Charlton, QPR, Millwall, discover their opening day opponents on return to Championship action

Picture by: Capital Football

Today is the day that most real football fans wait for with the greatest anticipation.

Forget the Premier League. The EFL is the part of the pyramid which really counts for most.

This year's Championship, League One and League Two seasons begin on August 8 - a week before the Premier League gets underway - and that is of particular interest to four clubs in and around the capital.

As it happens, two of them are going to meet on the opening Saturday - with Charlton taking on Watford at The Valley in a thrilling opener for fans to pencil into the diary.

The Addicks - who secured their elevation from League One by beating Leyton Orient in the play-off final at Wembley - are back following a five year absence and the 12.30pm kick-off will pit Nathan Jones against a Watford side once again under new management - the Uruguayan Paulo Pezzolano the current man in charge.

Across town on August 9, QPR will start life under new French boss Julien Stephan with a home game against Preston North End (3pm), while Millwall travel to Norwich City, who have just enlisted Liam Manning as their new manager.

Charlton's first away game the following week is at Bristol City, while QPR travel to Watford on that day. Millwall's first home game is against Middlesbrough, who recently replaced Michael Carrick with Rob Edwards as head coach.

There is a mouth-watering start for AFC Wimbledon, who travel to Luton Town on Friday August 1 for their curtain-raiser following promotion. Their play-off win at Wembley against Walsall has secured them a thrilling batch of games to look forward to in the third tier. Their first league game at Plough Lane will be against Lincoln City - who finished 11th last season.

Leyton Orient have to pick themselves up again after their play-off heartbreak and their first task is to try and get something from Huddersfield Town on Saturday, August 2. Their first Brisbane Road assignment is against Wigan Athletic on August 9.

In League Two, it's a welcome back to National League champions Barnet, who entertain Fleetwood Town on August 2, while Bromley start only their second season in the league with a trip to Shrewsbury Town.

The following weekend, Bromley host Barnet in an very-early season clash between our north and south London teams.