By Chris O'Brien
June 27 2004

The Football Association of Wales have released the fixtures for the 2004/2005 Welsh Premier campaign. Champions Rhyl start the defence of their league crown with a very tough visit to New Bridge Meadow to face Haverfordwest County, whilst last season's runners-up entertain Afan Lido.

The Football Association of Wales have released the fixtures for the 2004/2005 Welsh Premier campaign. The opening day of the season on August 14th has provided some interesting fixtures, none more so than Rhyl's visit to New Bridge Meadow to face Haverfordwest County, the only side who beat the league champions on the domestic scene last season.

New-boys Airbus UK visit one of the leagues better grounds on their Welsh Premier debut, taking on Newtown at Latham Park whilst the other new arrival Llanelli face a very tough trip to Farrar Road to face championship contenders Bangor City.

Total Network Solutions, the only professional side in the league, will host Afan Lido on the opening day of the season whilst Aberystwyth Town will hope to have put their Intertoto Cup mystery long behind them as they kick-off their Welsh Premier campaign with an away fixture against Port Talbot Town. Rhyl and TNS are both expected to challenge for honours in all domestic competitions again this term, and the two Welsh giants meet each other at Belle Vue fairly early on in the season, on September 3rd.

The opening day fixtures are as follows:

Bangor City v Llanelli AFC
Connah's Quay Nomads v Carmarthen Town
Cwmbran Town v Caernarfon Town
Haverfordwest County v Rhyl FC
Porthmadog FC v Welshpool Town
Port Talbot Town v Aberystwyth Town
NEWI Cefn Druids v Caersws FC
Newtown AFC v Airbus UK
Total Network Solutions v Afan Lido

At present, all games are almost certain to take place on August 14th. Welsh-Premier.co.uk will publish more fixtures on the site in the near-future. Please also remember to enter our predictions league with the chance to win some fantastic prizes, with more information available nearer the time so please watch this space.

Welsh Premier clubs are preparing to begin their pre-season training and friendly schedules over the next few weeks as we get ready for another exciting league campaign. We hope to bring you all the main friendly results over the next couple of months before we kick-off even better coverage of the national league of Wales and other domestic competitions throughout the course of the season.