BRYAN Gunn's Canaries will kick-off their 2009-10 Coca-Cola League One campaign with a Carrow Road meeting with near neighbours Colchester United on Saturday, August 8, 2009 (3pm).

The league opener against the U's will be followed up with a Carling Cup first round trip to Yeovil Town on Tuesday, August 11 (7.45pm).

City's next match will see a swift return to St James' Park for City new boy Matt Gill as Exeter City become Norwich's first League One away opponents of the new campaign.

The opening month of the season will see the Canaries face all three clubs promoted from League Two last season - the trip to Exeter is followed by a midweek match away to Brentford and a visit from Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, August 22.

The City boss told canaries.co.uk: "We're delighted to be starting with a local derby against Colchester United at Carrow Road. Hopefully it will be a sell-out crowd at Carrow Road and the fans can roar us on to a winning start.

"A good start is vital. We then play all three of the sides promoted from League Two and that will be a good challenge. You would expect those sides to be buoyant coming off the back of successful seasons.

"We always knew this season was going to involve a lot of travelling for the fans and for the squad and early games have us travelling to Yeovil in the Carling Cup, followed by another trek to the south-west in the next game at Exeter.

"Our support home and away is going to be a crucial factor for us this season. Our home form needs to improve dramatically and a buzzing Carrow Road will definitely increase the chances of that happening. Meanwhile we've been fortunate enough to enjoy fantastic support from a really loyal band of travelling fans despite some poor seasons on the road - again, they will be a massive help for us during this campaign."

City face a tough trip to Leeds United on Saturday, October 17 with the Yorkshire side visiting Carrow Road for the return fixture on Saturday, March 27.

The weekend of Saturday, November 7 is scheduled for the FA Cup first round matches.

Play-off finalists Millwall will provide the Boxing Day opposition at Carrow Road with City ending the season at home to Carlisle United on Saturday, May 8.

City boss Bryan Gunn was delighted at being at home on the opening day of the season. He confirmed that he, Ian Crook and Ian Butterworth will be relishing the opportunity of locking horns with former Carrow Road team-mate Ian Culverhouse, who is Paul Lambert's assistant at Colchester United.

City's 2009-10 League One Fixtures:

Sat	8	Aug	Colchester United	H
Sat	15	Aug	Exeter City	A
Tue	18	Aug	Brentford	A
Sat	22	Aug	Wycombe Wanderers	H
Sat	29	Aug	Hartlepool United	A
Sat	5	Sep	Walsall	H
Sat	12	Sep	Milton Keynes Dons	A
Sat	19	Sep	Charlton Athletic	H
Sat	26	Sep	Gillingham	A
Tue	29	Sep	Leyton Orient	H
Sat	3	Oct	Bristol Rovers	H
Sat	10	Oct	Carlisle United	A
Sat	17	Oct	Leeds United	A
Sat	24	Oct	Swindon Town	H
Sat	31	Oct	Stockport County	A
Sat	14	Nov	Tranmere Rovers	H
Sat	21	Nov	Southampton	A
Tue	24	Nov	Brighton & Hove Albion	H
Tue	1	Dec	Southend United	A
Sat	5	Dec	Oldham Athletic	H
Sat	12	Dec	Yeovil Town	A
Sat	19	Dec	Huddersfield Town	H
Sat	26	Dec	Millwall	H
Mon	28	Dec	Walsall	A
Sat	2	Jan	Wycombe Wanderers	A
Sat	9	Jan	Exeter City	H
Sat	16	Jan	Colchester United	A
Sat	23	Jan	Brentford	H
Sat	30	Jan	Hartlepool United	H
Sat	6	Feb	Millwall	A
Sat	13	Feb	Brighton & Hove Albion	A
Sat	20	Feb	Southampton	H
Tue	23	Feb	Southend United	H
Sat	27	Feb	Oldham Athletic	A
Sat	6	Mar	Yeovil Town	H
Sat	13	Mar	Huddersfield Town	A
Sat	20	Mar	Swindon Town	A
Sat	27	Mar	Leeds United	H
Sat	3	Apr	Tranmere Rovers	A
Mon	5	Apr	Stockport County	H
Sat	10	Apr	Milton Keynes Dons	H
Tue	13	Apr	Leyton Orient	A
Sat	17	Apr	Charlton Athletic	A
Sat	24	Apr	Gillingham	H
Sat	1	May	Bristol Rovers	A
Sat	8	May	Carlisle United	H