2009/10 FIXTURE LIST - CLICK HERE
Southend United supporters will get a chance to say goodbye to former defender Peter Clarke on the opening day of the Coca-Cola League One season.
Blues have been handed a home fixture against last seasons Player of the Years' new club Huddersfield Town on the opening day of the season on Saturday, August 8.
Clarke quit Southend for the Yorkshire outfit last week and Blues supporters won't have to wait long before they get to see Clarke in action for the opposition.
It is the seventh season in a row that Southend have started the season at Roots Hall.
Meanwhile, the fixture list has been kind to travelling supporters with only an away trip to Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday, November 24 raising any eyebrows.
United's opening month continues with matches against Walsall (A) on August 15, whilst a Tuesday night trip to Wycombe Wanderers (A) awaits on August 18 before Blues entertain Millwall (H) at Roots Hall on August 22 and finish the month back on the road at Swindon Town (A) on August 29.
Derby fixtures are always some of the most keenly awaited ties and United will host Leyton Orient (H) at the start of September whilst Boxing Day brings the Essex derby to Roots Hall when Colchester United (H) visit. In fact the festive period is kind all round as Steve Tilson's team travel to Leyton Orient (A) on December 28 and Millwall (A) on January 2.
With three big guns having found their way into League One from the Championship last season games against Charlton Athletic, Southampton and Norwich City are bound to be crowd pullers.
Blues first match against one of those comes on October 10 at Roots Hall when Southampton (H), who will start the season on minus 10 points, visit whilst Norwich City (H) are United's guests on Tuesday, December 1. Four days later United visit Charlton (A) on Saturday, December 5.
February will see Southend make the short trip to Norwich City's (A) Carrow Road on Tuesday, February 23 with Charlton (H) at Roots Hall on Saturday, February 27.
And in a recreation of when Southend United were relegated from the Coca-Cola Championship two seasons ago Steve Tilson's side will finish the new campaign at Southampton's St. Mary's stadium on Saturday, May 8.
The current fixture list is provisional, with clubs having a week to agree any changes. Keep an eye on southendunited.co.uk over the next few days for further details.
For a full fixture list for the new 2009/10 season click here.
