BURY have been handed a tough start to the new League One season as they host recently relegated Charlton Athletic on the opening weekend.

The season will begin on August 6, when the Addicks visit Gigg Lane, before difficult away trips to Gillingham and Coventry the following Tuesday – an early chance to put to bed the nightmares of last season's 6-0 defeat at the Ricoh Area.

A clash with local rivals Oldham follows, before a trip to last-season’s play-off semi-finalists Walsall completes the opening month.

Bury will visit Spotland on Saturday, October 15, a week before the Shakers host local rivals Bolton Wanderers for the first time in 17 years.

Over the Christmas period Bury travel to Fleetwood Town on Boxing Day before travelling to Bradford for the unusual New Year's Eve fixture.

Easter weekend will be a cracker for Shakers supporters as they host Rochdale on Saturday April 15, before an away trip to the Macron Stadium on Easter Monday, April 17.

Last season's League Two champions Northampton Town is the final home game of the season on Saturday April 22, before the season concludes with a trip to Southend the following weekend.

BURY FC

Fixtures 2016/17

August

6 Charlton H

13 Gillingham A

16 Coventry A

20 Oldham H

27 Walsall A

September

3 Port Vale H

10 Shrewsbury H

17 Swindon A

24 Chesterfield H

27 MK Dons A

October

1 Scunthorpe H

8 Peterborough A

15 Rochdale A

18 A.F.C. Wimbledon H

22 Bolton H

29 Northampton A

November

12 Southend H

19 A.F.C. Wimbledon A

22 Sheff Utd A

26 Millwall H

December

10 Bristol Rovers A

17 Oxford Utd H

26 Fleetwood A

31 Bradford A

January

2 Sheff Utd H

7 Scunthorpe A

14 Peterborough H

21 Port Vale A

28 Walsall H

February

4 Shrewsbury A

11 Swindon H

14 MK Dons H

18 Chesterfield A

25 Charlton A

28 Coventry H

March

4 Gillingham H

11 Oldham A

14 Bristol Rovers H

18 Millwall A

25 Fleetwood H

April

1 Oxford Utd A

8 Bradford H

15 Rochdale H

17 Bolton A

22 Northampton H

30 Southend A