Here are seven things we learned about today’s publication of the League Two fixtures for the new 2016-17 season, with regards Colchester United.

East Anglian Daily Times: Then U's manager Phil Parkinson celebrates clinching promotion on the final day of the 2005-06 season, at Yeovil. Ironically, the U's will end next season with another match against Yeovil, this time at home.Then U's manager Phil Parkinson celebrates clinching promotion on the final day of the 2005-06 season, at Yeovil. Ironically, the U's will end next season with another match against Yeovil, this time at home.

No. 1:

October is a month to fill the car with petrol, several times! The U’s face a long journey to Carlisle on October 1, and end it at the other end of the country, down in Plymouth on October 29.

No. 2:

Never recall opening day nightmares on your twitter feed, an hour before the next fixtures are released.

I did this morning, recalling the U’s dreadful 4-2 defeat at Hartlepool on day one of the 2008-09 season …. an hour later, it was revealed that the U’s will begin the coming season away at ….. Hartlepool!

No.3:

New ground. The U’s will visit Barnet’s new The Hive Stadium on September 17

No. 4:

Another new ground. The U’s will pay their first visit to Morecambe on Easter Monday, April 17.

No. 5:

I’m not particularly looking forward to the fortnight spanning the end of January and beginning of February, 2017. The U’s are down in Devon at Exeter on January 21, and on the north-west coast at Blackpoool on February 4.

No. 6:

The U’s hit the road over the festive period, but you could almost walk to these grounds … almost ….. Luton on Boxing Day, Stevenage on New Year’s Eve.

No. 7:

Good omen. The U’s last clinched promotion, against Yeovil on the final day of the 2005-06 campaign. They end next season against Yeovil. So promotion is guaranteed!