Much-fancied Faversham Town will start their Southern Counties East Premier Division campaign away to another former Isthmian South East side.

Sammy Moore’s men were relegated from step 4 at the end of last season and will travel to VCD Athletic on Saturday, July 29 in their season opener.

VCD were relegated after losing an inter-step play-off at home to Phoenix Sports at the end of the season.

Faversham’s first home match on their new 3G pitch at Salters Lane is due to be against Corinthian on August 12 while they face a midweek trip to newly-promoted Lydd Town on Wednesday, August 16 and they host Whitstable Town in a Bank Holiday Monday derby on August 28.

Lydd, promoted after winning the Division 1 play-off final, will host Holmesdale in their first-ever Premier Division game while Division 1 champions Snodland Town also start at home, against Stansfeld.

The Division 1 season gets under way a week later with relegated duo Canterbury City and K Sports both starting away from home.

Canterbury make the long trip to SC Thamesmead while K Sports are away to Meridian on Saturday, August 5.

The Roy Vinter Respect Challenge Shield to mark the start of the season also takes place on July 29 with Larkfield & New Hythe hosting Glebe in the traditional curtain raiser.

Southern Counties East opening day fixtures: Premier Division (July 29): Corinthian v Kennington, Fisher v Deal Town, Lydd Town v Holmesdale, Punjab United v Bearsted, Snodland Town v Stansfeld, Tunbridge Wells v Hollands & Blair, VCD Athletic v Faversham Town, Welling Town v Rusthall, Whitstable Town v Erith Town.

Division One (August 5): FC Elmstead v Faversham Strike Force, Greenways v Tooting Bec, Larkfield & New Hythe v Croydon, Meridian v K Sports, Rochester United v Bridon Ropes, SC Thamesmead v Canterbury City.