BURNLEY will start the new First Division campaign in familiar surroundings with a home game against Crystal Palace.

The Eagles travel to Turf Moor when the season gets up and running again on Saturday, August 9.

The Clarets then hit the road a week later to face tough opposition in the form of Gary Megson's relegated West Brom side.

Stan Ternent's men must then try to end their hoodoo against Wigan with a home game against Paul Jewell's newly-promoted Second Division champions.

The Latics' have not lost to the Clarets in 14 attempts stretching back to a 1993 meeting at Turf Moor in the old Second Division.

The fixture computer has thrown up a real headache for travelling fans with a gruelling trip to Gillingham on Bank Holiday Monday, August 25.

Other key dates to note are a pre-Christmas cracker away to local rivals Preston on December 20, followed by a Boxing Day trip to Dario Gradi's Crewe.

Potteries' rivals Stoke City, who narrowly avoided relegation at the end of last season, make up the Turf Moor opposition on December 28 - and unusually this year, there will be no games played on New Year Day due to the FA Cup third round taking place just 48 hours later.

Easter sees a trip to Walsall on Saturday, April 10, with a home game against Watford on the following Monday.

Big guns West Ham entertain Burnley on October 18 in the first meeting between the two Claret and Blues for over 22 years.

The Clarets then make their first ever trip to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on November 29.

The Hammers - now managed by former Burnley assistant boss Glenn Roeder - do not travel north for the return fixture until March 2, 2003.

And Clarets chief Ternent will not get the chance to entertain boyhood heroes Sunderland until the final day of the season, Sunday May 9.

Clarets Chairman, Barry Kilby, was unimpressed with the spread of fixtures. Kilby had hoped to face at least one of the big two relegated teams early in the campaign to pack out Turf Moor.

And Kilby was also angry that loyal Clarets fans will be forced to make the long trek to Kent to face Gillingham on a Bank Holiday.

Kilby said: "It's a difficult division this season and there are no easy games when you look down the list, but I feel it could have been a little kinder to us.

"Sunderland could be coming to Burnley on the final day with little, or nothing to play for - which would be a shame.

"You are always looking for a home game on Boxing Day to fill the ground, so without any disrespect to Crewe, travelling there is not what we hopes for.

"But travelling to Gillingham on a Bank Holiday Monday, with reduced public transport, is crazy.

"Surely it is not beyond the wisdom of man to sort it out."