Championship 2016/17 fixtures

The EFL have released the fixtures for the 2016/17 as last season now becomes part of the history books.

It's a 44-day wait (6 August) for the main block of Championship fans to see their team make their season bow, with Premier League giants Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Norwich City making it one of the most competitive promotion fights in recent history.

Roberto Di Matteo's side open their season in new surroundings with a trip to Hillsborough to face play-off heartache sufferers Sheffield Wednesday. Newcastle's first match back in the second tier is set to be televised, as they face a Friday night journey to the capital to face a Fulham team ruing a poor season last time out. While the Canaries also face an away opener, travelling to Ewood Park to hand Owen Coyle a tough first match in charge.

Nigel Clough will take newly-promoted Burton back home to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest, for whom he made over 300 appearances for as a player. Elsewhere among the Championship new boys, Wigan travel to Bristol City in what should be an interesting encounter between two of British football's rising young managers in Lee Johnson and Gary Caldwell. Play-off victors Barnsley also seek to open their account by earning points against Ipswich Town upon their return to the second tier after a two-year absence.

Key dates:

Sat 6 August – start of season

Mon 26 December – Boxing Day match

Sat 31 December – New Year's Eve match

Mon 2 January – First match of 2017

Sun 7 May – Final match of the season

Mon 29 May – Championship Play-off final

Full fixture lists:

Aston Villa – www.avfc.co.uk/Fixture-Listings/First-Team-Fixtures

Barnsley – www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixtures-list/

Birmingham City – www.bcfc.com/fixtures-results/fixtures-list/

Blackburn Rovers – www.rovers.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixtures-list/