Away Day Starter

September is the busiest month for the players with seven games in five weeks including back-to-back gruelling away trips to Scunthorpe and Hull.

Swansea boss John Hollins will be hoping to start the campaign with a win, something the team has not managed since the season opener against Exeter at the Vetch in 1998. Macclesfield struggled to 14th in Division Three last term and will want to get their season off on the right note with a win. Boxing Day sees a trip to Exeter before a visit to Cheltenham three days later.

The Swans will be back at the Vetch on New Year’s Day to face Plymouth Argyle. They will hope to repeat the festive success enjoyed over Paul Sturrock’s side during the Third Division promotion campaign when Walter Boyd scored the only goal. Some fixtures may have to rearranged due to international commitments; Wales play Armenia on September 1, the same day Swansea are due to meet Plymouth at Home Park.

With the minimum three players likely to be called up, that game is likely to be postponed, as is the the home clash with Rushden and Diamonds on November 3. Wales’s packed fixture list of rugby internationals could see four further Swansea matches rearranged. The game with Australia in November and the three home Six Nations matches in 2002 all clash with Vetch Field matches