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
That is an absurdly difficult opening first 6-8 weeks or so.
We play rivals Dagenham, Maidenead, Maidstone, Truro, Chelmsford and Torquay all by 12th September. The likes of Totton away, Walton away and Braintree won't be easy either.
Worst case scenario considering the players we will likely be missing for those first few weeks/months (Pinchard, Taylor, Annesley).
Yes Tom I hadn’t really studied it that closely, hell of a first couple of months. Can only hope many of those don’t hit the ground running
Nice to start at home. Maidenhead away should be decent - love that ground and we'll take a really good following I think...
Finishing at Farnborough has the potential to be a memorable day out
These are the fixtures at risk of being moved due to either team's involvement in FA Cup/Trophy. Fortunately, none of them would be too far for a midweek:
Hampton (H) - FA Cup 4th Rnd Q date (17th October)
Salisbury (A) - FA Cup 1st Rnd Proper date (7th November)
Tonbridge (A) - FA Cup 2nd Rnd Proper date (5th December)
Dover (H) - FA Cup 3rd Rnd Proper date (9th January)
Braintree (A) - FA Trophy 4th Round date (16th January)
Salisbury (H) - FA Trophy 5th Round date (6th February)
Maidstone (A) - FA Trophy 6th Round date (6th March)
Chesham (H) - FA Trophy Semi final date (3rd April)
We also have a fair few grass pitch away matches in the depths of Winter that could get postponed:
Dagenham (A) - 8th December
Farnham (A) - 29th December
Chesham (A) - 2nd January
Braintree (A) - 16th January
Weston (A) - 13th February
Chelmsford (A) - 22nd February
Truro (A) - 20th March
In general, the midweek away games aren't too bad but definitely not ideal either:
Totton - Tues 18th August
Folkestone - Tues 24th November
Dagenham - Tues 8th December
Farnham - Tues 29th December
Hemel - Tues 16th February
Chelmsford - Mon 22nd February
Dagenham at Home is a big game to start with. Looking at the fixtures, Farnham Away is Monday 28th December (3pm) not Tuesday 29th. First 5 games already on sale.
Farnham Away is Monday 28th December (3pm) not Tuesday 29th. First 5 games already on sale.
Ah I misread the graphic as the 29th there. That works out better then and should be a bigger crowd as a result.
@adeb I was maybe being a bit ambitious by including the FA Cup 3rd round date 🤣
I'll take the 1st round proper...
