by Joe Harbert

Faversham will play seven games in just 23 days after announcing their pre-season fixture list ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

The Lilywhites, who will once again play in Isthmian South East following the FA’s released allocation of teams in the step three and four divisions on Tuesday, are currently scheduled to begin their league campaign on September 19, at the earliest.

And James Collins’ squad have wasted no time in getting the best possible preparation for the new season, as they look to improve on last year’s 17th place finish in the former Cray Valley manager’s first full season in charge of the club.

Town’s seven matches will all be against teams ranked lower than the Salters Lane outfit, with six plying their trade in SCEFL’s Premier Division and the other against first division side Sutton Athletic.

Faversham, whose game at Punjab United on August 7 will be their first in exactly five months since they beat East Grinstead back in March, will then continue their summer schedule with a trip to Glebe the following day.

They then play at Chatham Town on August 14, before two games in three days against Lordswood and Sutton Athletic the following week - the last of five consecutive matches on the road - before they host Canterbury and then Erith Town in the final week of the month.

Fellow Isthmian League side Ramsgate have also moved quickly in announcing their pre-season fixture list with nine confirmed matches.

The Rams have scheduled games against the likes of Folkestone (August 1) and Margate (August 22) this summer.

They will then end their pre-season on September 8 with a trip to West Sussex to face Horsham, the last of seven away fixtures during this period, with one more also potentially on the horizon at the Southwood Stadium on September 1.

The announcement comes in the wake of Saturday's decision by The FA permitting all grassroots league matches to begin in September in the National League System, as well as the Women’s Football Pyramid in tiers three to six.

The Isthmian League will commence no earlier than Saturday, September 19, with fans still unable to return to grounds at this stage.

Grassroots sides have been given the nod to return to action, provided the necessary risk assessments and detailed plans are in place and subsequently completed by each club. Anyone returning to action must ensure they are affiliated with their County Football Association.

Read more on sport in Kent