Football
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Rafa Benitez's Newcastle to start Championship campaign at Fulham

Rafa Benitez's Newcastle United will begin life in the Championship by playing the new season's curtain-raiser at Fulham following the announcement of fixtures for the rebranded English Football League.

Newcastle, relegated from the Premier League last season, head to Craven Cottage on Friday, Aug. 5 to kick off the new EFL campaign.

Aston Villa, also relegated to the Championship and under the new management of Roberto Di Matteo, face a tough trip to playoff runners-up Sheffield Wednesday on the Sunday, with Norwich City at Blackburn Rovers on the Saturday as the Canaries also return to the second tier.

Elsewhere on Aug. 6, promoted Burton Albion have a short journey to Nottingham Forest, Birmingham City host Cardiff City and new Rotherham United boss Alan Stubbs has a home game with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Other opening-weekend fixtures for new managers see Jaap Stam's Reading at home to Preston, Garry Monk take Leeds United to Queens Park Rangers and Nigel Pearson's Derby County host Brighton & Hove Albion.

Bristol City welcome Wigan Athletic, Huddersfield Town are at home to Brentford and Barnsley go to Ipswich Town.

In League One, promoted champions Northampton Town start at home to Fleetwood Town while fellow new-boys Oxford United, Bristol Rovers and AFC Wimbledon face Chesterfield, Scunthorpe and Walsall respectively.

Two new managers will meet at the Macron Stadium as Phil Parkinson's Bolton Wanderers host Chris Wilder's Sheffield United and Stuart McCall begins life back at Bradford City against Port Vale, who also have a new boss in the shape of Bruno Ribeiro.

Bury face Charlton Athletic, Rochdale host Peterborough United, Millwall play Oldham Athletic, Gillingham to go Southend United, Swindon Town are at home to Coventry City and Shrewsbury Town meet MK Dons at the Greenhous Meadow.

Cheltenham Town start life back in the Football League with a clash at home to Leyton Orient while fellow League Two newcomers Grimsby host Morecambe.

Blackpool will hope this is the season where their descent through the leagues stops and they start against Exeter City with Doncaster Rovers heading to Accrington Stanley and Stevenage hosting Crewe Alexandra.

Yeovil Town are at home to Notts County, Plymouth Argyle face Luton Town and Hartlepool United welcome Colchester United while Carlisle United take on the 350-mile trip to Portsmouth. The opening day is completed by Newport County against Mansfield Town, Crawley Town against Wycombe Wanderers and Cambridge United against Barnet.

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