Colchester United will start their campaign away from home for the eighth successive year after the fixture list for the 2010/11 season today revealed that their opener will be at Exeter City.

COLCHESTER United will start their campaign away from home for the eighth successive year after the fixture list for the 2010/11 season today revealed that their opener will be at Exeter City.

The U’s kick-off their new League One season at St James Park on August 7 and – after a midweek Carling Cup trip to Hereford United – they then host newly-relegated Sheffield Wednesday before travelling to newly-promoted Rochdale.

With Southend, Wycombe and Norwich having both exited the division, the closest Colchester have got to ‘derby’ matches next season are games against newly-relegated Peterborough and newly-promoted Dagenham & Redbridge.

John Ward’s side host the Daggers on September 28 and don’t then travel to Victoria Road until Tuesday, March 8. They have been handed a Boxing Day trip to London Road and host The Posh just over a month later on January 29.

Following their Boxing Day clash, Colchester’s festive period continues with a home games against Oldham (Dec 28) and Charlton (New Year’s Day), before a trip to Leyton Orient (Mon, Jan 3).

The Easter programme sees the U’s travel to Brentford on Good Friday and host Brighton on Easter Monday.

And the midweek fixtures have been kind to the Essex club, with half of the 10 coming at home and the other half at reasonably nearby clubs Peterborough, Leyton Orient, Charlton, Brentford and Dagenham & Redbridge.

The U’s also have trips to other League One new boys to look forward to in the form of Bournemouth (Oct 30), Notts County (Jan 8), Plymouth (Feb 26) and Sheffield Wednesday (Apr 2).

With the U’s hoping to mount a promotion challenge this season, all eyes are on the end-of-season run-in with the final three matches consisting of Brighton (h), Yeovil (a) and Bristol Rovers (h).

– Buy tomorrow’s East Anglian Daily Times for a pull-out fixture list.