Hull City blogger Natalie Murphy gives her take on the release of the Premier League fixtures
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic
The digital clock in the corner of my laptop had barely flicked to 10am when I heard the door open behind me. It was then that I knew that not only were the fixtures out, but there was a sizzler worthy of the current heatwave to look forward to on the opening day of Hull City’s Premier League season.
I was wrapping up a (badly timed) work call and saw briefly reflected on the video screen in front me my 16-year-old son Kasper clutching the door handle in one hand, his phone with the list open on it in the other.
Realising I couldn’t talk, he shut the door as quickly as he had opened it as I curled my toes while the last few moments of the meeting agonisingly ticked by. But I knew, I just knew, from the way that door was flung back that good news was to come.
And sure enough, after scrambling through to the landing to meet Kasper and my other half, I heard what we all know now, and that is that we will be facing Manchester United on August 22.
First things first, though, we are at home. That’s number one on the ‘what to do when the fixtures come out standard operating procedure’.
So, a home match, there’s your first tick. Then, it’s who have we’ve got and Man Utd will do nicely, thank you very much. Then, you’re scrolling right down to the last game of the season – surely, it’s too much to be asked to be blessed with another home tie before summer starts again?
Wrong. We’re home again, this time to Newcastle. Next, we’re looking at Boxing Day. Oh, supreme beings of the schedule, grant me my third wish and make this another home match.
Well, Merry Christmas, they have and it’s Liverpool we’ll have the pleasure of hosting on this most festive of fixtures. And the gifts don’t stop there. How about we have Leeds United over a few days later? The more the merrier.
Because these will surely be the highlights to hang on to what looks like a very busy December, packed with no fewer than six games.
Of course, things will change, with cup runs and other disruptions, but how pleasing to gaze at the calendar and plan the months ahead of us in game after game of top- flight football.
It’s not going to be easy but let’s not forget this feeling. The fixture list feels like a win, and we have to celebrate every victory, no mater how small this season.
You can follow Natalie’s Hull City blog on her Substack page here.
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