The EFL fixture list for the 2022/23 season has been released and fans of Championship, League One and League Two clubs are eager to find out what awaits over the next year.
Here, FFT runs through some of the major talking points from the 2022/23 fixture list.
EFL fixtures 2022/23: Championship schedule
The 2022/23 Championship campaign will run from July 30 to May 29, with big guns Watford handed a tough start as their bid to bounce straight back to the top flight. Among the favourites are usual suspects, Norwich, West Brom and Middlesbrough; the trio hoping the Hornets get off to a sluggish start. See the full Championship fixtures breakdown.
EFL fixtures 2022/23: League One schedule
Kicking off on June 30 and running to June 6, the League One season sees Wayne Rooney's Derby among the favourites to return to the second-tier. They'll have their work cut out, with the likes of Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley also tipped for promotion. See the League One fixtures breakdown.
EFL fixtures 2022/23: League Two schedule
Kicking off on June 30 and running to June 6, the League Two season sees the return of Stockport after an eleven-year absence. Despite their arrival, the Hatters are among the favourites to win the title, alongside Salford, Bradford and Mansfield. See the League Two fixtures breakdown.
EFL fixtures 2022/23: Watford face a tough start to life in the Championship
Watford appear to have the toughest start of all the pre-season promotion contenders, as they follow their opener against the Blades with a trip to West Brom, then a home clash with Burnley on August 13.
All three newly-relegated sides face favourable final-day home games on May 6, with Burnley taking on Cardiff, Norwich facing on Blackpool and Watford playing Stoke at Vicarage Road.
However, two potentially pivotal games in the penultimate round of fixtures on April 29 see Watford travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland, while Norwich take on West Brom at The Hawthorns.
EFL fixtures 2022/23: Vincent Kompany's first game as Burnley boss at Huddersfield
The new Burnely boss, Vincent Kompany, will oversee his first game in charge of the Clarets with a trip to Huddersfield on the opening day of the Championship season. Kompany was announced as the club's new manager at the end of the season, following the sacking of Sean Dyche during the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.
EFL fixtures 2022/23: Wayne Rooney's Derby County face Oxford United in their opening League One clash
Wayne Rooney's Derby County will face Oxford United in their opening game of the League One campaign. The Rams were relegated last season after suffering a 21-point deduction during the season. Despite that initial setback, Rooney's impressive stewardship saw him almost guide the club to safety, only to fall short in the final few games. They will be looking to make a quick start in their bid to return to the second tier.
EFL fixtures 2022/23: Stockport make their EFL return after 11-year absence
Stockport will mark their return to the Football League with a home game against Barrow on the opening Saturday of the season.
The Hatters were last seen in the EFKL a whopping 11 years ago, after being relegated from League Two at the end of the 2010/11 season. Their fans are looking forward to seeing where the new era could take them.
