Championship season opens with eight Saturday fixtures

The EFL released the Championship opening-weekend schedule on Thursday. Relegated clubs will start the season at home to Blackburn on Friday, 14 August at 8pm, while another relegated side travels to Burnley on Sunday.

Opening weekend schedule The London club begins its first season outside the top flight in 14 years the following Saturday against capital rivals. Southampton open on Sunday after last month’s play-off expulsion.

Promoted sides and other fixtures Promoted Cardiff and Wrexham close the opening round with a Monday derby in the Welsh capital. Beaten play-off finalists begin at home against Lincoln, back in the second tier for the first time in 65 years. That match is one of eight Saturday games, including a lunchtime Lancashire derby.

Two opening-day fixtures all take place on 15 August. A club back in League One a decade after winning the top division starts away at 12.30pm, while another plays its first match under new owners. A newly promoted side begins its first season in the third tier away, and a relegated club opens at home against another newly promoted side.

York returns to the EFL after a 10-year absence with a home game, and promoted Rochdale travels for a 12.30pm kick-off. Relegated Rotherham plays its first fourth-tier match since 2013 away.