The 2008/09 season may have only just finished for most clubs but the planning never stops for The Football League's competitions department who have, this week, confirmed the key fixture dates for the 2009/10 season.

Next season will kick off on Saturday, August 8th 2009, with the Carling Cup - which celebrates its 50th year - getting underway a matter of days later during the week commencing August 10th 2009.

As ever, Christmas will be a busy period with four games in nine days, all kicking off on Saturday, December 19th.

These fixtures will be followed by a midweek game on December 23rd and the traditional Boxing Day fixtures, before the weekend comes to an end with a full fixture list on the Bank Holiday Monday, December 28th. Once again, there will be no New Year's Day fixtures as the third Round of the FA Cup takes place the following day.

The final of the Carling Cup will take place on February 28th 2010.

The growing number of international players in the Coca-Cola Football League, and the Championship in particular, has, once again, led to the play-off weekend having to be split over two weekends during a World Cup year.

Unfortunately, the call-up period for the 2010 tournament falls during the May Bank Holiday weekend, the traditional date for the play-offs. Therefore, following consultation with clubs it has been decided to schedule the Coca-Cola Championship Play-off Final on Saturday, May 22nd 2010, with the Coca-Cola League One and Two games being played the following weekend (League Two - 29th & League One - 30th).

Consequently, the 'regular' league season for the Championship will finish on the weekend of May 2nd, with the other two divisions finishing a week later.

June

17th - Fixtures released (10am)

July

TBC - Players return for pre-season training

August

8th - Season begins

10th (w/c) - Carling Cup Round 1

24th (w/c) - Carling Cup Round 2

September

21st (w/c) - Carling Cup Round 3

October

26th (w/c) - Carling Cup Round 4

November

30th (w/c) - Carling Cup Round 5

January

2nd - FA Cup Round 3

4th (w/c) - Carling Cup Semi-Final (Leg 1)

18th (w/c) - Carling Cup Semi-Final (Leg 2)

February

28th - Carling Cup Final (Wembley Stadium)

May

2nd - Season Finish - Coca-Cola Championship

8th - Season Finish - Coca-Cola League One & League Two

22nd - Coca-Cola Championship Play-Off Final (Wembley Stadium)

29th - Coca-Cola League 1 Play-Off Final (Wembley Stadium)

30th - Coca-Cola League 2 Play-Off Final (Wembley Stadium)