Andy Hessenthaler is hoping his side can get their promotion campaign off to a winning start when they kick off their League 2 season at home to Cheltenham.

The fixtures for the 2010/11 season were released on Thursday and Hessenthaler knows the importance of getting off to a good start when the action begins on Saturday, August 7.

The Gills boss (pictured) said: "It’s nice to have a home game first. We obviously want to get off to a winning start but it’s not going to be easy as we’re expected to get three points being at home and they’ll come and make it very difficult.

"It’s really important we get off to a winning start because it’s about building momentum early doors. A first win in the first game can breed confidence.

"I’m sure the fans will come in their droves looking to see a new team and a new management and hopefully we can get off to a winning start."

It will be the first time since November 2004 that Hessenthaler has led the Gills out in competitive action at Priestfield and he can’t wait.

"There’ll be nervous excitement more than anything when I walk back out there," he said.

"Hopefully we can put on a performance that everyone is proud of and we come away with a win. It’s going to be an emotional day for myself and I just hope we win."

Gillingham follow that up with a trip to Hereford, inbetween a visit to Norwich’s Carrow Road in the Carling Cup, as the Gills aim to get their first away win since the back end of the 2008/09 season.

One highlight for the Gills will be the games against Barnet, who are managed by former boss Mark Stimson.

"That game stands out," said Hessenthaler. "Ian Hendon (assistant) was manager there and I played there. It all bodes for an exciting game."

The Gills travel to Underhill on Tuesday, November 23 and the return at Priestfield takes place on April 23.

Hessenthaler has been manager at non-league Dover Athletic for the previous three seasons and for him the fixtures were a reminder of his return back into the Football League.

"Especially so after seeing us draw Norwich away in the cup and going to Carrow Road," he said. "No disrepect to the Conference South but I could have been going to somewhere like Farnborough instead. I’m looking forward to it and seeing the fixtures has given me that buzz.

"It’s why I took this job on because I want to be involved in these types of games and there is an early game against Bradford against my good friend Peter Taylor at their place. I’m looking forward to that one.

"We’ve got a lot of hard work to do before the start of the new season and I’ll be looking forward to the players coming back to training on July 1."

*Full fixture list in this Friday’s Medway Messenger and Kent Messenger newspaper.