By PADDY DAVITTKings Lynn will launch their historic Blue Square North campaign with an eight-hour round trip to Burscough on Saturday, August 9.

By PADDY DAVITT

Kings Lynn will launch their historic Blue Square North campaign with an eight-hour round trip to Burscough on Saturday, August 9.

Keith Webb's squad face a testing opener in Lancashire at the former FA Trophy winners who finished eighth last season in their debut conference campaign.

Burscough warm up for Lynn's visit with a glamour pre-season friendly against Premiership and European champions Man United next month. Linnets' chairman Ken Bobbins was philosophical over the gruelling opening day trip to Victoria Park.

“It would have been nice to be at home for the first one,” he admitted. “But I think its fairly normal procedure for the new boys to be away first game and we are the new boys. There is no getting away from that fact. I believe they've got a new manager as the previous one has moved onto Southport but other than that I know very little. It's one of our longer trips out of the way early but, as with all these things, you can't change it. Workington away in December is a bit of a nightmare but we've got to accept it.”

Lynn host Redditch at The Walks three days after their Blue Square North bow in a repeat of the 2004 Southern League divisional championship shoot out.

“I'd literally just arrived at the club back then,” said Bobbins. “I was very green behind the ears and still trying to figure out exactly what was going on. It's not a long trip for them midweek early on but I'd like to think we'll get a massive crowd. That would be terrific for the lads and really give them a boost because we feel it's important to build on that winning habit from last season.”

Gainsborough Trinity replace demoted Boston United as Lynn's festive local double header. Webb's outfit head to Lincolnshire on Boxing Day with a New Year's Day return in Norfolk.

“We will approach both games professionally as we would do with any fixture,” said Bobbins. “Perhaps it hasn't got the same ring to it as if Boston had stayed in the league. However, maybe that is not a bad thing. In such big games with a lot at stake people can lose their heads and get caught up in the whole occasion.”

Lynn complete their regular season programme with another long haul to Vauxhall Motors on April 25.

“That wouldn't be a task that might daunt us,” said Bobbins. “Obviously at the start of a season every club sets out with the ambition to win the league. If we are up there or thereabouts and that game has something on it then I know we would relish it. But as Keith has already said we really don't know what to expect. Everyone looks at the fixtures at this time of year but you can't predict anything. There is a lot of football to be played.”