IPSWICH Town face a lengthy journey to Bristol City as the Blues launch their promotion push on August 6.

Paul Jewell’s men and their travelling army of fans will have to complete a 330-mile round trip as they look to kick their 2011/2012 campaign off with a win.

Bristol City finished 15th in the Championship last year, two places and two points behind Town, and boast ex-Blues player Jon Stead in their line-up.

Following the mid-week visit of League Two side Northampton Town in the Carling Cup, the Suffolk side will then host Hull City and newly-promoted Southampton – the latter including ex-Blues Kelvin Davis and Dan Harding.

Ipswich have been handed away trips on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve against Leicester and Reading respectively.

Other notable fixtures see Town travel to newly promoted Peterborough on August 20th – this season’s only East Anglian derby – while September sees trips to Blackpool and West Ham, relegated from the Premier League last season, on the 10th and 27th respectively.

Ex-captain David Norris returns to Portman Road with new club Portsmouth on October 18, while Paul Jewell will go back to former club Derby with the Blues on April 7, 2012.

Ipswich will be hoping they are still in contention for a top six finish come the final run-in. If that’s the case they will have to get over the line with fixtures against Birmingham (h), Millwall (h) and Doncaster (a).

Of the fixtures, Jewell said: “It always whets the appetite for the challenge that lies ahead. It brings home to roost that this is a tough league to get out of.”

Meanwhile, Norwich’s first big match in the top-flight comes at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge on August 27. They travel to Manchester United and Liverpool in October, before hosting Arsenal on in November.

Colchester United open their League One campaign with a long trip to newly-relegated Preston, with their first home game coming a week later against newly-promoted – and fierce rivals – Wycombe Wanderers.

- What do you think? Will Town start with a win at Bristol City? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

- The four-page fixture special in the late edition of the Star is available at Sainsburys, Warren Heath and petrol station, Sainsburys, Hadleigh Road and petrol station, Asda, Stoke Park and Asda Whitehouse, Tesco Copdock and petrol station, Tesco Martlesham and petrol station, Chantry News, Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich, Estate Stores, Bramford Lane, Ipswich, and Ipswich Town centre, SJS Hamilton Road, Felixstowe.

- Buy tomorrow’s EADT for a four-page fixture pull-out special!