Ballymena United travel to champions Crusaders on opening day of season

The Sky Blues travel to Crusaders - champions in each of the past two seasons - in the opening round of fixtures on Saturday, August 6.

The Seaview fixture is a repeat of manager David Jeffrey’s first game in charge of the Sky Blues back in March, when United earned a scoreless draw.

Ballymena’s first home game will come four days later when they host Glenavon on Wednesday, August 10.

United’s full league fixture list up until the league ‘split’ in March is:

August 6 - Crusaders (a)

August 10 - Glenavon (h)

August 13 - Ballinamallard United (a)

August 20 - Ards (h)

August 27 - Carrick Rangers (a)

September 3 - Dungannon Swifts (a)

September 10 - Cliftonville (h)

September 17 - Portadown (a)

September 24 - Glentoran (h)

October 1 - Coleraine (a)

October 8 - Linfield (h)

October 15 - Crusaders (h)

October 22 - Glenavon (a)

October 29 - Ballinamallard United (h)

November 5 - Ards (a)

November 12 - Carrick Rangers (h)

November 19 - Dungannon Swifts (h)

November 26 - Cliftonville (a)

December 3 - Portadown (h)

December 10 - Glentoran (a)

December 17 - Linfield (a)

December 26 - Coleraine (h)

December 31 - Ards (a)

January 3, 2017 - Glenavon (h)

January 14 - Dungannon Swifts (h)

January 21 - Linfield (a)

January 28 - Carrick Rangers (h)

February 11 - Crusaders (a)

February 17 - Coleraine (h)

February 25 - Ballinamallard United (a)

March 11 - Portadown (h)

March 18 - Glentoran (h)

March 25 - Cliftonville (a)