With our survival looking all the more likely with each week and the Championship relegation battle hotting up, we could be in for some great away days in the 2022/23 League One season. While a certain club are coming up from League Two, we can also look forward to even more former Premier League clubs taking to the hallowed turf of Whaddon Road. While no one is confirmed, here are the potential new visitors next season.
BARNSLEY - OAKWELL
The only team here we can be fairly certain on to visit next season, Barnsley have managed to find themselves below not one but two teams with hefty point deductions as they sit second bottom of the second tier, two points above Peterborough whom we visited in our League Two title winning season. Despite finishing in the playoffs last season with hopes of promotion heading into 21/22, it has proven to be a season to forget for the club who competed in the Premier League in 1997/98. Oakwell has been the home of Barnsley since 1888 and has a capacity of 23,287.
DERBY COUNTY - PRIDE PARK
Currently occupying the last relegation place despite a 21 point deduction, Derby have performed admirably under Wayne Rooney who stayed to aid the club in troubling times. The Rams are currently five points adrift of 21st placed Reading and while they could complete the greatest escape, it’s looking more and more likely that they will be heading down. If there is still a Derby County next season, 33,597 capacity Pride Park will be top of every fans’ list to visit.
READING - MADEJSKI STADIUM
Reading sit just above the drop zone despite a nine point deduction and a potential legal battle on its way. The 24,161 bowl was built in 1998 and has seen three seasons of top flight football with wins over the likes of Manchester City and Aston Villa. The Madesjski was our home on my Football Manager 2020 save while the club built the Steve Cotterill Arena after I lead Cheltenham to the Premier League, that means absolutely nothing to you but I couldn’t believe they hadn’t named it after me.
FOREST GREEN - THE NEW LAWN
A strong contender for the worst ground ever to see third tier football, we’ll most likely be in for another visit up the hill in the 2022/23 season as they follow in our footsteps as favourites to lift the League Two title. The ground has been home of Rovers since 2006 and has a capacity of 5147, with their record attendance coming against Derby in 2009 as 4836 fans took to the stands.
We can’t forget the other teams we’ll be visiting either with Peterborough currently rock bottom of the Championship, we’ll be due back for another visit to the Weston Homes Stadium which will hopefully see a similar result to our last visit as we came away with a win in the cup. Joining FGR from League Two could see a return to Sutton United after a far less successful cup trip there while Exeter City currently occupy the third promotion place. Newport, Mansfield, Tranmere and Swindon occupy the play off places with Bristol Rovers and Port Vale not too far behind.
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