Rangers kick off against FC United

Stafford Rangers will start life in the Evo-Stik Premier League at home to FC United of Manchester - with two Bank Holiday games against Hednesford to come.

Rangers, relegated from the Blue Square North last season, will open the new campaign against United at Marston Road on Saturday August 13.

The Red Rebels, formed by Manchester United fans breaking away from the club in protest at the Glazer's takeover, attract one of the biggest followings in non-league football at home or away.

And another big crowd will be expected on August 29 when Rangers head to local rivals Hednesford, who have been switched from the Zamaretto League, with the return game at Marston Road on 2 January 2012.

Rangers face two away trips in the space of a week directly after their season opener, first at Worksop on August 17 before a match at Stocksbridge Park Steels on August 20.

Then comes back-to-back home games with Garry Flitcroft's Chorley and Whitby, before the Hednesford clash rounds off August.

Further West Midlands derbies come on September 13 with the visit of Rushall Olympic and a trip to Chasetown on October 15.

Rangers then go to Olympic on November 29 and welcome the Scholars to Marston Road on 17 March 2012.

Over the festive period, Greg Clowes' side play at Nantwich on Boxing Day, with the home match against Hednesford kicking off 2012 before the return game against United the following Saturday.

The standard season is rounded off on April 21 at Frickley, with the final home game of 2011-12 against Buxton the week before.

But it all starts against United, a game which Rangers chairman Mike Hughes believes will "set a benchmark" for the club's campaign.

He said: "It's a taster for us to start with and will set the benchmark for us in the league.

"It could be a tricky month for us but it will be a good test."