OPENING DAY

These are the games played on every opening day of the 124 official league seasons so far.
(Note: This does not include opening games in the two War-time leagues of 1914-18 and 1939-45)

Opening day record:
Overall Home Away
Game P W D L F A P W D L F A P W D L F A
Opening Day12447344317617262311813104696216163072103


Games on opening day since...
Since Date Games Time
Last gameAug 17, 2025011 months, 30 days
Last winAug 17, 2025011 months, 30 days
Last drawAug 17, 202411 year, 11 months, 30 days
Last lossAug 12, 202323 years, 4 days
ScoredAug 17, 2025011 months, 30 days
Did not scoreAug 06, 202234 years, 10 days
Clean sheetAug 04, 201789 years, 12 days
We scored an own goalAug 16, 19755051 years, 0 days
Opponent scored an own goalAug 17, 19913434 years, 11 months, 30 days
Scored penaltyAug 07, 19992627 years, 9 days
Conceded penaltyAug 17, 2025011 months, 30 days
Saved penaltyAug 12, 19725354 years, 4 days
Scored hat-trickAug 17, 19962929 years, 11 months, 30 days
Conceded hat-trickAug 19, 19953030 years, 11 months, 28 days
Red cardAug 08, 20091617 years, 8 days


Opponents, ordered by how many times we've played them
Surprisingly, we've played Everton, Sheffield United and Wolves six times each on opening day. Here's the full list of opening day opponents:

Ordered by Most Games
Games Opponent P W D L F A
6Everton62221111
Sheffield United631298
Wolverhampton Wanderers62041616
5Liverpool530288
4Burnley411247
Ipswich Town421133
Newcastle United412175
Preston North End440082
3Arsenal300326
Barnsley301237
Bristol City312021
Bury321093
Coventry City320162
Luton Town311154
Southampton320165
Sunderland330040
West Bromwich Albion310223
2Aston Villa201112
Birmingham City211054
Blackburn Rovers200213
Blackpool220040
Bournemouth202011
Brentford211042
Brighton and Hove Albion201123
Charlton Athletic210134
Chelsea201124
Grimsby Town201124
Huddersfield Town220031
Leicester Fosse200226
Manchester City201134
Port Vale211032
Portsmouth201102
Queens Park Rangers201113
Reading202000
Stoke City200227
Tottenham Hotspur201113
1Bradford City110010
Burton Albion110043
Crystal Palace100114
Darlington101000
Derby County101011
Fulham101022
Leeds City110021
Leyton Orient110041
Millwall110010
Newport County110020
Norwich City100112
Notts County101011
Plymouth Argyle110020
Rotherham County100102
Rotherham United110021
Sheffield Wednesday100113
Southend United101011
Stoke101022
West Ham United110021
Wigan Athletic101011

Ordered by Opponent Name
Opponent P W D L F A
Arsenal300326
Aston Villa201112
Barnsley301237
Birmingham City211054
Blackburn Rovers200213
Blackpool220040
Bournemouth202011
Bradford City110010
Brentford211042
Brighton and Hove Albion201123
Bristol City312021
Burnley411247
Burton Albion110043
Bury321093
Charlton Athletic210134
Chelsea201124
Coventry City320162
Crystal Palace100114
Darlington101000
Derby County101011
Everton62221111
Fulham101022
Grimsby Town201124
Huddersfield Town220031
Ipswich Town421133
Leeds City110021
Leicester Fosse200226
Leyton Orient110041
Liverpool530288
Luton Town311154
Manchester City201134
Millwall110010
Newcastle United412175
Newport County110020
Norwich City100112
Notts County101011
Plymouth Argyle110020
Port Vale211032
Portsmouth201102
Preston North End440082
Queens Park Rangers201113
Reading202000
Rotherham County100102
Rotherham United110021
Sheffield United631298
Sheffield Wednesday100113
Southampton320165
Southend United101011
Stoke101022
Stoke City200227
Sunderland330040
Tottenham Hotspur201113
West Bromwich Albion310223
West Ham United110021
Wigan Athletic101011
Wolverhampton Wanderers62041616


Full list of opening day games (most recent first):
# Season Game Date Opponent H/A Score Scorers
1252026-27League Tier 1Sat Aug 22, 2026Leeds UnitedH-
1242025-26League Tier 1Sun Aug 17, 2025BrentfordH3-1Wood (6', 45'), Ndoye (42')
1232024-25League Tier 1Sat Aug 17, 2024BournemouthH1-1Wood (23')
1222023-24League Tier 1Sat Aug 12, 2023ArsenalA1-2Awoniyi (82')
1212022-23League Tier 1Sat Aug 06, 2022Newcastle UnitedA0-2
1202021-22League Tier 2Sun Aug 08, 2021Coventry CityA1-2Taylor (36')
1192020-21League Tier 2Sat Sep 12, 2020Queens Park RangersA0-2
1182019-20League Tier 2Sat Aug 03, 2019West Bromwich AlbionH1-2Cash (9')
1172018-19League Tier 2Sat Aug 04, 2018Bristol CityA1-1Murphy (46')
1162017-18League Tier 2Fri Aug 04, 2017MillwallH1-0McKay (41')
1152016-17League Tier 2Sat Aug 06, 2016Burton AlbionH4-3Assombalonga (23', 77'), Lam (45'), Burke (49')
1142015-16League Tier 2Fri Aug 07, 2015Brighton and Hove AlbionA0-1
1132014-15League Tier 2Sat Aug 09, 2014BlackpoolH2-0Antonio (25'), Burke (30')
1122013-14League Tier 2Sat Aug 03, 2013Huddersfield TownH1-0Lansbury (53')
1112012-13League Tier 2Sat Aug 18, 2012Bristol CityH1-0Guedioura (71')
1102011-12League Tier 2Sat Aug 06, 2011BarnsleyH0-0
1092010-11League Tier 2Sat Aug 07, 2010BurnleyA0-1
1082009-10League Tier 2Sat Aug 08, 2009ReadingA0-0
1072008-09League Tier 2Sun Aug 10, 2008ReadingH0-0
1062007-08League Tier 3Sat Aug 11, 2007BournemouthH0-0
1052006-07League Tier 3Sat Aug 05, 2006Bradford CityH1-0Bennett (10')
1042005-06League Tier 3Sat Aug 06, 2005Huddersfield TownH2-1Dobie (45'), Johnson (87')
1032004-05League Tier 2Sat Aug 07, 2004Wigan AthleticA1-1Taylor (55')
1022003-04League Tier 2Sat Aug 09, 2003SunderlandH2-0Harewood (19'), Louis-Jean (41')
1012002-03League Tier 2Sat Aug 10, 2002PortsmouthA0-2
1002001-02League Tier 2Sat Aug 11, 2001Sheffield UnitedH1-1Harewood (20')
992000-01League Tier 2Sat Aug 12, 2000West Bromwich AlbionH1-0Hjelde (78')
981999-00League Tier 2Sat Aug 07, 1999Ipswich TownA1-3Bart-Williams (76' pen)
971998-99League Tier 1Mon Aug 17, 1998ArsenalA1-2Thomas (78')
961997-98League Tier 2Sat Aug 09, 1997Port ValeA1-0Campbell (39')
951996-97League Tier 1Sat Aug 17, 1996Coventry CityA3-0Campbell (13', 36', 47')
941995-96League Tier 1Sat Aug 19, 1995SouthamptonA4-3Cooper (8'), Woan (36'), Roy (42', 79')
931994-95League Tier 1Sat Aug 20, 1994Ipswich TownA1-0Roy (40')
921993-94League Tier 2Sun Aug 15, 1993Southend UnitedA1-1Pearce (22' pen)
911992-93League Tier 1Sun Aug 16, 1992LiverpoolH1-0Sheringham (29')
901991-92League Tier 1Sat Aug 17, 1991EvertonH2-1Clough (60'), Jemson (87')
891990-91League Tier 1Sat Aug 25, 1990Queens Park RangersH1-1Jemson (50' pen)
881989-90League Tier 1Sat Aug 19, 1989Aston VillaH1-1Parker (59')
871988-89League Tier 1Sat Aug 27, 1988Norwich CityA1-2Chettle (66')
861987-88League Tier 1Sat Aug 15, 1987Charlton AthleticA2-1Glover (59'), Clough (67')
851986-87League Tier 1Sat Aug 23, 1986EvertonA0-2
841985-86League Tier 1Sat Aug 17, 1985Luton TownA1-1Webb (53')
831984-85League Tier 1Sat Aug 25, 1984Sheffield WednesdayA1-3Davenport (37')
821983-84League Tier 1Sat Aug 27, 1983SouthamptonH0-1
811982-83League Tier 1Sat Aug 28, 1982West Ham UnitedA2-1Walsh (11'), Robertson (79' pen)
801981-82League Tier 1Sat Aug 29, 1981SouthamptonH2-1Francis (25', 27')
791980-81League Tier 1Sat Aug 16, 1980Tottenham HotspurA0-2
781979-80League Tier 1Sat Aug 18, 1979Ipswich TownA1-0Woodcock (46')
771978-79League Tier 1Sat Aug 19, 1978Tottenham HotspurH1-1O'Neill (12')
761977-78League Tier 1Sat Aug 20, 1977EvertonA3-1Withe (33'), Robertson (38'), O'Neill (77')
751976-77League Tier 2Sat Aug 21, 1976FulhamA2-2Curran (23'), O'Hare (63')
741975-76League Tier 2Sat Aug 16, 1975Plymouth ArgyleH2-0Mick Horswill (31' OG), O'Hare (85')
731974-75League Tier 2Sat Aug 17, 1974Bristol CityH0-0
721973-74League Tier 2Sat Aug 25, 1973Luton TownH4-0Jackson (11', 37' pen), Martin (48'), McKenzie (65')
711972-73League Tier 2Sat Aug 12, 1972PortsmouthH0-0
701971-72League Tier 1Sat Aug 14, 1971LiverpoolA1-3Storey-Moore (38' pen)
691970-71League Tier 1Sat Aug 15, 1970Coventry CityH2-0Cormack (16'), Storey-Moore (30')
681969-70League Tier 1Sat Aug 09, 1969Ipswich TownA0-0
671968-69League Tier 1Sat Aug 10, 1968BurnleyH2-2Baxter (60'), Hennessey (73')
661967-68League Tier 1Sat Aug 19, 1967Sheffield UnitedA3-1Wignall (38'), Storey-Moore (78'), Baker (87')
651966-67League Tier 1Sat Aug 20, 1966Stoke CityH1-2Baker (73')
641965-66League Tier 1Sat Aug 21, 1965Newcastle UnitedA2-2Wignall (36'), Addison (48')
631964-65League Tier 1Sat Aug 22, 1964Birmingham CityH4-3Barnwell (16'), Addison (69', 84'), Hinton (73')
621963-64League Tier 1Sat Aug 24, 1963Aston VillaH0-1
611962-63League Tier 1Sat Aug 18, 1962Sheffield UnitedH2-1Palmer (62' pen), Vowden (78')
601961-62League Tier 1Sat Aug 19, 1961ChelseaA2-2Vowden (26'), McKinlay (84')
591960-61League Tier 1Sat Aug 20, 1960Manchester CityH2-2Booth (27'), Julians (70')
581959-60League Tier 1Sat Aug 22, 1959Manchester CityA1-2Iley (33')
571958-59League Tier 1Sat Aug 23, 1958Wolverhampton WanderersA1-5Dwight (88')
561957-58League Tier 1Sat Aug 24, 1957Preston North EndH2-1Barrett (2'), Gray (28')
551956-57League Tier 2Sat Aug 18, 1956Leyton OrientA4-1Lishman (6'), Barrett (49' pen, 60'), Wilson (89')
541955-56League Tier 2Sat Aug 20, 1955LiverpoolH1-3Higham (43')
531954-55League Tier 2Sat Aug 21, 1954Luton TownA0-3
521953-54League Tier 2Wed Aug 19, 1953EvertonH3-3Capel (16', 40'), Collindridge (85')
511952-53League Tier 2Sat Aug 23, 1952Blackburn RoversH1-2Scott (20')
501951-52League Tier 2Sat Aug 18, 1951Rotherham UnitedA2-1Johnson (32', 80')
491950-51League Tier 3Sat Aug 19, 1950Newport CountyA2-0Collindridge (17'), Johnson (22')
481949-50League Tier 3Sat Aug 20, 1949Brighton and Hove AlbionA2-2Willard (10' OG), Ardron (25')
471948-49League Tier 2Sat Aug 21, 1948West Bromwich AlbionH0-1
461947-48League Tier 2Sat Aug 23, 1947BuryH2-1Lee (36'), Johnston (46')
451946-47League Tier 2Sat Aug 31, 1946BarnsleyA2-3Brown (65'), O'Donnell (84')
1945-46World War II
1944-45World War II
1943-44World War II
1942-43World War II
1941-42World War II
1940-41World War II
441939-40League Tier 2Sat Aug 26, 1939BarnsleyA1-4Perry (80')
431938-39League Tier 2Sat Aug 27, 1938Sheffield UnitedH0-2
421937-38League Tier 2Sat Aug 28, 1937Sheffield UnitedA1-2Burgin (63')
411936-37League Tier 2Sat Aug 29, 1936BurnleyA0-3
401935-36League Tier 2Sat Aug 31, 1935BuryH2-2Race (1'), Peacock (28')
391934-35League Tier 2Sat Aug 25, 1934Newcastle UnitedH5-1Peacock (26'), Race (50'), Masters (72'), Burditt (77', 79')
381933-34League Tier 2Sat Aug 26, 1933BrentfordH1-1Dickinson (77')
371932-33League Tier 2Sat Aug 27, 1932Grimsby TownA1-1Dickinson (52')
361931-32League Tier 2Sat Aug 29, 1931Charlton AthleticA1-3Dickinson (78')
351930-31League Tier 2Sat Aug 30, 1930Wolverhampton WanderersH3-4Dickinson (12'), Dent (31', 58')
341929-30League Tier 2Sat Aug 31, 1929ChelseaA0-2
331928-29League Tier 2Sat Aug 25, 1928Stoke CityH1-5Burton (15')
321927-28League Tier 2Sat Aug 27, 1927Port ValeA2-2Wadsworth (14'), Stocks (59')
311926-27League Tier 2Sat Aug 28, 1926BlackpoolH2-0Burton (61', 76')
301925-26League Tier 2Sat Aug 29, 1925DarlingtonA0-0
291924-25League Tier 1Sat Aug 30, 1924ArsenalH0-2
281923-24League Tier 1Sat Aug 25, 1923EvertonA1-2Spaven (53')
271922-23League Tier 1Sat Aug 26, 1922SunderlandH1-0Spaven (28')
261921-22League Tier 2Sat Aug 27, 1921Crystal PalaceA1-4Tinsley (31')
251920-21League Tier 2Sat Aug 28, 1920StokeH2-2Higgins (77'), Spaven (83')
241919-20League Tier 2Sat Aug 30, 1919Rotherham CountyA0-2
1918-19World War I
1917-18World War I
1916-17World War I
1915-16World War I
231914-15League Tier 2Wed Sep 02, 1914Birmingham CityH1-1Coleman (20')
221913-14League Tier 2Wed Sep 03, 1913Leicester FosseH1-3Firth (20')
211912-13League Tier 2Sat Sep 07, 1912Leicester FosseA1-3Sam Currie (62' OG)
201911-12League Tier 2Sat Sep 02, 1911Leeds CityH2-1Morris (15', 42')
191910-11League Tier 1Thu Sep 01, 1910Preston North EndA2-0Hooper (20'), Ford (87')
181909-10League Tier 1Wed Sep 01, 1909Preston North EndA1-0Morris (80')
171908-09League Tier 1Sat Sep 05, 1908Sheffield UnitedA2-1Marrison (25'), West (50')
161907-08League Tier 1Mon Sep 02, 1907LiverpoolH3-1Hughes (42'), Green (80'), West (88')
151906-07League Tier 2Sat Sep 01, 1906Grimsby TownA1-3Morris (30')
141905-06League Tier 1Sat Sep 02, 1905Wolverhampton WanderersH3-1Shearman (?, ?), Morris (35')
131904-05League Tier 1Sat Sep 03, 1904Wolverhampton WanderersA2-3Shearman (?, ?)
121903-04League Tier 1Sat Sep 05, 1903LiverpoolH2-1Morris (8'), Spouncer (37')
111902-03League Tier 1Mon Sep 01, 1902SunderlandA1-0Morris (80')
101901-02League Tier 1Mon Sep 02, 1901Wolverhampton WanderersA0-2
91900-01League Tier 1Sat Sep 01, 1900Newcastle UnitedA0-0
81899-00League Tier 1Sat Sep 02, 1899Preston North EndH3-1Morris (?), Calvey (?), Beveridge (?)
71898-99League Tier 1Sat Sep 03, 1898Blackburn RoversH0-1
61897-98League Tier 1Sat Sep 04, 1897Notts CountyH1-1Capes (62')
51896-97League Tier 1Sat Sep 05, 1896Derby CountyA1-1Richards (51')
41895-96League Tier 1Thu Sep 05, 1895BuryH5-0Carnelly (12'), Rose (62', 87'), McInnes (65', 70')
31894-95League Tier 1Sat Sep 01, 1894BurnleyH2-1Rose (12', 14')
21893-94League Tier 1Sat Sep 02, 1893Wolverhampton WanderersH7-1Collins (2', 52', 61', 80'), Shaw (20'), McCallum (70', 75')
11892-93League Tier 1Sat Sep 03, 1892EvertonA2-2Pike (11'), Higgins (88')
1891-92Football Alliance
1890-91Football Alliance
1889-90Football Alliance
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