York host Bristol Rovers and Rochdale visit Newport

York City host Bristol Rovers in their first League Two fixture as they return after a decade away from the English Football League.

The Minstermen secured their promotion to the fourth tier in May in the most dramatic circumstances, thanks to a 103rd-minute equaliser against top-of-the-table rivals Rochdale in the final game of the campaign.

The Dale – who subsequently secured their own promotion at Wembley via the National League play-offs – visit Newport County in one of two early kick-offs on Saturday, 15 August, as they come back to League Two after a three-year absence.

Rotherham, who are playing fourth-tier football for the first time since 2012-13, travel to Cheltenham Town while Northampton, whose relegation fate was confirmed mid-April, host Swindon Town.

Exeter travel to Grimsby after similarly facing the drop to League Two, and also relegated Port Vale are away at Oldham Athletic.

Both York and Rochdale remarkably broke the 100-point barrier in the National League last season in a campaign that literally went down to the wire, with a winner-takes-all final game of the season encounter.

York, who spent five of the years they were away from the EFL playing in the National League North, narrowly secured the sole automatic promotion spot in the most remarkable fashion, cancelling out Rochdale’s 95th-minute goal with their own eight minutes later deep in extra time.

Rochdale managed to pick themselves up from the heartbreak and went on to beat Boreham Wood in the play-off final to also secure promotion, albeit in equally dramatic fashion on penalties.

However, they start life in League Two with a new man in the dugout with Ian Watson appointed in place of Jimmy McNulty, who has since departed for Stockport.

Six new managers appointed so far

After missing out on League One football in the play-off final to Notts County, Salford City start another campaign in League Two at home to Barnet and, like Rochdale, have a new manager at the helm.

Karl Robinson was sacked nine days after the Wembley loss with relative unknown Peter Cklamovski appointed in his place last week.

The Australian, who previously worked under Ange Postecoglou in Japanese club football, is amongsix new appointees in the league since the end of the last campaign.

Matt Taylor has been handed the Exeter job on a full-time basis for the second time, while League Two regular Darrell Clarke takes the helm at Tranmere Rovers, and his side are at home to Shrewsbury in his first outing.

After a disappointing 2025-26 in which Walsall missed out on the play-offs altogether, ex-Huddersfield boss Lee Grant has been given the Saddlers’ permanent job and will travel to Gillingham for his first game in charge.

Opening-day fixtures in full

All kick-off times are 15:00 BST, unless stated, on Saturday, 15 August

Accrington Stanley v Colchester United

Barnet v Salford City

Cheltenham Town v Rotherham United

Chesterfield v Fleetwood Town

Crawley Town v Crewe Alexandra

Gillingham v Walsall

Grimsby Town v Exeter City

Newport County v Rochdale (12:30 BST)

Northampton Town v Swindon Town

Oldham Athletic v Port Vale (12:30 BST)

Tranmere Rovers v Shrewsbury Town

York City v Bristol Rovers