Oldham visit MK Dons in first game back in EFL

Oldham Athletic won promotion to League Two with victory over Southend United in the National League promotion final at Wembley

Oldham Athletic will visit MK Dons in their first game back in League Two after three seasons of non-league football.

The Latics became the first of the founding Premier League member clubs to drop out of the English Football League when they were relegated to the National League in 2022.

Oldham won promotion via the play-offs last season, beating Southend United 3-2 at Wembley last month.

Runaway National League champions Barnet host Fleetwood Town at The Hive, while Cambridge United face Cheltenham Town at home following their relegation from League One.

Bristol Rovers will take on Harrogate Town, while Walsall - long-time leaders last season - will look to bounce back strongly from the disappointment of defeat in the play-off final to AFC Wimbledon when they host Swindon Town.

Relegated Shrewsbury Town will face Bromley, while Crawley Town, who were also relegated after just one season in League One, will travel to Grimsby Town.

All League Two matches on the opening day of the season - Saturday, 2 August - will kick off at 15:00 BST.

Appleton remains as Shrews look to rebuild

Michael Appleton took over at Shrewsbury in March

Michael Appleton remains in charge at Shrewsbury Town despite the club's first relegation from the third tier in a decade.

Appleton was the third head coach in a tumultuous season which saw Paul Hurst replaced by Gareth Ainsworth in November.

Former Wycombe boss Ainsworth then rejected the offer of a new contract and moved to Gillingham after just 22 games in charge, with Appleton brought in but unable to steer them clear of relegation.

They host Bromley before a trip to Tranmere Rovers, followed by the visit of Colchester United to Croud Meadow.

Lindsey and Crawley go full circle

Scott Lindsey won the League Two play-off final with Crawley in 2023-24 and is back at the club after a short spell with MK Dons

After a rollercoaster year for Crawley and boss Scott Lindsey, they find themselves back in League Two and looking to repeat their heroics of two seasons ago.

Their victory over Crewe Alexandra at Wembley in the 2023-24 League Two play-off final sent the Reds up to the third tier but by September the squad had been decimated and Lindsey had left the club for MK Dons.

His stint in Milton Keynes, along with his successor Rob Elliot's at Crawley, was short-lived and he was back in the hot seat at Broadfield Stadium six months after he left.

Three wins in their last three games was not enough to keep them in League One, as they were relegated on the final day one point adrift of safety.

Lindsey will not need to wait long for a reunion with the Dons, when they visit Broadfield Stadium on Tuesday, 19 August.

Opening-day fixtures in full

All kick-off times 15:00 BST on Saturday, 2 August:

• Accrington Stanley v Gillingham

• Barnet v Fleetwood Town

• Bristol Rovers v Harrogate Town

• Cambridge United v Cheltenham Town

• Chesterfield v Barrow

• Colchester United v Tranmere Rovers

• Grimsby Town v Crawley Town

• Milton Keynes Dons v Oldham Athletic

• Newport County v Notts County

• Salford City v Crewe Alexandra

• Shrewsbury Town v Bromley

• Walsall v Swindon Town