In a fairy-tale return to the English Football League, York City are set to kick off their League Two campaign in style against Bristol Rovers on home turf. The Minstermen's decade-long absence from the fourth tier was brought to an end in dramatic fashion last May, thanks to a 103rd-minute equaliser that sealed promotion in the most thrilling finale possible.
Their journey back to the professional ranks has been nothing short of remarkable, with five years spent battling it out in the National League North. And what a season it was - York defied all odds to break the 100-point barrier and secure their place among the EFL elite, with Rochdale ultimately joining them on the final day after a nail-biting encounter at Nethermoor.
But while York bask in the glory of their promotion, they'll be keeping a close eye on old rivals Rochdale, who will visit Newport County in one of the early kick-offs on Saturday, 15th August. The Robins, too, are back among the fourth tier's finest after a three-year absence, having claimed promotion via the National League play-offs at Wembley.
It was a campaign for the ages, with York and Rochdale going toe-to-toe until the very end - and what an ending it was! The late goal that cancelled out Rochdale's 95th-minute effort will remain etched in the memories of fans for years to come. And while Rochdale eventually secured their place in League Two via a penalty shootout win over Boreham Wood, they'll be entering a new era under the guidance of Ian Watson - who takes the reins following Jimmy McNulty's departure to Stockport.
The rest of the league won't be without its share of drama on opening day. Rotherham United are back in the mix for the first time since 2012-13, and they'll be looking to make a statement at Cheltenham Town. Northampton Town, relegated in mid-April, host Swindon Town, while Exeter City - another team to drop down from League One - visit Grimsby. And with six new managers in charge across the league, including Peter Cklamovski at Salford City and Matt Taylor returning to Exeter on a permanent basis, there's plenty of excitement brewing ahead of what promises to be an action-packed season.
All eyes will be on the 15th August kick-offs, with most games scheduled for 3:00 PM BST - except for Newport County v Rochdale (12:30) and Oldham Athletic v Port Vale (12:30), which will get underway a little earlier than the rest.