It feels as though the 2023/24 football season just ended, followed closely by the Euro 2024 Championship. Yet, time waits for no one, with the English Football League season kicking off tomorrow evening. Preston takes on the returning Sheffield United, while Blackburn faces Derby County, both fixtures set for 8 pm kick-offs.
Last Season’s Standout Performers
Last season saw Leicester City and Ipswich Town clinch the top two spots, earning automatic promotion to the Premier League. Leicester topped the league with an impressive 97 points, while Ipswich was close behind with 96 points. Leeds United and Southampton were strong contenders in the playoffs, but it was Leeds who ultimately triumphed and secured their promotion.
Analysing the Opening Day Records
With the return of one of the world’s most competitive footballing competitions, MyBettingSites delved into the data to determine which club has the best opening day Championship record. Birmingham City tops the opening day league table, having played 24 seasons in the Championship, the most out of the top 24 teams. Their record stands at 11 wins, seven draws, and six losses, garnering a total of 40 points and a point per game (PPG) score of 1.67.
Interestingly, Watford is second with a better PPG ratio at 1.77 but trails Birmingham with a total of 39 points, having played two fewer games. Watford also has more wins than Birmingham City. Ipswich completes the top three with the same points total as Watford but a PPG of 1.7, having played one more game.
Top Performers and Surprising Statistics
Wolverhampton, fourth in the table, has the best PPG total out of the 24 teams listed at 1.81 but, having played three fewer opening day games than Birmingham, finds itself with a total of 38 points. London clubs Millwall and Crystal Palace complete the top six with 35 points and 34 points, respectively, earned on the opening day.
Struggles at the Bottom
At the other end of the table, Barnsley are rock bottom with a total of 20 points from 22 opening day games played, giving The Tykes a PPG of 0.91. Bristol City and Charlton Athletic complete the bottom three, with Bristol City at 23rd having accumulated 23 points from 19 games and The Addicks sitting on 21 points but with a PPG of 1.5.
Promoted Teams and Premier League Performances
Interestingly, the data shows that last year's promoted sides, Leicester City and Leeds United, don’t tend to fare well on opening day, with 28 and 26 points garnered, respectively. Leicester has a PPG of 2, while Leeds has a PPG of 1.86. Meanwhile, Premier League side Crystal Palace sits 14th with the same 26 points total as Ipswich but with a worse PPG of 1.53.
Looking Ahead to the New Season
With the new season just hours away, fans everywhere are buzzing with excitement. Will we see new contenders rise to the challenge, and how much impact will the opening day results have on the rest of the season? One thing is certain: the 2023/24 season promises to be another unforgettable chapter in the story of the English Football League.
