BRAINTREE Town chairman Lee Harding has promised a "carnival occasion" when the Iron kick off their return to the top flight of non-league football with a home game against FC Halifax Town.

After the release of the Vanarama National League fixtures, Braintree now know who they will be facing and the side from West Yorkshire will be the visitors to Cressing Road on Saturday, August 4.

Braintree earned their place back in the National League with success in last year's Vanarama National League South play-offs and, with excitement beginning to build, Harding said they would look to make it a memorable opening day.

He said it was only the second or third time that they would begin a National League campaign in front of their own fans.

"We are delighted to be at home for the first game when it will be a carnival occasion for the club and our supporters," he said.

"We have been away from the National League for 12 long months, but we are back now and are looking forward to welcoming Halifax to our home."

The opening day fixture is part of a tough-looking early-season run for Braintree, when, in the opening two weeks, they will face four clubs who have been in the Football League in recent seasons.

The visit by Halifax will be followed on August 7 by a trip to Barnet and an away day at Chesterfield on August 11 - both of whom were relegated from League Two last season - and then a home game against Hartlepool United on August 14.

A tricky early run will then be concluded on Saturday, August 18, when the Iron host Havant & Waterlooville, who came up from National League South with Braintree last season.

Harding added: "There are some tough early fixtures as we are facing some of the big boys and they will all be tough.

"It's a testing start, but everyone has to face Braintree at some time.

"We aren't frightened of anyone and it's a challenge that we are very much looking forward to."

The opening month of the season concludes with another eye-catching home match as former Iron manager Alan Devonshire will return to Cressing Road with his Maidenhead United side on Bank Holiday Monday on August 27.

Christmas and New Year action this year is kicked off by a home game against Boreham Wood on December 22, before a trip to Ebbsfleet United on Boxing Day and the return encounter with the Kent side at Cressing Road on New Year's Day.

Sandwiched between the Ebbsfleet games is also a trip to Devonshire's Maidenhead on December 29.

Meanwhile, Easter action sees a trip back down to Kent on Good Friday (April 19) to face Maidstone United, with a home game against Dagenham and Redbridge coming three days later on Easter Monday.

The home game against another former Football League side - Leyton Orient - will come on Tuesday, September 25, but the O's will feature for Braintree as their final game of the season when the Iron will travel to Brisbane Road on April 27.

As they are now back in the National League, Braintree will also receive an exemption into the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup, which takes place on October 20, and into the first round proper of the FA Trophy on December 15.