PORTLAND United and new manager Simon Browne will open their defence of the Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division title at home to Team Solent at Grove Corner on Tuesday, August 1.

Both the Blues’ opening games are home 7.45pm kick-offs, with Shaftesbury next visiting the reigning champions a week later.

Portland will take the Isle of Wight ferry to play Cowes Sports in their third game before hosting Lymington Town for a third successive Tuesday night fixture.

Browne’s men round off August with a tasty home match against Hamworthy United, managed by Brendon King who was assistant-manager to Browne during their stint with Wimborne Town.

In a testing November, The Blues travel to Blackfield & Langley, who finished fourth last term, on November 4 before hosting Sholing, last season’s third-placed team on November 25.

Over the festive period, Browne and King will reunite again on December 23 at the County Ground, with the islanders then entertaining Bashley a week later.

Portland United’s first fixture of 2018 will be away to Bournemouth at Victoria Park.

The final five fixtures provide a tricky run-in for the Blues, who are set to face Sholing away on March 24 before hosting Brockenhurst seven days later.

The final home game of the season is against Baffin Milton Rovers before the Blues end their season with a trip to Horndean on April 21.

PORTLAND UNITED’S SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE SCHEDULE 2017-18*
AUGUST
Tue 1     Team Solent (7.45pm h)
Tue 8     Shaftesbury (7.45pm h)
Sat 12     Cowes Sports (a)
Tue 15    Lymington Town (7.45pm h)
Sat 26     AFC Portchester (a)
Tue 29    Hamworthy United (7.45pm h)
SEPTEMBER
Sat 16    Alresford Town (a)
Tue 26    Brockenhurst (7.45pm a)
Sat 30    Andover Town (h)
OCTOBER
Sat 7    Petersfield Town (a)
Tue 10    Bournemouth (7.45pm h)
Sat 14    Baffins Milton Rovers (a)
Sat 21    Horndean (h)
Tue 24    Bashley (7.45pm a)
Sat 28    Newport (IoW) (h)
NOVEMBER
Sat 4    Blackfield & Langley (a)
Sat 11    Fareham Town (h)
Tue 14    Bemerton Heath Harlequins (7.45pm a)
Sat 18    Hamble Club (h)
Sat 25    Sholing (h)
DECEMBER
Sat 2    Amesbury Town (a)
Sat 9    Team Solent (a)
Sat 16    Alresford Town (h)
Sat 23    Hamworthy United (a)
Sat 30    Bashley (h)
JANUARY
Sat 6    Bournemouth (a)
Sat 13    Bemerton Heath Harlequins (h)
Sat 20    Shaftesbury (a)
Sat 27    Petersfield Town (h)
FEBRUARY
Sat 3    Blackfield & Langley (h)
Sat 10    Lymington Town (a)
Sat 17    Amesbury Town (h)
Sat 24    AFC Portchester (h)
Tue 27    Hamble Club (7.45pm a)
MARCH
Sat 3    Fareham Town (a)
Sat 10    Andover Town (a)
Sat 17    Cowes Sports (h)
Sat 24    Sholing (a)
Sat 31    Brockenhurst (h)
APRIL
Sat 7    Newport (IoW) (a)
Sat 14    Baffins Milton Rovers (h)
Sat 21    Horndean (a)

*Fixtures subject to change