SUNDERLAND’S fixture list for the 2024-25 season was released this morning, with supporters now able to plan their schedule for the next year.
What were the standout features of the fixture calendar – and what might fans have missed?
A LUNCHTIME START
As a result of Sky’s new television deal with the EFL, all the Championship fixtures on the first weekend of the season will be broadcast in some form.
Sky have selected specific matches for slots on Friday evening, Sunday afternoon and Monday night over the opening weekend, but the rest of the games will be played at 12.30pm on Saturday, August 10.
READ MORE: Nine reasons to subscribe to We Are Sunderland for just £1
Sunderland’s opening match falls into that slot, meaning Sunderland fans face either a Friday night away or an extremely early start to get to South Wales.
The game will be televised by Sky via their Sky Sports + service, which is similar to the red-button service that was used to televise midweek matches last season.
LONG EARLY TRIPS
Sunderland’s travelling supporters had better get ready to put in some miles as soon as the season begins.
Not only have the Black Cats been handed an opening-day trip to Cardiff, the next three away journeys are also three of the longest of the season.
Sunderland head to Portsmouth on August 31, travel to Plymouth on September 14 and then make the trek to Watford on September 28.
That means if they’re going to be making round trips from Sunderland to watch each of the club’s opening four away games, Sunderland fans will have to travel a combined total of 2,619 miles.
LACK OF MIDWEEK GAMES
There will be Carabao Cup games to slot in and flesh out the fixture list, with the draw for the first round of the competition taking place tomorrow morning.
However, in terms of league matches, Sunderland are only due to play five midweek matches before Christmas.
The first of those games does not come until the start of October, which is somewhat unusual, with the second seeing Sunderland head to Luton on a Wednesday evening. Clearly, that could be something of a logistical challenge for fans.
There aren’t too many midweek league games scheduled for the second half of the season either, although that could change as matches get shuffled around.
FEBRUARY LOOKS THE TOUGHEST MONTH
In terms of their anticipated difficulty, Sunderland’s fixtures look to be reasonably well spread. It’s always difficult making predictions for a league as competitive and volatile as the Championship, but at this stage, February looks to be the Black Cats’ toughest month.
It begins with a trip to the Riverside to face Middlesbrough in the Tees-Wear derby, and continues with back-to-back home matches against Watford and Luton, two teams who will expect to be in the promotion mix.
A trip to Elland Road to take on Leeds United on February 15 is likely to be a highly-charged occasion, before February ends with a home game against Hull, another side who will expect to be challenging towards the top of the table.
EASTER GAMES COME VERY LATE
Unlike this year, when Easter fell in late March, next year’s Easter holiday is just about as late in the calendar as it can possibly be.
Easter Sunday does not fall until April 20, meaning Sunderland’s two Easter matches are scheduled for Friday, April 18 (Bristol City away) and Monday, April 21 (Blackburn home).
Those matches could be absolutely pivotal as once they have been played, Sunderland only have another two fixtures before the end of the season.
The Black Cats’ final away game takes them to the Kassam Stadium to face Oxford United on April 26, before the season ends with a home match against QPR on May 3.
Read the rules here