Whilst the anticipation and the expectation is always high for the new season for Poppies fans, our opening day fixtures have often caused a few surprises over the years. On Fixtures Day, here are a few highlights of yesteryear.
Opening Day of the season.
The 2025-26 opener at Royston Town will be the Poppies 4th successive away game.
Last time the Poppies played at home on the opening day.
2021-22 v Bradford (Park Avenue)
Last time the Poppies won on the opening day of the season.
2021-22 v Bradford (Park Avenue) (h) 1-0
2019-20 v AFC Telford United (h) 2-1
Last time the Poppies won away on the opening day of the season.
2018-19 v Hitchin Town 1-0
Last time the Poppies lost on the opening day of the season.
2024-25 v Halesowen Town (a) 1-2
2023-24 v Stamford AFC (a) 2-3
In the 12 seasons since the Poppies have played at Latimer Park, they have won 6 and lost six of the first games of the season. Of those 6 wins 3 have been at home.
Attendances since 1979-80.
Highest RR opening day attendance: 2,239 v Runcorn (GMVC) 1989-90
Highest NP opening day attendance: 2,047 v Newport County (BSBP) 2011-12
Highest LP opening day attendance: 959 v AFC Telford United (VNLN) 2019-20
Highest away opening day attendance: 4,569 v Doncaster Rovers (NC) 1998-99
Lowest RR opening day attendance: 916 v Trowbridge Town (APL) 1982-83
Lowest home* opening day attendance: 689 v Aylesbury United (SLD1C) 2014-15
*Latimer Park
Lowest away opening day attendance:
191 v Potters Bar Town (CLD1C) 2013-14
338 v Poole Town (ESP) 2015-16
419 v Runcorn (GMVC) 1994-95
Highest opening day win since 1892.
9-0 vBiggleswade (h) 1937-38
Since 1979-80
3-1 v Altrincham (a) 1995-96, v Dorchester Town (a) 2016-17, v Hucknall Town (h) 2004-05
2-0 v Merthyr Tydfil (a) 2001-02
Highest opening day defeat since 1892.
1-6 vNewark (a) 1893-94
0-5 v Reading (a) 1910-11
Since 1979-80
0-3 v Slough Town (a) 1992-93
Opening Day hat-tricks (7) Since 1892.
Dave Thompson v Hillingdon Borough (h) 1965-66
Maurice Carr v Biggleswade (h) 1937-38
Harry Loasby v Biggleswade (h) 1932-33
Jackie Starsmore v Cradley Heath (h) 1930-31
Peter Simpson v Guildford City (h) 1928-29
Jackie Starsmore v Guildford City (h) 1928-29
Peter Simpson* v Sheppy United (h) 1927-28
* 4 goals.
Highest Poppies scorer on the opening day since 1979: 2. Nicky Evans, Robbie Cooke, Carl Alford, Craig Norman, Christian Moore, Jean-Paul Marna (twice).
Sent off on opening day: (7)
Kofi Nyamah v Altrincham (a) 1995-96
Paul Cox v Northwich Victoria (h) 1999-2000
John Dempster v Gateshead (a) 2010-11
Andy Gooding v Potters Bar Town (a) 2013-14
Dubi Ogbonna v Poole Town (a) 2015-16
Sam Cartwright v AFC Telford United (h) 2019-20
Sam Jones v Gloucester City (a) 2020-21
Since 1979-80 only 4 Poppies penalties have been scored on the opening day.
Darren Lynch v Hucknall Town (h) 2004-05
Jean-Paul Marna v Newport County (h) 2011-12
Andy Gooding v Aylesbury United (h) 2014-15
Claudio Ofosu v Bradford (PA) (h) 2021-22
Penalty saves on the opening day (1)
Paul White v AFC Telford United (h) 2019-20
Since 1979-80 it took 9 seasons before the Poppies won on the opening day, v Enfield (h) 1987-88, and until 1994-95 v Runcorn to win away.
Record number of players to make their debuts on the opening day – 12
2012-13 v Weymouth (a)
2024-25 v Halesowen Town (a)
Last players to score on debut on the opening day.
Jordan Graham v AFC Fylde (a) 6th August 2022
Claudio Ofosu v Bradford (PA) (h) 14th August 2021
Joel Carta & Dan Nti v AFC Telford United (h) 3rd August 2019
Ben Milnes v Slough Town (a) 12th August 2017
Callum Westwood v Dorchester Town (a) 6th August 2016
Zema Abbey v Hyde United (h) 12th August 2006
Quickest goal conceded on the opening day.
2 minutes v Potters Bar Town (a) 2013-14
3 minutes v Poole Town (a) 2015-16
Brett Solkhon has scored on the opening day three times.
2003-04 v Northwood 2-1 (h)
2007-08 v Stalybridge Celtic 1-0 (a)
2017-18 v Slough Town 2-1 (a)
Jean-Paul Marna has scored 4 goals on the opening day.
2009-10 v Forest Green Rovers 2-1 (a)
2011-12 v Newport County 3-2 (h)
Team most played at home
2 v Northwich Victoria 2-1 (1988-89), 1-1 (1999-2000)
Team most played away
4 v Altrincham, 1-1 (1991-92), 1-2 (1984-85), 2-2 (1985-86) 3-1 (1995-96)
2 v Weymouth, 0-2 (1986-87), 0-0 (2012-13)
Royston Town are the 91st different team the Poppies have met on the opening day of a league season, since 1892.
(43 at home / 48 away)
