The EFL fixtures for the 2024/25 season have been released this morning and fans of the 72 clubs are already mapping out their groundhopping campaign.
At this point of the year, fans of all 72 clubs are dreaming of promotion but the reality is, only nine will succeed. While nine sets of supporters will be in ecstasy next May, nine other sets will suffer the heartbreak of relegation.
With the EFL fixtures released, let's take a look at the opening weekend for all three leagues.
EFL fixtures released – League by League
Championship fixtures opening weekend
Friday 9 August
- Preston vs Sheffield United
- Blackburn Rovers vs Derby County
Saturday 10 August
- Cardiff City vs Sunderland
- Hull City vs Bristol City
- Leeds United vs Portsmouth
- Middlesbrough vs Swansea City
- Millwall vs Watford
- Oxford United vs Norwich City
- QPR vs West Bromwich Albion
- Stoke City vs Coventry City
Sunday 11 August
- Sheffield Wednesday vs Plymouth Argyle
Monday 12 August
- Luton Town vs Burnley
League One fixtures opening weekend
Friday 9 August
- Barnsley vs Mansfield Town
Saturday 10 August
- Birmingham City vs Reading
- Bristol Rovers vs Northampton Town
- Burton Albion vs Lincoln City
- Crawley Town vs Blackpool
- Exeter City vs Rotherham United
- Leyton Orient vs Bolton Wanderers
- Peterborough United vs Huddersfield Town
- Stevenage vs Shrewsbury Town
- Stockport County vs Cambridge United
- Wigan Athletic vs Charlton Athletic
- Wrexham vs Wycombe Wanderers
League Two fixtures opening weekend
Friday 9 August
- Chesterfield vs Swindon Town
Saturday 10 August
- A.F.C. Wimbledon vs Colchester United
- Barrow vs Crewe Alexandra
- Cheltenham Town vs Newport County
- Doncaster Rovers vs Accrington Stanley
- Fleetwood Town vs Grimsby Town
- Gillingham vs Carlisle United
- Harrogate Town vs Bromley
- Milton Keynes Dons vs Bradford City
- Salford City vs Port Vale
- Tranmere Rovers vs Notts County
- Walsall vs Morecambe
EVERY opening weekend game across the Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two will be live on Sky Sports or Sky Sports+ #EFL | #EFLFixtureReleaseDay
— EFL (@EFL) June 26, 2024
EFL fans react to fixture release
While most EFL fans are currently swept up in the drama of Euro 2024, many of them have donned their club hats today to respond to the fixture release. While some people believe the fixture release is irrelevant as each team will play the same 23 teams twice, the order of these fixtures is important.
Leeds fans were divided about their fixture release. One commented that their ‘first ten games could be brutal' while another took encouragement from their run-in. They said: “The run-in is great, three home out of five and all winnable.”
Plymouth fans, who have been given a Boxing Day trip to Coventry as part of their fixture release, weren't overly impressed. One said: “Try being an Argyle fan: This is the eighth time in a row we've got an away Boxing Day fixture – this time at Coventry. Every away game is a long trip for us.”
Sunderland fans, who are looking forward to going into the new season with a new manager, aren't happy about their first three away games. One said: “Are they taking the p*ss out of the fans again? Look at our first 3 away fixtures.”