By Martin Morgan

Last updated 21:04, Wednesday, 02 July 2008

Workington Reds face a tricky opening to their Blue Square North season with a trip to the Midlands to face Hinckley on Saturday, August 9.

Workington Reds v Tamworth; Saturday 9th February 2008: PAUL JOHNSON

It will be followed by two tough home games against highly-rated Harrogate and former Conference Premiers Stafford.

Reds bossed by Darren Edmondson travel to Fleetwood on Boxing Day, with the return on New Year’s Day. The longest trip, of almost 300 miles, to Kings Lynn, is the final away game of the campaign on Saturday, April 18, and Reds wrap up a week later at home to Stalybridge.

“It’s quite a tough start,” said Reds director Alec Graham today. “Hinckley are a bit like us in that they under-performed last year, and we had both been in the play-offs the previous season.

“Harrogate have been in the top six almost every year since the league started. But a lot of players have left and they have rebuilt, so they will be difficult to guage.

“Stafford were in the Conference last season, and that will be another tough game. But we have to win these games if we are to do anything.

“The only disappointment personally is that we never seem to get a home game on Boxing Day, which I think is a bigger draw for holiday crowds than New Year’s Day.

“But I’m pleased that it’s Fleetwood and not Vauxhall, where they’ve sent us in the past and which was a ridiculously long trip for a holiday period.” Fans have a home game on August Bank Holiday Monday 25, when Burscough visit Borough Park.

FIXTURES IN FULL
Sat 09 August 2008 Hinckley United v Workington 15:00
Tue 12 August 2008 Workington v Harrogate Town 19:45
Sat 16 August 2008 Workington v Stafford Rangers 15:00
Sat 23 August 2008 Blyth Spartans v Workington 15:00
Mon 25 August 2008 Workington v Burscough 15:00
Sat 30 August 2008 Alfreton Town v Workington 15:00
Mon 01 September 2008 Droylsden v Workington 19:45
Sat 06 September 2008 Workington v Redditch United 15:00
Sat 13 September 2008 Workington v Solihull Moors 15:00
Sat 20 September 2008 Hucknall Town v Workington 15:00
Sat 04 October 2008 AFC Telford v Workington 15:00
Sat 18 October 2008 Workington v Tamworth 15:00
Tue 21 October 2008 Workington v Gateshead 19:45
Sat 25 October 2008 Vauxhall Motors v Workington 15:00
Sat 01 November 2008 Southport v Workington 15:00
Sat 08 November 2008 Workington v Farsley Celtic 15:00
Sat 15 November 2008 Hyde United v Workington 15:00
Sat 29 November 2008 Workington v Vauxhall Motors 15:00
Sat 06 December 2008 Workington v Kings Lynn 15:00
Sat 20 December 2008 Workington v Hinckley United 15:00
Fri 26 December 2008 Fleetwood Town v Workington 15:00
Thu 01 January 2009 Workington v Fleetwood Town 15:00
Sat 03 January 2009 Stafford Rangers v Workington 15:00
Sat 10 January 2009 Solihull Moors v Workington 15:00
Sat 17 January 2009 Workington v Gainsborough Trinity 15:00
Sat 24 January 2009 Stalybridge Celtic v Workington 15:00
Wed 28 January 2009 Gateshead v Workington 19:45
Sat 31 January 2009 Workington v Hucknall Town 15:00
Sat 07 February 2009 Farsley Celtic v Workington 15:00
Sat 14 February 2009 Workington v AFC Telford 15:00
Sat 21 February 2009 Tamworth v Workington 15:00
Tue 24 February 2009 Workington v Droylsden 19:45
Sat 28 February 2009 Workington v Southport 15:00
Sat 07 March 2009 Gainsborough Trinity v Workington 15:00
Sat 14 March 2009 Workington v Hyde United 15:00
Tue 24 March 2009 Harrogate Town v Workington 19:45
Sat 28 March 2009 Workington v Alfreton Town 15:00
Sat 04 April 2009 Redditch United v Workington 15:00
Sat 11 April 2009 Workington v Blyth Spartans 15:00
Mon 13 April 2009 Burscough v Workington 15:00
Sat 18 April 2009 Kings Lynn v Workington 15:00
Sat 25 April 2009 Workington v Stalybridge Celtic 15:00