Town boss Mick McCarthy is delighted that the Blues will be at home on the opening day of the 2016/17 Championship season when they will face his hometown club Barnsley, where he began his playing career. The Blues' fixtures for the season ahead were announced at 9am this morning.

“It’s great to be at home first and it’s funny how things work out with us playing my hometown club in Barnsley,” McCarthy told the club site.

“I have a lot of affinity with Barnsley but that goes out of the window when we get under way, I just want to win the game.

“It will be a tough start, against a newly-promoted and motivated side, but once the fixtures are released that excitement comes back for everyone.

“I see they’ve just added George Moncur from Colchester, who a few of our players know and that’s just another factor to add to the mix to what should be an exciting opening fixture.”

McCarthy says the game with the Tykes kicks-off an exciting August: “The buzz will be back with everyone, especially the supporters.

“With Norwich at Portman Road in just the fourth game, it’s shaping up to be a good first month and I’m sure the fans have looked out for that fixture straight away.

“It is pleasing to be at home at Christmas too, with Fulham visiting us on Boxing Day. The festive period has been fairly kind to us in terms of travelling as we also host Bristol City and then travel to QPR.”

The Town first-team squad return to Playford Road for pre-season training on Monday 27th June before heading to the Carton House Hotel in Co Kildare, Ireland for the now annual week-long training camp.

As in previous summers Dublin side Shelbourne are the first friendly opponents at their Tolka Park ground on Saturday 9th July (KO 3pm). Town’s other pre-season fixtures can be found here.

Photo: Action Images

hoppy added 11:48 - Jun 22 “I see they've just added George Moncur from Colchester, who a few of our players know and that's just another factor to add to the mix to what should be an exciting opening fixture.” One that I've heard a few people saying we were interested in... I wonder if there was anything in that, for Mick to make mention of him specifically.
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Wallingford_Boy added 12:03 - Jun 22 I doubt we'd have been interested in Moncur, hardly set the League One alight last year and was even dropped towards the end of the campaign.
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rinkydinkpanther added 12:19 - Jun 22 Funny how little it takes to 'delight' him. No wonder he could stand the football we served up last season.
5

Penguinblue added 16:13 - Jun 22 Its going to be a real tough one, at home too. Let's set out nice and defensive and try to defend a 0 - 0. We might even nick one with an up and under
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jas0999 added 17:08 - Jun 22 Squad back on Monday, so hopefully we will see some new players added to it. Good signing in Webster so far but we need more as lots of players have moved on. Let's hope for no more below average players like Coke, Toure et al and so e quality additions.
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MarkFish added 22:31 - Jun 22 I can hardly wait..... Im going to trim my lawn that day with blunt scissors for a more uplifting experience than watching that dross.
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Gazelle added 22:53 - Jun 22 Mick says it will be a tough start, now where have I heard that before.
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multiplescoregasms added 13:43 - Jun 23 Hopefully we will have added to our squad by then, and given us supporters something to be hopeful of for the season. Maybe this would be a good game to offer the £10 tickets. Get the season off to a good start with a big crowd and who knows where it might lead.
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Kikapu added 18:59 - Jun 23 The team has not returned to training yet but the moaners are back standing on the side-lines. Take a holiday folks and you might return with a more positive view of life and, hopefully, the team we all support. Please. REMAIN fans.
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harlingblue added 03:47 - Jun 24 Beat the hell out of your dear old Barnsley, and then move on to greater things?
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