Saturday 12th September sees the start of the Premier League and EFL season, but there still has been no guidance about supporters coming into grounds for Step One and Two clubs. Grassroots football are starting to allow 15% rising to 30% of their stadium’s capacity from this weekend, but the plan going forward for higher leagues is still shrouded in mystery. Fans will be desperate to get back to the grounds now the fixtures have been released, with an interesting year in League One ahead for all teams.

  • Where will the new boys be heading for their first game?

All clubs coming down into League One this season face away trips on the opening day of the season, as Hull City, Charlton Athletic and Wigan Athletic will play Gillingham, newly promoted Crewe Alexandra and Ipswich Town respectively. Other new boys Swindon Town and Northampton Town play Rochdale and AFC Wimbledon respectively.

Elsewhere on the opening day, clubs will be completing long journeys to play their fixtures. Peterborough travel to Accrington Stanley, MK Dons travel north to play Doncaster Rovers and Blackpool face the long trip to play new boys Plymouth Argyle.

Clubs in League One will see their season start before September 12th, with the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy opening games the week prior to the first league game. This gives clubs just over two weeks to get their squads in shape for the gruelling season ahead. 

  • Local derbies aplenty 

One derby that will be keenly contested and watched will be the “Wimbledon” Derby. MK Dons host AFC Wimbledon on Saturday 31st October, with the reverse fixture taking place three months later at the end of January. 

Newcomers Hull City have a couple of local derbies to look forward to that haven’t taken place for a number of years in the league - Lincoln City is one of those, playing at the KCOM Stadium at the end of December and at Sincil Bank at the end of April. Doncaster Rovers are the other short journey, with the first fixture between the two at the KCOM at the start of December and the reverse at the Keepmoat in February. 

Wigan Athletic, meanwhile, have plenty of short trips to play local rivals. Their first two games in the EFL Cup and Trophy see them play Fleetwood Town and Liverpool U23’s, before playing Crewe in October, Blackpool in November before three local games in a row in December when they play Accrington, Rochdale and Fleetwood within the space of two weeks. 

  • Final games of the season - where will the drama be?

The last game of the season will take place on Saturday, May 8th and sees some interesting games taking place. Promotion favourites Portsmouth and Sunderland are both at home - with Pompey playing Accrington and the Black Cats at home to Northampton. Oxford United are also early favourites to do well this season, and they will play Burton Albion in the final fixture. Hull City and Charlton - both relegated last season and looking to bounce straight back up - face each other at The Valley in what is sure to be a dramatic end to a hectic season. 

  • Who are the early favourites in League One?

Portsmouth and Sunderland lead the way with the bookmakers to win the league, with both being priced 15/2 to go up as Champions. Peterborough and Oxford United are second favourites at 9/1, before Charlton Athletic come in at 10/1 and Ipswich Town at 12/1. New boys Hull City are 14/1 to make an immediate return to the Championship by finishing top of the league. 

The odds are much shorter for promotion, however. Portsmouth and Sunderland are both 23/10 to go up, with Peterborough second favourites at 11/4. Oxford United are 3/1 to be promoted, and Hull City as well as Ipswich Town are 4/1 to go up at the end of the season.