THE fixtures for the 2011-12 season were announced yesterday, throwing up a mouthwatering second-week meeting between arch rivals Newcastle and Sunderland.
The sides meet at the Stadium of Light on August 20, seven days after Sunderland travel to Liverpool and Newcastle entertain Arsenal on the opening weekend. The return fixture at St James' Park is scheduled for March 3, when the Magpies will hope to repeat last year's 5-1 win, although both derby dates are likely to change due to security and television reasons.
Magpies boss Alan Pardew, planning for his first full season in charge at St James' Park, revealed his excitement at the prospect of an early-season derby.
He said: "What a fantastic start for us. Arsenal at St James' Park and then the Stadium of Light. Our fans will love that but myself and the players are equally excited. Going to Sunderland so early in the season is terrific and of course we can take heart from our performances against them last season."
The Magpies face back-to-back trips to Manchester to face City and champions United on November 19 and 26 respectively, before hosting Chelsea on December 3.
Pardew's side then face a festive period on the road with a trip to Bolton on Boxing Day, before heading to Andy Carroll's Liverpool on New Year's Eve.
Unlike their rivals, Sunderland have two home fixtures over the festive period when they welcome Everton and Manchester City to the Stadium of Light on Boxing Day and New Year's Eve respectively. And it will be an interesting final day of the season for Black Cats boss Steve Bruce, who will welcome former club Manchester United to the Stadium of Light on May 13.
Bruce admits his side have a tough start to the season, but insists he is relishing the prospect of travelling to Anfield, before facing Newcastle.
He said: "Anfield is always a tough place to go but we have acquitted ourselves well against the big boys in the past and going there is a test I will relish.
"Then it doesn't get much bigger than a derby game on the first home date of the season. Heading to Swansea will be an interesting test as well."
Middlesbrough get their Championship campaign under way on August 6 when Portsmouth make the long trip to the Riverside.
Both encounters between the sides ended in draws last season, but Boro boss Tony Mowbray will want his side to get off to the best possible start as they look to mount a serious promotion bid.
Boro fans will have to wait until October 18 to lock horns with former boss Steve McClaren, when Mowbray's men travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest.
The return fixture will see a romantic reunion for McClaren and the Boro fans, when Forest make the trip to the Riverside on Valentine's Day.
For the third season running, Hartlepool get their League One campaign underway on the road when they travel to MK Dons on August 6.
And for the second season in a row, Mick Wadsworth's men end the season with a trip to the Valley to face Charlton Athletic.
Pools travel to newly-promoted Stevenage on August 20, with trips to Chesterfield and Bury on October 22 and February 4.
Boxing Day sees Pools travel to Oldham, before they head to Sheffield United on New Year's Eve to face former boss Danny Wilson. Wilson will return to Victoria Park on March 31.
In the last ten seasons, Pools have had just one season in which they have started and finished the campaign with home fixtures and executive Russ Green has admitted his disappointment that for the fifth consecutive season, the club will play their last game away from home.
"I do think it is unfair that again we will play our last game away from home which is the fifth consecutive year we have had to do this," Green said.
"If we are involved in a relegation or promotion issue, it puts more pressure on us in away games."
* Darlington's fixtures for the new Blue Square Premier League season will be released on July 5.
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