SOUTHEND United will kick off next season at home to Gillingham.

Blues will also finish the 2016/17 season at Roots Hall, with a match against Bury on April 30.

Phil Brown's side have also been spared any daunting away trips over the festive period, as they have home fixtures on both Boxing Day and New Year's Eve.

AUGUST: 6: Gillingham (H), 13: Port Vale (A), 16: Sheff Utd (A), 20. Bristol Rovers (H), 27. Fleetwood (H)

SEPTEMBER: 3: Bolton (A), 10: Scunthorpe (A), 17: Millwall (H), 24: Northampton (A), 27: Oxford (H)

OCTOBER: 1: Peterborough (H), 8: Rochdale (A), 15: Chesterfield (H), 18: Bradford (A), 22: MK Dons (A), 29: Shrewsbury (H)

NOVEMBER: 12: Bury (A), 19: Bradford (H), 22: Swindon (H), Walsall (A)

DECEMBER: 10: Coventry (H), 17: Oldham (A), 26: AFC Wimbledon (H), 31: Charlton (H).

JANUARY: 2: Swindon (A), 7: Peterborough (A), 14: Rochdale (H), 21: Bolton (H), 28: Fleetwood (A).

FEBRUARY: 4: Scunthorpe (H), 11: Millwall (A), 14: Oxford (A), 18: Northampton (H), 25: Gillingham (A), 28: Sheff Utd (H).

MARCH: 4 Port Vale (H), 11: Bristol Rovers (A), 14: Coventry (A), 18: Walsall (H), 25: AFC Wimbledon (A).

APRIL: 1: Oldham (H), 8: Charlton (A), 15: Chesterfield (A), 17: MK Dons (H), 22: Shrewsbury (A), 30: Bury (H)