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, 2025018 days
Last winAug 17, 2025018 days
Last drawAug 17, 202411 year, 18 days
Last lossAug 12, 202322 years, 23 days
ScoredAug 17, 2025018 days
Did not scoreAug 06, 202233 years, 29 days
Clean sheetAug 04, 201788 years, 30 days
We scored an own goalAug 16, 19755050 years, 19 days
Opponent scored an own goalAug 17, 19913434 years, 18 days
Scored penaltyAug 07, 19992626 years, 28 days
Conceded penaltyAug 17, 2025018 days
Saved penaltyAug 12, 19725353 years, 23 days
Scored hat-trickAug 17, 19962929 years, 18 days
Conceded hat-trickAug 19, 19953030 years, 16 days
Red cardAug 08, 20091616 years, 27 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
Stoke City301249
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
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
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
Stoke City301249
Sunderland330040
Tottenham Hotspur201113
West Bromwich Albion310223
West Ham United110021
Wigan Athletic101011
Wolverhampton Wanderers62041616


Full list of opening day games (most recent first):
Season Date Game Opponent H/A Score Scorers
2025-26Sun Aug 17, 2025League Tier 1BrentfordH3-1Wood (6', 45'), Ndoye (42')
2024-25Sat Aug 17, 2024League Tier 1BournemouthH1-1Wood (23')
2023-24Sat Aug 12, 2023League Tier 1ArsenalA1-2Awoniyi (82')
2022-23Sat Aug 06, 2022League Tier 1Newcastle UnitedA0-2
2021-22Sun Aug 08, 2021League Tier 2Coventry CityA1-2Taylor (36')
2020-21Sat Sep 12, 2020League Tier 2Queens Park RangersA0-2
2019-20Sat Aug 03, 2019League Tier 2West Bromwich AlbionH1-2Cash (9')
2018-19Sat Aug 04, 2018League Tier 2Bristol CityA1-1Murphy (46')
2017-18Fri Aug 04, 2017League Tier 2MillwallH1-0McKay (41')
2016-17Sat Aug 06, 2016League Tier 2Burton AlbionH4-3Assombalonga (23', 77'), Lam (45'), Burke (49')
2015-16Fri Aug 07, 2015League Tier 2Brighton and Hove AlbionA0-1
2014-15Sat Aug 09, 2014League Tier 2BlackpoolH2-0Antonio (25'), Burke (30')
2013-14Sat Aug 03, 2013League Tier 2Huddersfield TownH1-0Lansbury (53')
2012-13Sat Aug 18, 2012League Tier 2Bristol CityH1-0Guedioura (71')
2011-12Sat Aug 06, 2011League Tier 2BarnsleyH0-0
2010-11Sat Aug 07, 2010League Tier 2BurnleyA0-1
2009-10Sat Aug 08, 2009League Tier 2ReadingA0-0
2008-09Sun Aug 10, 2008League Tier 2ReadingH0-0
2007-08Sat Aug 11, 2007League Tier 3BournemouthH0-0
2006-07Sat Aug 05, 2006League Tier 3Bradford CityH1-0Bennett (10')
2005-06Sat Aug 06, 2005League Tier 3Huddersfield TownH2-1Dobie (45'), Johnson (87')
2004-05Sat Aug 07, 2004League Tier 2Wigan AthleticA1-1Taylor (55')
2003-04Sat Aug 09, 2003League Tier 2SunderlandH2-0Harewood (19'), Louis-Jean (41')
2002-03Sat Aug 10, 2002League Tier 2PortsmouthA0-2
2001-02Sat Aug 11, 2001League Tier 2Sheffield UnitedH1-1Harewood (20')
2000-01Sat Aug 12, 2000League Tier 2West Bromwich AlbionH1-0Hjelde (78')
1999-00Sat Aug 07, 1999League Tier 2Ipswich TownA1-3Bart-Williams (76' pen)
1998-99Mon Aug 17, 1998League Tier 1ArsenalA1-2Thomas (78')
1997-98Sat Aug 09, 1997League Tier 2Port ValeA1-0Campbell (39')
1996-97Sat Aug 17, 1996League Tier 1Coventry CityA3-0Campbell (13', 36', 47')
1995-96Sat Aug 19, 1995League Tier 1SouthamptonA4-3Cooper (8'), Woan (36'), Roy (42', 79')
1994-95Sat Aug 20, 1994League Tier 1Ipswich TownA1-0Roy (40')
1993-94Sun Aug 15, 1993League Tier 2Southend UnitedA1-1Pearce (22' pen)
1992-93Sun Aug 16, 1992League Tier 1LiverpoolH1-0Sheringham (29')
1991-92Sat Aug 17, 1991League Tier 1EvertonH2-1Clough (60'), Jemson (87')
1990-91Sat Aug 25, 1990League Tier 1Queens Park RangersH1-1Jemson (50' pen)
1989-90Sat Aug 19, 1989League Tier 1Aston VillaH1-1Parker (59')
1988-89Sat Aug 27, 1988League Tier 1Norwich CityA1-2Chettle (66')
1987-88Sat Aug 15, 1987League Tier 1Charlton AthleticA2-1Glover (59'), Clough (67')
1986-87Sat Aug 23, 1986League Tier 1EvertonA0-2
1985-86Sat Aug 17, 1985League Tier 1Luton TownA1-1Webb (53')
1984-85Sat Aug 25, 1984League Tier 1Sheffield WednesdayA1-3Davenport (37')
1983-84Sat Aug 27, 1983League Tier 1SouthamptonH0-1
1982-83Sat Aug 28, 1982League Tier 1West Ham UnitedA2-1Walsh (11'), Robertson (79' pen)
1981-82Sat Aug 29, 1981League Tier 1SouthamptonH2-1Francis (25', 27')
1980-81Sat Aug 16, 1980League Tier 1Tottenham HotspurA0-2
1979-80Sat Aug 18, 1979League Tier 1Ipswich TownA1-0Woodcock (46')
1978-79Sat Aug 19, 1978League Tier 1Tottenham HotspurH1-1O'Neill (12')
1977-78Sat Aug 20, 1977League Tier 1EvertonA3-1Withe (33'), Robertson (38'), O'Neill (77')
1976-77Sat Aug 21, 1976League Tier 2FulhamA2-2Curran (23'), O'Hare (63')
1975-76Sat Aug 16, 1975League Tier 2Plymouth ArgyleH2-0Mick Horswill (31' OG), O'Hare (85')
1974-75Sat Aug 17, 1974League Tier 2Bristol CityH0-0
1973-74Sat Aug 25, 1973League Tier 2Luton TownH4-0Jackson (11', 37' pen), Martin (48'), McKenzie (65')
1972-73Sat Aug 12, 1972League Tier 2PortsmouthH0-0
1971-72Sat Aug 14, 1971League Tier 1LiverpoolA1-3Storey-Moore (38' pen)
1970-71Sat Aug 15, 1970League Tier 1Coventry CityH2-0Cormack (16'), Storey-Moore (30')
1969-70Sat Aug 09, 1969League Tier 1Ipswich TownA0-0
1968-69Sat Aug 10, 1968League Tier 1BurnleyH2-2Baxter (60'), Hennessey (73')
1967-68Sat Aug 19, 1967League Tier 1Sheffield UnitedA3-1Wignall (38'), Storey-Moore (78'), Baker (87')
1966-67Sat Aug 20, 1966League Tier 1Stoke CityH1-2Baker (73')
1965-66Sat Aug 21, 1965League Tier 1Newcastle UnitedA2-2Wignall (36'), Addison (48')
1964-65Sat Aug 22, 1964League Tier 1Birmingham CityH4-3Barnwell (16'), Addison (69', 84'), Hinton (73')
1963-64Sat Aug 24, 1963League Tier 1Aston VillaH0-1
1962-63Sat Aug 18, 1962League Tier 1Sheffield UnitedH2-1Palmer (62' pen), Vowden (78')
1961-62Sat Aug 19, 1961League Tier 1ChelseaA2-2Vowden (26'), McKinlay (84')
1960-61Sat Aug 20, 1960League Tier 1Manchester CityH2-2Booth (27'), Julians (70')
1959-60Sat Aug 22, 1959League Tier 1Manchester CityA1-2Iley (33')
1958-59Sat Aug 23, 1958League Tier 1Wolverhampton WanderersA1-5Dwight (88')
1957-58Sat Aug 24, 1957League Tier 1Preston North EndH2-1Barrett (2'), Gray (28')
1956-57Sat Aug 18, 1956League Tier 2Leyton OrientA4-1Lishman (6'), Barrett (49' pen, 60'), Wilson (89')
1955-56Sat Aug 20, 1955League Tier 2LiverpoolH1-3Higham (43')
1954-55Sat Aug 21, 1954League Tier 2Luton TownA0-3
1953-54Wed Aug 19, 1953League Tier 2EvertonH3-3Capel (16', 40'), Collindridge (85')
1952-53Sat Aug 23, 1952League Tier 2Blackburn RoversH1-2Scott (20')
1951-52Sat Aug 18, 1951League Tier 2Rotherham UnitedA2-1Johnson (32', 80')
1950-51Sat Aug 19, 1950League Tier 3Newport CountyA2-0Collindridge (17'), Johnson (22')
1949-50Sat Aug 20, 1949League Tier 3Brighton and Hove AlbionA2-2Willard (10' OG), Ardron (25')
1948-49Sat Aug 21, 1948League Tier 2West Bromwich AlbionH0-1
1947-48Sat Aug 23, 1947League Tier 2BuryH2-1Lee (36'), Johnston (46')
1946-47Sat Aug 31, 1946League Tier 2BarnsleyA2-3Brown (65'), O'Donnell (84')
1939-40Sat Aug 26, 1939League Tier 2BarnsleyA1-4Perry (80')
1938-39Sat Aug 27, 1938League Tier 2Sheffield UnitedH0-2
1937-38Sat Aug 28, 1937League Tier 2Sheffield UnitedA1-2Burgin (63')
1936-37Sat Aug 29, 1936League Tier 2BurnleyA0-3
1935-36Sat Aug 31, 1935League Tier 2BuryH2-2Race (1'), Peacock (28')
1934-35Sat Aug 25, 1934League Tier 2Newcastle UnitedH5-1Peacock (26'), Race (50'), Masters (72'), Burditt (77', 79')
1933-34Sat Aug 26, 1933League Tier 2BrentfordH1-1Dickinson (77')
1932-33Sat Aug 27, 1932League Tier 2Grimsby TownA1-1Dickinson (52')
1931-32Sat Aug 29, 1931League Tier 2Charlton AthleticA1-3Dickinson (78')
1930-31Sat Aug 30, 1930League Tier 2Wolverhampton WanderersH3-4Dickinson (12'), Dent (31', 58')
1929-30Sat Aug 31, 1929League Tier 2ChelseaA0-2
1928-29Sat Aug 25, 1928League Tier 2Stoke CityH1-5Burton (15')
1927-28Sat Aug 27, 1927League Tier 2Port ValeA2-2Wadsworth (14'), Stocks (59')
1926-27Sat Aug 28, 1926League Tier 2BlackpoolH2-0Burton (61', 76')
1925-26Sat Aug 29, 1925League Tier 2DarlingtonA0-0
1924-25Sat Aug 30, 1924League Tier 1ArsenalH0-2
1923-24Sat Aug 25, 1923League Tier 1EvertonA1-2Spaven (53')
1922-23Sat Aug 26, 1922League Tier 1SunderlandH1-0Spaven (28')
1921-22Sat Aug 27, 1921League Tier 2Crystal PalaceA1-4Tinsley (31')
1920-21Sat Aug 28, 1920League Tier 2Stoke CityH2-2Higgins (77'), Spaven (83')
1919-20Sat Aug 30, 1919League Tier 2Rotherham CountyA0-2
1914-15Wed Sep 02, 1914League Tier 2Birmingham CityH1-1Coleman (20')
1913-14Wed Sep 03, 1913League Tier 2Leicester FosseH1-3Firth (20')
1912-13Sat Sep 07, 1912League Tier 2Leicester FosseA1-3Sam Currie (62' OG)
1911-12Sat Sep 02, 1911League Tier 2Leeds CityH2-1Morris (15', 42')
1910-11Thu Sep 01, 1910League Tier 1Preston North EndA2-0Hooper (20'), Ford (87')
1909-10Wed Sep 01, 1909League Tier 1Preston North EndA1-0Morris (80')
1908-09Sat Sep 05, 1908League Tier 1Sheffield UnitedA2-1Marrison (25'), West (50')
1907-08Mon Sep 02, 1907League Tier 1LiverpoolH3-1Hughes (42'), Green (80'), West (88')
1906-07Sat Sep 01, 1906League Tier 2Grimsby TownA1-3Morris (30')
1905-06Sat Sep 02, 1905League Tier 1Wolverhampton WanderersH3-1Shearman (?, ?), Morris (35')
1904-05Sat Sep 03, 1904League Tier 1Wolverhampton WanderersA2-3Shearman (?, ?)
1903-04Sat Sep 05, 1903League Tier 1LiverpoolH2-1Morris (8'), Spouncer (37')
1902-03Mon Sep 01, 1902League Tier 1SunderlandA1-0Morris (80')
1901-02Mon Sep 02, 1901League Tier 1Wolverhampton WanderersA0-2
1900-01Sat Sep 01, 1900League Tier 1Newcastle UnitedA0-0
1899-00Sat Sep 02, 1899League Tier 1Preston North EndH3-1Morris (?), Calvey (?), Beveridge (?)
1898-99Sat Sep 03, 1898League Tier 1Blackburn RoversH0-1
1897-98Sat Sep 04, 1897League Tier 1Notts CountyH1-1Capes (62')
1896-97Sat Sep 05, 1896League Tier 1Derby CountyA1-1Richards (51')
1895-96Thu Sep 05, 1895League Tier 1BuryH5-0Carnelly (12'), Rose (62', 87'), McInnes (65', 70')
1894-95Sat Sep 01, 1894League Tier 1BurnleyH2-1Rose (12', 14')
1893-94Sat Sep 02, 1893League Tier 1Wolverhampton WanderersH7-1Collins (2', 52', 61', 80'), Shaw (20'), McCallum (70', 75')
1892-93Sat Sep 03, 1892League Tier 1EvertonA2-2Pike (11'), Higgins (88')