Adam Baker, City's head of media, blogs for bcfc.co.uk on the day of fixture list release for 2009/10.
It's déjà vu for City supporters thanks to the fixture computer.
Our fans will be on their travels for the start of the new Football League season - heading to Preston - away from their families on Boxing Day at QPR, and again on the road for the last scheduled game of the campaign at Blackpool.
Flashback 12 months, and it was being revealed City would be away to Blackpool on the opening game of 2008/09, travelling to Watford on December 26th, and heading to Burnley for the last game.
There are other similarities in the new fixture list, when compared to 2008/09. Trips to Coventry and Cardiff come within the first two months (albeit swapped around from last term), and the October 24th visit to Barnsley is the identical weekend from last year!
The FA Cup will again kick-off the New Year 2010, while in April City will again meet up with Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City (albeit at the opposite venue to last season on each occasion).
Of course, the key date most fans will be looking towards is Newcastle United away - now known to be on October 3rd 2009. I'm sure the flights on a well-known orange airline are being snapped up as I type, and hotel rooms are being booked.
City will get around 3,000 tickets for the match at St James' Park - and they are sure to be in high demand.
Elsewhere, City fans won't have to wait long to visit Cardiff City's new stadium - with a date booked for August 22nd. The return game at Ashton Gate is currently set for Tuesday, January 2010.
While City may have been dealt with harshly when it comes to away games on the first day, last day and Boxing Day - the midweek trips aren't too bad in my opinion.
There's no midweek hike to Middlesbrough or Scunthorpe, instead City have just four midweek (non-Bank Holiday) away trips to face, all within close-ish proximity. They read: Swansea in September, Leicester in December, Watford in February and Plymouth in March.
I think the biggest surprise comes in November where only three games are currently scheduled. That's mainly thanks to the international break for World Cup qualifiers (also applicable in early September), but November seems rather bare without any midweek games.
Remember the fixtures at this stage are only draft. The club will speak with Avon & Somerset Police as well as other clubs - and of course Sky/BBC may intervene with a few televised games.
Stay tuned to bcfc.co.uk for any updates over the coming days, but for now peruse the fixture list because it's now - on the day of their release - when fans can really begin to gear up for the new campaign.
Adam Baker
Have your say on this blog, or e-mail questions, ideas, opinions or requests to adam.baker@bcfc.co.uk.
