GILLINGHAM will entertain Colchester United on the opening day of the season as they look for a quick return to the Championship.

The 2005/06 season kicks-off in just six weeks time, with the Gills facing many long journeys during their forthcoming League 1 campaign.

The Christmas period sees the Gills in action on New Year's Eve, with a home clash against MK Dons, while they are also at home on Boxing Day against Bristol City.

Blackpool is the venue for the final day showdown as Gillingham conclude their season with a trip to the North West coast.

Midweek trips include journeys to Port Vale and Swindon, with a visit to Neale Cooper's former side Hartlepool on October 8, Tranmere on September 24 and Swansea on December 28 marking just some of the long distance fixtures.

Fixture list in full (home games in bold):

AUGUST

Sat 6: Colchester
Tue 9: Port Vale
Sat 13: Scunthorpe
Sat 20: Bournemouth
Sat 27: Notts Forest
Mon 29: Brentford

SEPTEMBER

Sat 3: Barnsley
Sat 10: Rotherham
Sat 17: Oldham
Sat 24: Tranmere
Tue 27: Chesterfield

OCTOBER

Sat 1: Southend
Sat 8: Hartlepool
Sat 15: Yeovil
Sat 22: Bradford
Sat 29: Blackpool

NOVEMBER

Sat 12: Walsall
Sat 19: Hartlepool
Sat 26: Colchester

DECEMBER

Tue 6: Doncaster
Sat 10: Port Vale
Sat 17: Bournemouth
Mon 26: Bristol City
Wed 28: Swansea
Sat 31: MK Dons

JANUARY

Mon 2: Huddersfield
Sat 7: Barnsley
Sat 14: Swindon
Sat 21: Oldham
Sat 28: Rotherham

FEBRUARY

Sat 4: Chesterfield
Sat 11: Tranmere
Tue 14: Swindon
Sat 18: Doncaster
Sat 25: Scunthorpe

MARCH

Sat 4: Brentford
Sat 11: Notts Forest
Sat 18: Bristol City
Sat 25: Swansea

APRIL

Sat 1: MK Dons
Sat 8: Huddersfield
Sat 15: Southend
Mon 17: Bradford
Sat 22: Yeovil
Sat 29: Walsall

MAY

Sat 6: Blackpool

Supporters should be aware that all of the above fixtures are subject to change.

*Listen to Gillingham manager Neale Cooper talking to kmfm sports editor Simon Watts about the fixture list and his summer transfer plans...