The 2016/17 fixtures for the Football League clubs have today been announced
The 2016/17 fixtures for all the Football League clubs have today been announced.
It’s been hotly anticipated due to the relegation of Newcastle, Aston Villa and Norwich and now it has been revealed how they will each get their first season back in the Championship underway.
Newcastle will actually open the new football season on Friday 5th August with an away trip to Fulham’s Craven Cottage, which certainly won’t be easy. As for Aston Villa, they too will be away on the opening weekend. They’ll be taking on Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday 7th August.
Finally, Norwich will open their campaign with a trip to Ewood Park on Saturday 6th August.
As for the newly-promoted teams, it doesn’t look like an easy start for them either. Wigan – who stormed to the League 1 title last year – will face Bristol City away, while second-placed Burton will play Nottingham Forest away.
Barnsley – who won the play-offs – will face Ipswich away from home.
We shouldn’t forget League 1 and League 2 either though – there are several notable opening day fixtures in those leagues too.
Bolton face a tie against Sheffield United at home to kick-off their season, while MK Dons face Shrewsbury away from home. Charlton – who also dropped down to League 1 – will face Bury away on the opening day. Walsall – who fell into the play-offs last season – will face AFC Wimbledon, who managed to clinch the League 2 play-offs to get promotion.
Down in League 2, Blackpool – who have suffered another relegation – will play Exeter at home on the opening day. Accrington Stanley will play Doncaster at home, newly-relegated Colchester play away to Hartlepool and Portsmouth will open their campaign against Carlisle, to name just four intriguing opening day fixtures from that league.
Here are the opening day fixtures in full for the Championship, League 1 and League 2.
Championship Opening Weekend Fixtures (All game played on Saturday 6th August unless stated)
Fulham vs Newcastle (Friday 5th August)
Birmingham v Cardiff
Blackburn v Norwich
Bristol City v Wigan
Derby v Brighton
Huddersfield v Brentford
Ipswich v Barnsley
Nottm Forest v Burton
Reading v Preston
Rotherham v Wolves
QPR vs Leeds (Sunday 7th)
Sheffield Wednesday vs Aston Villa (Sunday 7th)
League 1 Opening Day Fixtures
Bolton v Sheff Utd
Bradford v Port Vale
Bury v Charlton
Millwall v Oldham
Northampton v Fleetwood
Oxford Utd v Chesterfield
Rochdale v Peterborough
Scunthorpe v Bristol Rovers
Shrewsbury v MK Dons
Southend v Gillingham
Swindon v Coventry
Walsall v Wimbledon
League 2 Opening Day Fixtures
Accrington v Doncaster
Blackpool v Exeter
Cambridge v Barnet
Cheltenham v Leyton Orient
Crawley v Wycombe
Grimsby v Morecambe
Hartlepool v Colchester
Newport v Mansfield
Plymouth v Luton
Portsmouth v Carlisle
Stevenage v Crewe
Yeovil v Notts County
