Bristol City: When does pre-season start? What day are the 2022/23 Championship fixtures released?

There’s a feeling of optimism around Bristol City’s fan base right now after some positive work in the off season.

The Robins have moved quickly in the transfer market by bringing in Oxford United’s Mark Sykes and Kal Naismith of Luton Town to the club.

That is in addition to signing reliable defender Timm Klose to a new one-year contract which is a massive plus as to trying to solidify a shaky backline.

Pre-season is not too far away right now whilst there are things like the transfer window opening, fixture release day, the first day of the season and other things to consider.

When are the Championship fixtures released?

Fans have exactly two weeks to wait for where they’ll be mapping out the next nine months from July to May onwards.

Fixtures are due to be released on Thursday, June 23 at the time of 09:00 but as always, they are subject to change with Sky Sports allowed a two-week period to decide which games they want to broadcast.

When are the first and last games of the season?

The opening game of the season will begin on July 30, but of course City could find themselves chosen for television and could play a day earlier or on Sunday.

It’s a two-week wait for the first round of the Carabao Cup which will be in midweek on August 10. The first round of the Emirates FA Cup will be on Saturday, January 7 2023.

The International Balloon Fiesta begins on Thursday, August 11 and ends on Sunday, August 14. It didn’t take place last year which allowed Bristol City to be at home on the opening game of the season against Blackpool but for this season, it is likely they will be on the road as there will be a lack of police resources for both events.

The season is due to conclude on Saturday, May 6 2023 but if any teams reach the Play-Off Final it will take place on Monday, May 29 2023.

When does preseason start for Bristol City?

Players are due to return to the High Performance Centre tomorrow and will undergo some off the ball work.

Players like Antoine Semenyo, Andi Weimann and Nahki Wells, who are either on international duty or are on it, will obviously be afforded time off after getting less of a break than their teammates.

Alex Scott is also in contention to represent England Under-19’s at the EURO Championships this summer.

What fixtures do Bristol City have lined up for pre-season?

As it stands, only one senior game has been announced by the club so far. They are due to play away at Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, July 16 at 15:00. There was a worry the game could be in doubt after someone had hijacked a tractor and vandalised the pitch but the Pilgrims have assured the game will go ahead.

Bristol City’s U23’s are due to play at Paulton Rovers on Tuesday, July 5 with a kick-off time of 19:30.

When does the summer transfer window open?

Bristol City may have made two signings already but the summer transfer window doesn’t officially open until Friday, June 10.

In a change to rules to the EFL about player registration, the Championship was brought in line with the rest of Europe. Some clubs have announced their signings before-hand like City which was more of a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ but the deals will become official tomorrow.

How will the World Cup affect Bristol City’s season?

Already the season is having to begin a week earlier on the week commencing July 25, but there is further disruption.

The season will come to a pause on November 13, eight days before the start of the World Cup. For any City players called up, that will leave them with a minimal break and any injury for their club could see them have to withdraw from international football’s showpiece event

After an almost three-week break, the Championship will resume on December 10, the same day as the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Should City or their opponents at the time have three players away on international duty then there is scope for the game to be postponed.

Championship line-up for 2022-23: Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bristol City, Burnley, Cardiff City, Coventry City, Huddersfield Town, Hull City, Luton Town, Middlesbrough, Millwall, Norwich City, Preston North End, Queens Park Rangers, Reading, Rotherham United, Sheffield United, Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City, Watford, West Bromwich Albion and Wigan Athletic.