Hawks at home in their first National League South game of 2020/21 – their only clash with a Pompey home match all season
Hawks will start their 2020/21 National League South season at home to Maidstone United on Saturday, October 10.
The rest of the division lift the curtain on the campaign the previous Tuesday, but Hawks miss out as there are an unequal number of clubs - 21 - in the league.
That is due to Wealdstone and Weymouth winning promotion last season, only Ebbsfleet coming down and no-one coming from step 3.
The game against Maidstone will be the club’s first league game on their new 3G surface, though they could be at home in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup the previous Saturday.
Maidstone were one of five clubs to beat Hawks at Westleigh Park in a regular league game last season, 2-1 in early January.
Hawks have a tough start with games against Maidstone, Slough, Dartford and Hampton & Richmond - all top 10 clubs in 2019/20 - in their first five games.
Their first away game is at Billericay, who only lost one home league match in 2019/20 (and that was to Hawks).
The game against Maidstone is Hawks’ only clash with a Pompey home league game all season. The Blues host MK Dons at Fratton Park the same day.
Hawks believe such fixture clashes costs them a few hundred extra fans every time, though at present it’s not known how many supporters will be allowed into EFL and National League games by the time October comes around.
Hawks have an attractive home game on December 28 when Dorking Wanderers visit.
Dorking have four ex-Hawks favourites - Wes Fogden, Alfie Rutherford, Ed Harris and Jason Prior.
Easter could be a tough period - away to Slough on Good Friday and home to Dartford, the team Hawks lost to in July’s NL South play-off semi-final, on Easter Monday.
The season is due to finish on Saturday, May 29 - a month after the step 1 campaign normally concludes - at home to Concord Rangers. The play-offs will then be held in June.