EASTLEIGH’S rising star Joe Tomlinson insisted “the number one priority this season is to get promoted” – even if the Spitfires have to wait a week longer to begin their campaign.

The release of the 2021-22 National League fixture list has left its member clubs preparing for their season’s curtain-raiser on Saturday, August 21 – although Eastleigh are not.

Due to the makeup of a 23-team league, the Spitfires are the one club handed a bye-week on the opening day of the season while everyone else kicks off.

This means they will start their season the following Saturday, on August 28, with a home tie at the Silverlake Stadium, against 2018-19 season play-off eliminator opponents Wrexham.

But Eastleigh’s left-back and 2021 Young Player of the Year, Tomlinson, is unmoved by the announcement their season will be delayed.

He told the Daily Echo: “There’s not much we can do about it really, we just have to stay focussed, make sure we work hard during pre-season and ensure we’re ready for Wrexham.

“I’m sure we will be in working on the day. We’re not too worried about what the other teams are doing, and we aren’t worried about who we play, we know that if we have a good season, we will be up there.”

Manager Ben Strevens’ side have performed well on opening days under his tenure, with a 1-0 win over Notts County in 2019 and a 5-1 away demolition of Barnet last season.

Their first away game of the season sees a trip to Bromley, who leapfrogged several sides including Strevens’ men to reach the play-offs on the final day of last season, on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Silverlake side face a trip to Dorset’s Weymouth on Boxing Day before welcoming the same opponents on January 2, with a visit from recently relegated Grimsby Town to round out the season in May.

Former Saints Academy youngster Tomlinson added: “Football is football, you’re always going to have different games around different periods of the season.

“Last year we didn’t pick up as many points over Christmas as we should have done, so hopefully we can pick up some more this year. The two games against Weymouth will be good, with fans back it will really be a great atmosphere.

“The number one priority this season is to get promoted. I definitely have belief in the team and I’m sure the others do too. We know what we can do, we just have to go out there and show we’ve got the squad to do it.”

EASTLEIGH FIXTURES IN FULL*

August

Sat 28th – Wrexham (H)

Mon 30th – Bromley (A)

September

Sat 4th – King’s Lynn Town (H)

Sat 11th – Barnet (A)

Tues 14th – Dover Athletic (H)

Sat 18th – Grimsby Town (A)

Sat 25th – Woking (A)

October

Sat 2nd – Boreham Wood (H)

Tues 5th – Southend United (A)

Sat 9th – Wealdstone (A)

Sat 23rd – Altrincham (H)

Tues 26th – Chesterfield (A)

Sat 30th – Maidenhead United (H)

November

Sat 13th – Yeovil Town (A)

Sat 20th – Notts County (H)

Tues 23rd – Dag & Red (A)

Sat 27th – Solihull Moors (H)

December

Sat 4th – Stockport County (A)

Sat 11th – Aldershot Town (H)

Sun 26th – Weymouth (A)

Tue 28th – Torquay United (H)

January

Sun 2nd – Weymouth (H)

Sat 8th – FC Halifax Town (A)

Tue 25th – Dover Athletic (A)

Sat 29th – Chesterfield (H)

February

Sat 5th – Maidenhead United (A)

Sat 12th - Yeovil Town (H)

Sat 19th – Notts County (A)

Tues 22nd – Southend United (H)

Sat 26th – Boreham Wood (A)

March

Sat 5th – Wealdstone (H)

Sat 12th – Altrincham (A)

Sat 19th – Solihull Moors (A)

Tues 22nd – Dag & Red (H)

Sat 26th – Stockport County (H)

April

Sat 2nd – Aldershot Town (A)

Sat 9th – Wrexham (A)

Fri 15th – Bromley (H)

Mon 18th – Torquay United (A)

Sat 23rd – Barnet (H)

Sat 30th – King’s Lynn Town (A)

May

Mon 2nd – FC Halifax Town (H)

Sat 7th – Woking (A)

Sun 15th – Grimsby Town (H)

*Fixtures subject to change