JAAP STAM’S first competitive fixture as Reading FC manager will be a home clash against Preston North End on Saturday, August 6.
Royals begin the new Championship season at Madejski Stadium against a side who were opponents for the final home contest of last season.
And Reading fans will no doubt been keen to see the result witnessed on that soggy afternoon back in May quickly avenged, as a late Daniel Johnson strike sealed the visitors a 2-1 victory.
Stam then takes his charges on the road for the first of two success away matches, which start on Saturday, August 13, at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Just four days later and the club will make its longest journey of the season up to Newcastle United, with the relegated Magpies hosing the fixture on Wednesday, August 13, with a 7.45pm start.
August will conclude with Reading hosting last season’s surprise package Brighton and Hove Albion on August 20 before the team heads west and over to Wales for a game with Cardiff City on August 27.
Other notable fixtures on the calendar include the visit of Aston Villa to Berkshire on Tuesday, October 18, while a first ever league meeting with Burton Albion will take place at Madejski Stadium on November 19.
The festive schedule throws up successive home fixtures against Norwich City on Boxing Day and Fulham on December 31, while 2017 will begin away at Bristol City on January 2.
Over Easter, Royals are away at Aston Villa on April 15 before entertaining Rotherham United on Monday, April 17.
The domestic campaign will conclude on Sunday, May 7, at The Pirelli Stadium and against Burton.
Some fixtures, of course, will be subject to alterations and will be announced in due course.
Elsewhere, the draw for the first round of the English Football League Cup will take place at 1pm this afternoon (Wednesday).
Reading FC’s full 2016/17 fixture list
AUGUST
Saturday 6 – Preston North End (H)
Saturday 13 – Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)
Wednesday 17 – Newcastle United (A)
Saturday 20 – Brighton and Hove Albion (H)
Saturday 27 – Cardiff City (A)
SEPTEMBER
Saturday 10 – Ipswich Town (H)
Tuesday 13 – Birmingham City (H)
Saturday 17 – Barnsley (A)
Saturday 24 – Huddersfield Town (H)
Tuesday 27 – Brentford (A)
OCTOBER
Saturday 1 – Derby County (H)
Saturday 15 – Queens Park Rangers (A)
Tuesday 18 – Aston Villa (H)
Saturday 22 – Rotherham United (A)
Saturday 29 – Nottingham Forest (H)
NOVEMBER
Saturday 5 – Wigan Athletic (A)
Saturday 19 – Burton Albion (H)
Saturday 26 – Bristol City (H)
DECEMBER
Saturday 3 – Fulham (A)
Saturday 10 – Sheffield Wednesday (H)
Tuesday 13 – Leeds United (A)
Saturday 17 – Blackburn Rovers (A)
Monday 26 – Norwich City (H)
Saturday 31 – Fulham (H)
JANUARY
Monday 2 – Bristol City (A)
Saturday 14 – Queens Park Rangers (H)
Saturday 21 – Derby County (A)
Saturday 28 – Cardiff City (H)
Tuesday 31 – Birmingham City (A)
FEBRUARY
Saturday 4 – Ipswich Town (A)
Saturday 11 – Barnsley (H)
Tuesday 14 – Brentford (H)
Saturday 18 – Huddersfield Town (A)
Saturday 25 – Brighton and Hove Albion (A)
MARCH
Saturday 4 – Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
Tuesday 7 – Newcastle United (H)
Saturday 11 – Preston North End (A)
Saturday 18 – Sheffield Wednesday (A)
APRIL
Saturday 1 – Leeds United (H)
Tuesday 4 – Blackburn Rovers (H)
Saturday 8 – Norwich City (A)
Saturday 15 – Aston Villa (A)
Monday 17 – Rotherham United (H)
Saturday 22 – Nottingham Forest (A)
Saturday 29 – Wigan Athletic (H)
MAY
Sunday 7 – Burton Albion (A)
