Manager Graham Drury has admitted he is looking forward to the start of the 2011/12 season more than ever after the fixtures were announced on Tuesday.

The Steelmen face a tough start to their Blue Square Bet North season but Drury is relishing the opening day trip to title favourites FC Halifax and believes the tricky start could well work in Corby's favour.

He told www.corbytownfc.co.uk: “They have the biggest budget in the league and deservedly start as everyone's favourites. You only have to look at some of their players to know that if anyone does finish above them, they are going to be going up. They are a strong team but I think it's a good time to play them. 

“They'll be a big crowd there and they'll be nervous stepping up for the first game. They will have momentum from last season and they are used to winning games so it'll be up to us to break their hearts. 

“It's a lovely set up there and the players will be looking forward to kicking off the season at Halifax. If we are able to take something from this game it'll be a good benchmark of where we're at but it'll also send a message out to the rest of the division too.”

The Steelmen will return to Northamptonshire to play their first match at the new stadium on Wednesday 17th August against another of the division's new boys – Bishop Stortford, transferred across from the South after Rushden & Diamonds' expulsion.

“We have got to face them all at some point so I am happy to get the big ones and the unknown ones out of the way. I'll be looking for us to get off to a flyer, it's not going to be easy but if we get off to a winning start at our new home then we'll be set up for Hyde's visit on the Saturday.“Hyde are going to be an unknown quantity this season, they have a new manager there and they have the backing of Glenn Hoddle's Academy so it'll be good to get an early look at them to see what they might be about.

“It's a tough league, it gets tougher every year because the pros are dropping down and the quality is getting better. We can't really judge anything until at least the first ten games have been played but we have to aim to start the season in a determined fashion.

“I am not unduly worried about the start, they are games we've got to play so let's start with them. We've got a good pre-season lined-up, we've got the first league game at the new stadium to look forward to after Halifax and we'll have the Rangers game around the corner so there is lots to be excited about right now.”