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Championship fixtures: TV schedule stars Leeds, Derby, Luton, Middlesbrough
THE CHAMPIONSHIP will open with a handful of matches selected for TV on the opening weekend of the 2019/20 season. Find out who’s playing and when.
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Huddersfield, who were relegated to the Championship alongside Fulham and Cardiff last season, will begin their second-tier campaign on live television.
The Terriers are the only pick of the relegated trio to feature on television on the opening weekend, which will also see West Brom travel to Nottingham Forest for a slightly later Saturday kick-off.
Leeds, perhaps unsurprisingly, are also part of the schedule.
The play-off semi-finalists were shown live on TV 22 times last season, and this time they start at Bristol City on Sunday.
The first Championship fixture of the season will be newcomers Luton’s home match against Middlesbrough.
Both sides have an unpredictable season to look forward to, as the Hatters attempt to make their mark and Boro begin life under rookie boss Jonathan Woodgate.
Town won League One last season while Boro failed to make the Championship play-offs after a frustrating season under departed manager Tony Pulis.
Luton’s new manager, Graeme Jones, will also be making his managerial bow in the first fixture.
Jones coached at Boro’s academy for four years before moving on to Hamilton Academical, Swansea, Wigan, Everton and Belgium.
He said: “I started my coaching career there in 2003 and have really fond memories of the club.
“My wife Debbie is from the area as well, from Stockton-on-Tees, so I think we’ll be having lots of requests for tickets.
“But the most important thing for us is it’s a home game under the floodlights at Kenilworth Road.”
Boro goalkeeping coach Danny Coyne said Woodgate’s burgeoning tenure made for “an exciting time.”
He said: "He's got a real clear idea of what he wants and how he wants to go about it - standards, the way he wants to deal with players and working with them to improve them.
"He's got a passion and a desire to succeed in whatever he's doing. It's very infectious.
"He had me hooked straight away and I can't wait to get started now.”
Sky Sports opening weekend Championship fixtures
Luton Town vs Middlesbrough, Friday August 2, 7.45pm
Nottingham Forest vs West Brom, Saturday August 3, 5.30pm
Bristol City vs Leeds, Sunday August 4, 4.30pm
Huddersfield vs Derby, Monday August 5, 7.45pm
The ensuing Sky Sports fixtures for August and beyond will be decided at a later date, the broadcaster said.