HUDDERSFIELD Town fans have already crossed four potential opponents off their opening-day list for the 2013-14 Championship season.
That’s because Burnley v Bolton Wanderers and Derby County v Blackburn Rovers are two of the day-one encounters announced yesterday – to tie in with the Football League’s 125th anniversary of their first season.
The rest of the Championship fixtures are out at 9am today with fans eager to find out where they will be from Saturday, August 3, onwards.
Town manager Mark Robins and his squad already know their second match of the season will be the home Capital One Cup clash against last season’s beaten finalists Bradford City – in the first full week of the season.
Town’s first match of last season, of course, was the very first of the Championship campaign – moved to Friday night live TV coverage by Sky, who screened the newly-promoted club’s visit to (eventual champions) Cardiff City.
Relegated former Premiership clubs Wigan Athletic, QPR and Reading are all on Town’s agenda this time, in addition to promoted trio Doncaster Rovers, Bournemouth and Yeovil.
The four Championship clubs who already know their August 3 commitments are all founder members of the Football League – and Turf Moor is one of only three grounds from the 1888-89 season which is still in use.
Another original ground, Deepdale, will host the meeting of founder members Preston North End and Wolverhampton Wanderers in League I.
Also in League I, the world’s oldest Football League club, Notts County, will be the visitors at the world’s oldest professional football ground – Bramall Lane – home of Sheffield United.
In League II, Accrington Stanley visit the League’s newest ground and newest member – Rodney Parade and the re-formed Newport County – while Hartlepool United will visit Rochdale as the two clubs have played each other more times (136 so far) than any other current League members.
Football League chairman Greg Clarke said: “For 125 years, Football League clubs have delivered a compelling spectacle, week after week.
“In the process, attracting a total audience of more than 2.2 billion people and building indelible relationships with their local communities.”
