Barnsley have been handed away day openers in two successive seasons for the first since 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 as they commence the 2022-2023 League One season with their longest trip of the campaign.
The Reds make the 604mile round trip to Devon to face Plymouth Argyle in the earlier than normal season opener on Saturday 30th July.
Barnsley have failed to win any of their last 12 season openers that have been away from home (D4 L8) since a 2-1 win at West Brom in the first game of the Premier League promotion season of 1996-1997. They do have a fairly decent recent record at Plymouth’s Home Park stadium however, winning on three of their last five visits, scoring a total of nine goals in those victories.
This will be the third time Barnsley and Plymouth have opened a season against each other, drawing 0-0 at Oakwell in 1948-1949 with the Pilgrims triumphing 2-1 at Home Park in 1991-1992.
Barnsley’s first home game of the new season has thrown up one of those quirks that only the football calendar can as new head coach Michael Duff’s first competitive outing at Oakwell will be against the side he has just left to join the Reds- Cheltenham Town. The 44 year old led the Robins to their highest ever league finish last season before making the switch to Oakwell but will be hoping to avoid becoming the first ever Barnsley manager to lose a game to Cheltenham.
Following this Barnsley travel to Pride Park to take on a team who were relegated with them last season and have doubts about being able to start the new campaign – Derby County before a home match with a team who came up from League Two in dramatic fashion on goal difference last season – Bristol Rovers, Rovers were the last team Barnsley faced as a League One outfit back in May 2019.
Barnsley's final game of the season could be a promotion/play-off decider depending on how the season progresses as the Reds host fellow relegated outfit Peterborough United. The Posh have not finished outside the top ten in any of their last four League One campaigns.
Other key dates are as follows:
Sheffield Wednesday away (3rd September)
Accrington away (Boxing Day)
Fleetwood home (29th December)
Bolton home (New Year’s Day)
Sheffield Wednesday home (28th January)
MK Dons (Final away game 29th April)
Full fixtures can be found by clicking here