Anthony Johnson says he's delighted with the 'tough start' handed to Chester FC in National League North.

The Blues begin with a home clash with Spennymoor Town on Saturday, August 4 (3pm) and face a number of the division's 'bigger clubs' during the opening month, including home matches against Kidderminster Harriers, FC United of Manchester and newly-promoted Hereford.

Chester also head to Blyth Spartans, Curzon Ashton and AFC Telford United in the early exchanges, who all have excellent playing surfaces, something Johnson and joint-manager Bernard Morley are keen to utilise with their new-look squad.

Johnson and Morley won the National League North title with Salford City last season, but left just weeks later by mutual consent and were subsequently appointed Chester's new management team.

“It’s a tough start that first month, playing full-time teams like Hereford and Kidderminster,” he said. "We're playing quite a few of the bigger clubs early doors. You've got Spennymoor, Kidderminster and FC United coming to us, so if we can make a positive start we could end up with some really good crowds.

“The fact we’ve got a tough start is good in the way it will be easier for the lads to get themselves right on it from the first whistle.

“Having four home games in the first month is great as our pitch is like a bowling green, it’s perfect and it should suit the style of football we want to play.

“I expect Curzon Ashton, Blyth and Telford to all be perfect playing surfaces too, some of the best in the country, so it’s a really good opening few weeks."

Johnson believes National League North will be 'wide open' this season, and is expecting a competitive title race with the likes of York, Kidderminster and Stockport all tipped to challenge.

However, the Blues can be confident of producing a promotion challenge of their own after a successful summer of recruitment so far, with eight new signings including the likes of experienced campaigners Steve Howson, Grant Shenton, Scott Burton and Gary Stopforth, who joined earlier this week from Colne FC.

“It’s a proper division, but it’s an open division," Johnson added. "It sounds cliched, but you can’t underestimate the full-time teams.

“The likes of York, Kidderminster, Stockport will be strong, then you’ve got teams like Chorley, Spennymoor and Alfreton who I’d expect to see up there.”

The festive fixture see Chester make the short trip to Southport on Boxing Day, before the return fixture back at the Swansway Chester Stadium on New Year’s Day with a trip to Hereford on December 29.

The season concludes with a trip to Alfreton Town on Saturday, April 27.

Chester enter the FA Cup at the second qualifying round stage on September 22 and enter the FA Trophy in the third qualifying round on November 24.