Opening Day Fixtures

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 day12

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)

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Opening Day Fixtures