YORK City Knights will kick off their 2004 campaign at home to Batley Bulldogs, it was confirmed today.

The fixture list for the National League clubs was unveiled today, with the Knights, from Division Two, given an enticing opener against the Division One club in the first round of Arriva Trains Cup matches.

Like last year, the season begins with the pool fixtures in the Arriva Trains Cup. As revealed by the Evening Press on Saturday, the Knights' other opponents in the group stage of this competition are relegated Dewsbury and Division One outfit Featherstone Rovers, while their sole cross-section opponents will be Division Two rivals Gateshead Thunder.

The last group game is at Featherstone on Good Friday, April 9, with a 7.30pm evening kick-off.

The league campaign begins on Easter Bank Holiday Monday, April 12 and again the Knights have been handed a home game on the opening day.

This time they will take on one of their promotion rivals last season, Chorley Lynx.

The Knights have one evening trip scheduled during the league campaign, to Sheffield Eagles on Friday, July 23, kick-off 8pm.

The trip to London Skolars, which last season proved so popular with the Knights fans, is next year scheduled for August 29.

The league season finishes on Sunday, September 12 away to Chorley, with the promotion play-offs due to start the following weekend.

Knights cheif executive Steve Ferres said: "You get what you're given but I'm delighted to be at home first off in both competitions.

"It gives you the opportunity to get your home supporters behind you and hopefully get the season off to a good start, though both games will be tough."

YORK CITY KNIGHTS FIXTURES 2004

Key: ATC - Arriva Trains Cup; NL2 - National League Two.

In order of date, competition, opposition, home/away, kick-off time

February

1 ATC Batley Bulldogs H 3:00

8 Powergen Challenge Cup third round

15 ATC Gateshead Thunder A 3:30

22 ATC Dewsbury Rams A 3:00

29 Powergen Challenge Cup fourth round

March

7 ATC Featherstone Rovers H 3:00

14 Powergen Challenge Cup fifth round

21 ATC Batley Bulldogs A 3:00

28 ATC Gateshead Thunder H 3:00

April

4 ATC Dewsbury Rams H 3:00

9 ATC Featherstone Rovers A 7:30

12 NL2 Chorley Lynx H 3:00

18 NL2 Hunslet Hawks A 3:30

25 Arriva Trains Cup play-offs

May

2 NL2 Sheffield Eagles H 3:00

9 NL2 Barrow Raiders A 3:00

15 Powergen Challenge Cup final

23 NL2 Gateshead Thunder H 3:00

30 NL2 Swinton Lions H 3:00

June

6 Arriva Trains Cup quarter-finals

13 NL2 Dewsbury Rams A 3:00

20 NL2 London Skolars H 3:00

27 Arriva Trains Cup semi-finals

July

4 NL2 Workington Town A 3:00

11 NL2 Hunslet Hawks H 3:00

18 Arriva Trains Cup final

23 NL2 Sheffield Eagles A 8:00

August

1 NL2 Barrow Raiders H 3:00

8 NL2 Gateshead Thunder A 3:30

15 NL2 Swinton Lions A 3:00

22 NL2 Dewsbury Rams H 3:00

29 NL2 London Skolars A 3:00

September

5 NL2 Workington Town H 3:00

12 NL2 Chorley Lynx A 3:00

19 National League Play-offs start

Updated: 12:53 Monday, November 24, 2003