The football season is a never-ending cycle. Just as you begin to get over the drama of the previous campaign, the new season beckons. The EFL fixtures were released Thursday morning which provides a burst of excitement for fans as they can start to pencil in key dates in the football calendar. First home and away game. Last home and away game. Local derbies. Boxing Day and New Years Day games. Lets have an initial look at some potential key matchups.
League Two Champions Leyton Orient received an enticing opening day encounter against Charlton as they will head south of the Thames for a London derby. The following week they welcome promotion hopefuls Pompey to Brisbane Road for their first home game back in League One. It is sure to be a tough start for the O's as they look to cement themselves back in League One as a solid and accomplished outfit under Richie Wellens. They made their first summer signing on Wednesday, which fans felt was long overdue, as 24-year-old central midfielder Max Sanders joins Orient on a two-year deal.
In other opening day matchups, which will take place on Saturday 5 August, newly relegated Reading, who themselves face the possibility of starting yet another season in a points deficit, will begin their campaign against Peterborough, who dramatically lost to Wednesday in the playoff semis in May. The two other teams relegated from the Championship, Wigan and Blackpool, travel to Derby and host Burton respectively.
The two automatic promotion sides from League Two, Northampton Town and Stevenage will face each other in their first game at Sixfields. It is Boro's first season in League One since they finished bottom in 13/14. Meanwhile, Northampton have alternated between League One and Two for much of the last 20 years, having enjoyed a three-year stint in League One between 2006-2009. Their last League One appearance was in the COVID season of 20/21 where they finished 22nd.
Playoff final losers Barnsley host Port Vale in their first game, as they will hope to recreate their success from last season to get over the line and gain promotion. They enter the season as favourites for the league title, with Derby, Bolton and the newly relegated sides amongst the other favourites to go up. But all football fans know it is not a simple task to gain promotion straight back up in any league, as demonstrated by copious teams over the seasons. It is still very early stages and it is a long enduring season with many ups and downs. There will also be favourites who struggle and surprise candidates who are in and around the playoffs.
League Two playoff winners Carlisle will welcome Fleetwood Town to Brunton Park, with their goal being to avoid relegation back down to League Two after a successful campaign last time out.
The rest of the League One opening day fixtures that haven't been mentioned yet are as follows:
Bolton vs Lincoln
Cambridge vs Oxford
Portsmouth vs Bristol Rovers
Shrewsbury vs Cheltenham
Wycombe vs Exeter
With so many teams vying for those precious playoff spots at the end of the year it is likely to be another exciting season in League One.