The fiercely-contested Jewson League soccer derby between Harwich and Clacton has been controversially switched from its traditional Christmas and Easter slots.

Since the Boxing Day programme was reintroduced at the start of the decade, the game has nearly always taken place on those dates - but not this year.

Instead Harwich will clash with Halstead and Clacton play Maldon, leaving the clubs angry and disappointed.

Clacton vice chairman Colin Harris said: "To me it seems a bit stupid to take away a game that's been going for years and give us one 32 miles away. We get bigger crowds if the games are on Boxing Day and Easter Monday."

Those sentiments were echoed by Harwich chairman Graham Firth.

"It will affect the gate probably. Halstead is a little bit further, but I suppose we've got to play the game sometime."

League fixture secretary Graham Chell explained the decision: "We look at the overall mileage of clubs. Clacton went down and now they're back, but the clubs keep moaning if the Boxing Day games change from year to year.

Harwich and Clacton will instead play their derbies on the second day of the season, August 17, (at Harwich) and November 2 (at Clacton).

Also on August 17, Halstead will entertain Maldon.

Opening day premier division fixtures: August 14 - Clacton v Bury, Fakenham v Maldon, Gorleston v Halstead, Harwich v Diss, Histon v Felixstowe, Soham v Yarmouth, Stowmarket v Watton, Warboys v Lowestoft, Newmarket v Ipswich W, Woodbridge v Mildenhall, Wroxham v Sudbury.

Division one: Tiptree v Ely.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.