Tim Waddington is confident Colchester United’s hotly-anticipated Boxing Day showdown with Southend United will attract a sell-out crowd to the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The League One fixtures for the 2015-16 season have been released, with the U’s handed a mouth-watering festive clash with their newly-promoted Essex rivals.

The prospect of Colchester’s first derby with Southend for more than five years has already generated plenty of excitement among U’s fans - despite it being more than six months away.

And U’s general manager Waddington says he is hopeful that the Community Stadium will be packed to capacity, with bragging rights up for grabs once again.

Waddington said: “Our home game against Southend on Boxing Day is a real belter.

“If you look at the kind of crowds we’ve traditionally had on Boxing Day and for the Essex derby, it should be a sell-out.”

The derby match is currently scheduled to kick-off at 3pm - but Waddington admits it may yet be moved on police advice.

“We’ll have to wait and see on that one,” he said.

“I’m sure it’ll be a spicy one and I’d imagine the police might be quite concerned about two lively sets of fans and the bragging rights at stake.”

Colchester will kick-off an eighth successive League One campaign with a home game against Blackpool.

The U’s will host the Tangerines on August 8 and follow that game up with a trip to play Peterborough United at London Road, on August 15.

Tony Humes’ side are back at home on Tuesday, August 18 when they play host to Oldham Athletic.

A long trip to Fleetwood Town (August 22) and a home game against Scunthorpe United (August 29) complete the U’s opening month’s fixtures.

Colchester play their return game against Southend at Roots Hall on February 6 and finish the season with a home fixture against Rochdale, on May 8.

Waddington added: “I think it’s the first time in a long while that I haven’t been left frustrated by the fixture list.

“It’s a cracking first game for us against Blackpool and the last game is at home too.

“Four of our first six league and cup games are at home and we’ll be looking to get off to a good start.”

For all of the latest Colchester United news, see the Daily Gazette.