While much of the nation was still agonising over England's tepid World Cup group-stage stalemate with Ghana, the 2026-27 EFL fixtures were released 84 days ago. For most of us, 95.65% of those fixtures are fillers on the calendar. It's the other 4.35% that really get your pulse racing.

Last May's promotion and relegation hokey-cokey has ensured this season will be different for fans of several Championship clubs who get to renew long-standing rivalries. This weekend will be the first blocked out on tens of thousands of calendars this season.

On Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST), Millwall and West Ham will renew one of the most hostile rivalries in English football for the first time in almost 15 years. Forged as the 'Dockers Derby', these two have been going at it since 1899. They have met 60 times in total, but just seven of those encounters have come in the past 33 years. BBC Radio London's Nick Godwin said the scenes "left a scar on football in the city". The return fixture is set for February at the London Stadium.

Whether you agree with the name or not, the Black Country derby is back with a bang on Sunday (12:00 BST). The rivalry has been going on for more than 140 years and the 164th senior meeting between the sides will be the first since a spicy FA Cup fourth-round tie in January 2024, which then Premier League Wolves won 2-0 at The Hawthorns.