Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
National League fixtures are to be announced on Friday (10 July) at 11am
There is an interesting article explaining the complexities of compiling fixture lists at: www.thenationalleague.org.uk/news/2026/july/03/all-you-need-to-know--how-the-national-league-fixture-list-is-compiled/
Thinking about our potential fixtures, the furthest ones are the trips to Truro, Torquay and Weston super-Mare.....hopefully none of those three will be scheduled for midweek dates!
Any predictions on here over who we might get first, last or over Christmas/Easter?
I would love to know the stats regarding Boxing Day too - I cannot remember the last time Dorking were given an away game on Boxing Day!
Here are the confirmed key dates...
Fixture release day Friday 10 July 2026
Opening day Saturday 8 August 2026
Final day Saturday 24 April 2027
Promotion Finals weekend Saturday 8 May/Sunday 9 May 2027
Christmas fixtures Saturday 26 December/Monday 28 December 2026*
New Year's fixture Saturday 2 January 2027*
*Clubs may request to move their Bank Holiday Monday (28 December) fixture to Tuesday 29 December (7.45pm) or their Saturday 2 January fixture to New Year's Day (1 January) subject to mutual agreement between both clubs within seven days of fixture release.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
2015 at Chipstead was our last Boxing Day away game! There were one or two years where there wasn't a game on Boxing Day though in that time.
However, we've only had 2 opening fixtures at home in the last 10 years I believe.
For predictions, i'll go with...
Opening game: Slough Town (H)
Christmas/Easter: Horsham and Hampton
Final game: Folkestone Invicta (A)
Been looking forward to this day, hoping we get Torquay and Truro away early on
First game - Ebbsfleet away
Boxing Day / Easter Horsham & Walton
Final game - Totton Home
Some interesting stats there - when was the last opening game at home? From memory it's been Chippenham, Truro, Chesterfield and Oldham, all away in the past 4 seasons...
My predictions:
Opening game: Salisbury City (A)
Christmas/Easter: Horsham and Farnham
Final game: Maidenhead (H)
I'm always delighted if the opening game is away as there is never any Premier League on that first weekend (this season there isn't on the 2nd weekend either so it works either way!)
We get capacity (or near capacity) crowds against Horsham so it makes sense to have those across Christmas/Easter
Boxing Day at home is also preferable, as public transport is near non-existent on Dec 26th so keeping it local works well.
Truro away in the warmer months before the wettest weather kick in would be good too as it's a long old trip.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
Some interesting stats there - when was the last opening game at home? From memory it's been Chippenham, Truro, Chesterfield and Oldham, all away in the past 4 seasons...
Oldham was not the opening game that season. We were at home to Chesterfield the week before (2-2 draw) which was our last opening game at home.
I think Horsham are pretty much guaranteed to be one of the Easter/Christmas sides as I can't see two other sides they could be paired up with instead of us.
The other one is a bit more up in the air as it could really be any of Farnham, Walton, Hampton, Farnborough or Tonbridge.
Walton would be an utter PITA to get to if it was on Boxing Day
(no reason to believe it is, just sayin')
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
@dorking-eagle It’s a long way from the train station but ample parking nearby I guess
