GRAYS Athletic manager Jamie Stuart hopes his side can surprise a few people after the release of the Ryman Premier League fixtures last Friday.

Stuart’s first match in charge will be at Leatherhead on Saturday, August 13 before a tricky-looking home double-header against newly promoted AFC Sudbury and last season’s play-off semi-finalists Bognor Regis Town.

The former Blues player has been busy in the close season, bringing in a host of names and trialists but he said he is now looking to finalise his squad ahead of the curtain raiser next month.

“I can’t wait to get started,” said Stuart. “It doesn’t kick in until the fixtures are released and the excitement has begun.

“All games will be tough and we need to be aware of that. As a manager you look at the first four or five matches but the players might do it differently. When I talk to them I will reinforce the fact that it is on game at a time.

“We are having teams watched and I know a bit about them already, including Leatherhead who we face first. They have always been quite a physical team. We want to try and win each game and a good start is important.

“It has been a big change here and maybe we can use that to our advantage as we are an unknown package. But as pre-season goes I am narrowing down what I want and that is going OK. I believe in this group.

“I want to bring in several strikers in the coming days and then we will be close to where I want us to be.”

Stuart is holding a Q&A session on Monday (July 25) at the club’s full trust meeting, which will run from 7.30pm to 8.30pm.

The meeting will be at The White Hart, on Kings Walk, in Grays.

Fixtures: AUGUST: 13 Leatherhead (A), 17 AFC Sudbury (H), 20 Bognor Regis Town (H), 23 Leiston (A), 27 Worthing (A), 29 Staines Town (H) SEPTEMBER: 3 FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round, 10 Merstham (A), 18 Harlow Town (H), 20 Needham Market (A), 24 Burgess Hill Town (H), 28 Lowestoft Town (H) OCTOBER: 2 Kingstonian (A), 8 Tonbridge Angels (H), 11 AFC Sudbury (A), 15 Hendon (A), 19 Leiston (H), 22 Leatherhead (H) 29 Wingate & Finchley FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round (H) NOVEMBER: 5 Billericay Town (A), 12 Harrow Borough (H), 19 Met Police (A), 22 Lowestoft Town (A), 26 Kingstonian (H), 30 Needham Market (H) DECEMBER: 3 Burgess Hill Town (A), 10 Canvey Island (H), 17 Havant & Waterlooville (A), 26 Dulwich Hamlet (H), 31 Folkestone Invicta (A) JANUARY: 2 Staines Town (A), 7 Worthing (H), 14 Wingate & Finchley (H), 21 Enfield Town (A), 28 Bognor Regis Town (A) FEBRUARY: 4 Hendon (H), 11 Tonbridge Angels (A), 18 Billericay Town (H), 25 Harrow Borough (A) MARCH: 4 Met Police (H), 11 Canvey Island (A), 18 Havant & Waterlooville (H), 25 Enfield Town (H) APRIL: 1 Wingate & Finchley (A), 8 Harlow Town (A), 15 Merstham (H), 17 Dulwich Hamlet (A), 22 Folkestone Invicta (H)