NEWPORT IoW will make their Dr Martens League Premier Division baptism at Stafford Rangers on Saturday, August 18 complete with a new midfielder in the camp.

Manager Tony Mount has clinched the signature of 22-year-old Mark Preston, a former Gosport Borough youth player, who has spent the last two seasons with Nationwide Conference outfit Hayes.

"Mark's a flair player with masses of ability and I'm really pleased to have got a lad of his age and experience," said Mount, who has quickly discovered the magnetic power of Premier football.

"I've known about Mark for a long time. We tried to sign him a year ago but he wasn't prepared to drop down two divisions," he said.

The Islanders had been hoping to celebrate their top-flight arrival at St George's Park. Instead they must trek to a Stafford side who finished seventh last season.

"We're quite happy to travel but, for the fans' sake, it would have been nice if our first ever Premier Division game had been at home," said Mount.

As it is, the Island faithful will have to wait until Tuesday, August 21 to greet their heroes in the home opener against Welling United.

Havant & Waterlooville are Midland-bound to Tamworth on the first day, followed by a Tuesday visit from newly-promoted Tiverton.

Taffy Richardson's Salisbury kick-off against Ilkeston at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium, while Bashley will relish a home opener against last season's Eastern Division basement club Spalding.

Havant & Waterlooville have signed striker Phil Barnett, a former first-year professional with Portsmouth.

DR MARTENS LEAGUE OPENING WEEK FIXTURES

Saturday, August 18

Premier Division: Bath v Chelmsford, Cambridge v Moor Green, Crawley v Hednesford, Kings Lynn v Newport Cty, Merthyr Tydfil v Kettering, Salisbury v Ilkeston, Stafford Rangers v Newport IoW, Tamworth v Havant & Waterlooville, Tiverton v Folkestone, Welling v Hinckley, Worcester v Weymouth.

Eastern Division: Ashford v Burnham, Banbury v Eastbourne Borough, Bashley v Spalding, Chatham v Rugby, Dartford v Stamford, Fisher v Corby, Grantham v Tonbridge, Hastings v Wisbech, Histon v St Leonards, Rothwell v Dorchester, Sittingbourne v Erith.

Monday, August 20

Premier Division: Chelmsford v Cambridge, Hednesford v Tamworth, Ilkeston v Stafford Rangers, Newport County v Salisbury.

Eastern Division: St Leonards v Chatham.

Tuesday, August 21

Premier Division: Folkestone v Crawley, Havant & Waterlooville v Tiverton, Hinckley v Kings Lynn, Kettering v Worcester, Moor Green v Merthyr Tydfil, Newport IoW v Welling, Weymouth v Bath.

Eastern Division: Burnham v Sittingbourne, Dorchester v Fisher, Eastbourne Borough v Bashley, Erith v Ashford, Rugby v Dartford, Spalding v Rothwell, Stamford v Banbury, Tonbridge v Hastings, Wisbech v Grantham.

Wednesday, August 22

Eastern Division: Corby v Histon.