with Town making the short trip to the Hatters on December 12.

Wilder’s former club Oxford United are in Northampton on Saturday, Septmember 12, with the return to the Kassam on Saturday, January 30.

Other key fixtures see Tedddy Sheringham bring his Stevenage side to Sixfields on Saturday, October 24, Town entertain Cambridge United on March 12 (the reverse fixture at the Abbey Stadium is on October 17), while the first match against a side relegated from league one comes on September 26 when Leyton Orient visit Sixfields (Town go to the Os on February 13).

Good news for manager Wilder and the Town supporters is there are, as it stands, no lengthy midweek trips.

Cobblers are scheduled to be on the road just three times in midweek, with the August 18 trip to Barnet followed by a fixture at AFC Wimbledon on September 29, and then a visit to Crawley Town on November 24.

The lengthy road trips are all on a Saturday, with the Cobblers going to Morecambe on September 19, Newport County on October 31, Plymouth on January 9, Hartlepool United on February 27, Carlisle United on March 5 and Exeter on April 16.

Easter Monday also sees the Cobblers on the road, as they make the short trip to Mansfield Town, with Lee Collins’ new club coming to Northampton on Saturday, November 14.

Don’t miss Thursday’s Chronicle & Echo for your cut-out-and-keep fixtures guide, while the full fixtures can be found online at ntfc.co.uk