BURNHAM Ramblers boss Keith Wilson says he is counting down the days until the start of their inaugural Ryman League season, after the fixtures were announced.

Newly-promoted Ramblers travel to play Waltham Abbey in an Essex derby, on the opening day of the new division one north campaign on August 10.

They follow that up by hosting much-fancied Needham Market at Leslie Field, in their first-ever home game in the Isthmian League.

Matches against Erith and Belvedere and Tilbury follow before Ramblers make the short trip to play Maldon and Tiptree, on August 24.

And Burnham finish off a busy opening month in the league on August 26, when they host Waltham Forest.

Wilson said: “We can’t wait for August 10 now – it can’t come quickly enough.

“In our first few games, we’re playing three fairly new sides for us and they’re good games for us.

“We’d have liked to have been at home on the first day but in the grand scheme of things, it could have been a lot worse."

Burnham beat FC Clacton 1-0 in their latest pre-season friendly last weekend, with Ricky Stubbs heading in the winner from a corner.

Both of Ramblers’ first team and reserve sides will take on their Felixstowe and Walton counterparts at Leslie Field, this Saturday.

The first-team match will take place on the main pitch and the reserve-game on the back pitch, with both games kicking-off at 2pm.

The matches are part of a Fun Day at Burnham Ramblers FC, featuring tours, a bouncy castle, a raffle with the prize a season-ticket for the 2013-14 season, a burger van and other entertainment.

Admission is £5, £3 concessions, with children under the age of 14 admitted free.