KELTY HEARTS will kick off the defence of their Lowland League title on home turf as West Fife clubs were handed their new season fixtures.

Barry Ferguson's side will open at home to Edinburgh University on October 10.

The East of Scotland Football Association released the card for the East of Scotland Football League Premier Division, featuring Crossgates Primrose and Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts, and First Division Conference A and Conference B, in which Rosyth and Oakley United will play respectively.

Their opening fixtures will also be played on October 10 and Alan Campbell's Primrose have been handed a tough trip to Linlithgow Rose, while the Swifts will travel to Tynecastle, who finished ahead of them as last season's Conference B winners.

Rosyth, who quit junior football last season to move into the senior pyramid for the first time, will host Kirkcaldy & Dysart in a Fife derby at the Fleet Grounds on the opening day of their Conference A campaign, while Stewart Kenny's Oakley also have a Kingdom confrontation on day one, at home to Lochgelly Albert.

Following their opener, Kelty will travel to Civil Service Strollers on October 17, while other stand-out matches include the visit of ex-Dunfermline skipper Paul Paton's East Kilbride on November 7; a festive, home-and-away double-header with last season's nearest challengers, Bonnyrigg Rose, on Boxing Day and New Year's Day; and the visit of Berwick Rangers on April 17 that will conclude the season.

In the East of Scotland Premier, Inverkeithing will go to Linlithgow for their fourth match on October 24, and Hill of Beath Hawthorn on November 7, and face away and home ties with Dundonald Bluebell on Boxing Day and January 2.

Both of their matches with Crossgates, whose first home game will be against Tranent on October 13, have yet to be scheduled.

The Humbug Park outfit will have home advantage for the first game in 2021, against local rivals Hill of Beath, having travelled to Keirs Park on Boxing Day.

Rosyth's second match will also be at home, to Kennoway Star Hearts, on October 13, and, with their final match of the year coming at Edinburgh United on December 19, they will open 2021 at Dunipace.

Oakley will follow their game with Lochgelly with a trip to Stirling University EOS on October 17, and will play home to both Peebles Rovers and Newburgh either side of the New Year.