Championship fixtures 2024/25: Every first round game as Luton and Burnley square off
League One and League Two will also begin on the weekend of 10-11 August as the EFL returns
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Relegated Luton and Burnley will begin their bids for an immediate return to the Premier League when they face each other in their opening Championship fixture on 12 August.
The match at Kenilworth Road will be played on the Monday night, the final Championship fixture of a weekend which begins with a Friday night double-header in which Blackburn host newly promoted Derby and Sheffield United, also relegated from the Premier League, head to Preston.
Promoted Portsmouth begin life in the Championship away to Leeds the following day, with Oxford hosting Norwich – who have appointed Johannes Hoff Thorup to replace David Wagner.
New Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris will begin his tenure away to Cardiff while Hull boss Tim Walter will welcome Bristol City in his first league match in charge.
All of Saturday’s Championship fixtures will kick off at 12.30pm, with every game across the opening weekend in the Championship, League One and League Two being televised on Sky Sports+ under the EFL’s new £935m deal with the broadcaster.
In all, the deal will see a total of 1,059 EFL matches broadcast live over the course of the season, with all final-day fixtures also being televised.
Wrexham will start their push for a third successive promotion with a League One fixture against Wycombe on 10 August, while Birmingham, seeking an immediate return to the Championship under new boss Chris Davies, host Reading.
Huddersfield will head to Peterborough and Rotherham face a long trip to Exeter following relegation to the third tier, while promoted Stockport host Cambridge and Crawley welcome Blackpool.
Mansfield, the other side to come up from League Two, help get the action underway on Friday night with a trip to Barnsley.
In League Two, Bromley’s first taste of life in the EFL will come away to Harrogate on the Saturday, while National League champions Chesterfield host Swindon on Friday night.
All of Saturday’s League One matches will kick off at 5.30pm for television coverage, with League Two in the 3pm slot.
There is one match on Sunday 11 August, when Sheffield Wednesday host Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth in the Championship.
The first South Wales derby takes place on 24 August when Swansea host Cardiff, with the reverse fixture on 18 January.
Burnley, yet to name a replacement for new Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany, will renew their rivalry with Blackburn at Turf Moor on 31 August, and head to Ewood Park on 4 January.
Sheffield United host rivals Wednesday on 9 November in the first Sheffield derby since March 2019, and head to Hillsborough on 15 March.
Those are the sort of fixtures likely to be moved for television coverage, with the EFL and Sky pledging that fans will be given plenty of notice under the terms of their new deal.
All broadcast selections up to the end of September are due to be announced next week, and supporters will know before the start of the season of any changes involving games taking place prior to the FA Cup third round weekend in January.
By 1 November they will know about selections through to the first weekend in March. The notice period for selections will then be four weeks in advance during the run-in.
Championship opening weekend fixtures
- Friday 9 August – 20:00 Blackburn Rovers v Derby County
- Friday 9 August – 20:00 Preston North End v Sheffield United
- Saturday 10 August – 12:30 Cardiff City v Sunderland
- Saturday 10 August – 12:30 Hull City v Bristol City
- Saturday 10 August – 12:30 Leeds United v Portsmouth
- Saturday 10 August – 12:30 Middlesbrough v Swansea City
- Saturday 10 August – 12:30 Millwall v Watford
- Saturday 10 August – 12:30 Oxford United v Norwich City
- Saturday 10 August – 12:30 Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion
- Saturday 10 August – 12:30 Stoke City v Coventry City
- Sunday 11 August – 16:00 Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth Argyle
- Monday 12 August – 20:00 Luton Town v Burnley
League One opening weekend fixtures
- Friday 9 August – 20:00 Barnsley v Mansfield Town
- Saturday 10 August – 17:30 Birmingham City v Reading
- Saturday 10 August – 17:30 Bristol Rovers v Northampton Town
- Saturday 10 August – 17:30 Burton Albion v Lincoln City
- Saturday 10 August – 17:30 Crawley Town v Blackpool
- Saturday 10 August – 17:30 Exeter City v Rotherham United
- Saturday 10 August – 17:30 Leyton Orient v Bolton Wanderers
- Saturday 10 August – 17:30 Peterborough United v Huddersfield Town
- Saturday 10 August – 17:30 Stevenage v Shrewsbury Town
- Saturday 10 August – 17:30 Stockport County v Cambridge United
- Saturday 10 August – 17:30 Wigan Athletic v Charlton Athletic
- Saturday 10 August – 17:30 Wrexham v Wycombe Wanderers
League Two opening weekend fixtures
- Friday 9 August – 20:00 Chesterfield v Swindon Town
- Saturday 10 August – 15:00 AFC Wimbledon v Colchester United
- Saturday 10 August – 15:00 Barrow v Crewe Alexandra
- Saturday 10 August – 15:00 Cheltenham Town v Newport County
- Saturday 10 August – 15:00 Doncaster Rovers v Accrington Stanley
- Saturday 10 August – 15:00 Fleetwood Town v Grimsby Town
- Saturday 10 August – 15:00 Gillingham v Carlisle United
- Saturday 10 August – 15:00 Harrogate Town v Bromley
- Saturday 10 August – 15:00 Milton Keynes Dons v Bradford City
- Saturday 10 August – 15:00 Salford City v Port Vale
- Saturday 10 August – 15:00 Tranmere Rovers v Notts County
- Saturday 10 August –15:00 Walsall v Morecambe
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments