Charlton start life in the Championship at home to Scunthorpe

The unfashionable Lincolnshire club, who capped their remarkable rise by winning the League One title in May, head to The Valley on Saturday, August 11.

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Last season's success propelled the Iron into the second tier for the first time since 1964, but manager Nigel Adkins emerged as a great story in his own right.

The former Tranmere and Wigan goalkeeper joined Scunthorpe as a physiotherapist in 1996 and last November he was appointed, amid many raised eyebrows, as manager after Brian Laws departed for Sheffield Wednesday.

Blackpool, who return to the second tier after a 29-year absence, also have their work cut out after being handed a difficult opener away to Leicester.

The Seasiders' steady renaissance under former Foxes stalwart Simon Grayson reached a glorious crescendo in May as they won promotion via the play-offs at the new Wembley.

But they will face a Leicester side for whom new boss Martin Allen will be making his bow in front of an expectant crowd and demanding chairman in Milan Mandaric.

Bristol City, on paper at least, look to have been dealt the easiest hand of the three promoted sides.

The Robins are back in the Championship after seven years in the doldrums and open their campaign with a home game against QPR, who struggled for much of last season.

Southampton's home clash with Crystal Palace is arguably the most attractive fixture of the first weekend.

Despite selling teenage sensation Gareth Bale to Tottenham, Saints boss George Burley will be hoping to go one better than last season's play-off failure.

And with chairman Simon Jordan breathing down his beck, Palace boss Peter Taylor knows he can ill afford another dismal campaign like last season.

Promotion is the priority for both clubs, as it is with Wolves and Watford, who meet at Molineux on the opening day in another eye-catching clash.

Sheffield United, who were controversially relegated last season - pending the result of their ongoing attempts to be reinstated to the Premier League - host last season's surprise package, Colchester, at Bramall Lane, while West Brom travel to Burnley aiming to bounce back from their play-off final defeat to Derby.

Preston, whose pitiful end to last season denied them even a place in the top six, host Norwich at Deepdale and Sheffield Wednesday, rejuvenated under Laws, make the long trek to Ipswich.

Elsewhere, Barnsley host Coventry, Stoke travel to Cardiff and Hull face Plymouth at the KC Stadium.

Other early-season fixtures see Bryan Robson's Blades travel to Watford on August 18 before hosting his former club West Brom seven days later.

Charlton travel to Palace on September 1 and a fortnight later Sheffield United host Wolves and Southampton travel to Watford.

Iain Dowie returns to Crystal Palace on September 18 when Coventry travel to Selhurst Park and then faces another of his former clubs, Charlton, at the Ricoh Arena 11 days later.