The wait is over! At 10am on Wednesday morning the 2009/10 fixture list revealed that Rangers would host Blackpool at Loftus Road on the opening day of the season. To add extra spice to the occasion, the fixture will see the return to W12 of former rangers’ manager Ian Holloway, who has this summer taken over the manager's post at Bloomfield Road.
For the superstitious ones amongst you, it may be worth noting that the last time Rangers faced Blackpool at home on the opening day of the season was in August 2003. Not only did the R's thrash the tangerines 5-0 that day, we also went on to gain promotion to the Championship after a fantastic season under Ian Holloway. Make of that what you will......
Other standout fixtures include a long midweek trip up to St James' Park to face newly relegated Newcastle United on Wednesday 30th September. Rangers will play other relegation sufferers Middlesbrough at home on Saturday 5th December, before we will lock horns with Gary Johnson's Bristol City on Boxing Day.
The final day of the season will see Newcastle United travel to Loftus Road in what rangers’ fans will hope is a top of the table affair.