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.