Football League announce 2017-18 season fixture

The first weekend of the English Football League were announced earlier today.

The Football League have this morning announced the much awaited fixtures for the new 2017-18 season, for The Championship and Leagues One and Two.

In the Championship with the exception of Sunderland v Derby County, that will be played on Friday, August 4th, the first matches will be played on Saturday August 5th. As mentioned, Sunderland new arrivals to the Championship following their relegation from the Premiership, will host Derby County in what should be a most entertaining affair. The north east side are presently without a manager following the departure of David Moyes. Derby County with also a relatively new manager in Gary Rowett, who was installed in March, 2017.

Other relegated sides Hull City and Middlesbrough, both have to travel for their first game of the new campaign. Hull will travel to Villa Park whilst Middlesbrough also visit the West Midlands to Molyneux, to face Wolverhampton Wanderers. The promoted sides from League One, Sheffield United, Bolton Wanderers and Millwall all have difficult games to begin their season. Sheffield United will entertain Brentford, whilst Bolton Wanderers also play at home to Leeds United. Millwall the only of the three sides to travel will be heading eastwards to Carrow Road and a meeting with the Canaries, Norwich City.

League One will be seeing two sides who are better known for the Premiership membership over recent years in Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic who were relegated along with Rotherham United from the Championship. Blackburn who will, by many, be expected to win promotion this coming season travel south to Roots Hall and Southend United, a game the Lancashire side should be favourites to take away all three points. Wigan Athletic travel to Milton Keynes to face the Dons, a game that will not be one they will be relishing. Fleetwood will be Rotherham’s port of call, another game that one would not like to call either way.

The four clubs that gained promotion from League Two, will all be clubs to watch this coming season.  For myself with the squads they have all capable of fighting for back to back promotions.

Portsmouth have a great opportunity to pick up the three points in their opener at home to Rochdale. Whereas, Plymouth Argyle will have a more difficult time maybe, at London Road where they have to travel to take on Peterborough United. Doncaster Rovers will be entertaining Gillingham, which again could be a stern test for the side that gained promotion back to League One at their first attempt. Play off winners Blackpool travel to play off runners up Bradford City which will no doubt be a very entertaining event.

League Two will be a very highly competitive division this coming season with the likes of Mansfield Town who are expected to do well this season, Coventry City, Swindon Town and Luton Town, all with high hopes for the season ahead. Also with the addition of Lincoln City and Forest Green, who will be experiencing their first ever taste of life in the Football League, it certainly will be one to watch, as I predict it will be very tight at the top. The season opens with some very exciting games in prospect. Swindon Town make the long haul to Carlisle, whilst there is a Midlands Derby as Notts County travel the short distance to the Ricoh Stadium to play relegated Coventry City. Chesterfield, also relegated at the end of last season entertain Grimsby Town. Other relegated side Port Vale will make the journey south to Crawley Town, which could be a very tightly fought game. Bookies favourites Mansfield Town travel to Crewe and second favourites for promotion Luton Town open their season’s campaign at Kenilworth Road where they entertain Yeovil Town.

So much to look forward to over the summer weeks for Football League across the country.