The man behind compiling next season's Premier League fixture list has explained how it works in a fascinating breakdown of the 'meticulous' and 'painstaking' process.
Glenn Thompson, who has collated around 60,000 matches since taking on the role in 1992, has been a busy man ahead of next season's Premier League campaign.
So how does it work? Well, it's a process that lasts almost half a year and involves the scheduling of 2,036 matches across the top four divisions.
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Speaking to the Premier League's website ahead of this week's drop on June 16th, the so-called "fixture-list compiler" has answered a series of questions relating to the process.
Thompson revealed that he started compiling next season's fixtures several months ago.
"For me it is at the start of the year when I get the playing dates from the Premier League," he said.
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"The whole thing is built up, putting in the international dates from FIFA, then the European club competitions. Then the Football Association adds the dates for its competitions. You’re left with the dates when you can play league and League Cup matches.
"We also consult fan representatives, from the Football Supporters' Federation, and other stakeholders, to take on board their views.
"Around March, the Premier League sends to its clubs a form asking questions such as whether there are there any dates they wish not to be at home - which is answered in conjunction with the local police - and whether there are any teams they do not wish to play at home on Boxing Day."
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When asked if there any rules you have to adhere to, Thompson said: "In any five matches there should be a split of three home fixtures, two away or the other way around.
"A team will never have more than two home or away matches in a row, and, wherever possible, you will be home and away around FA Cup ties.
"A club will never start or finish the season with two home or two away matches because it would be unfair for a team to finish with two aways,
"Around the Christmas period, if you are at home on Boxing Day you will be away on New Year's Day or an equivalent date. We also try to maintain a Saturday home-away sequence throughout the season wherever possible."
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Thompson also reveals that travel issues come into consideration when deciding the fixture list.
"We look at whether we have clubs from the same area travelling on the same train lines across the Football League and the Premier League on the same day," he added.
"We want to avoid having 'pinch points' on the rail and road network. We also tell the computer to try to minimise travel on Boxing Day and New Year's Day or an equivalent date."
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There are also rules you have to adhere to throughout the process.
"In any five matches there should be a split of three home fixtures, two away or the other way around," Thompson says. "A team will never have more than two home or away matches in a row, and, wherever possible, you will be home and away around FA Cup ties.
"A club will never start or finish the season with two home or two away matches because it would be unfair for a team to finish with two aways,
"Around the Christmas period, if you are at home on Boxing Day you will be away on New Year's Day or an equivalent date. We also try to maintain a Saturday home-away sequence throughout the season wherever possible."
You can read the interview in full HERE.
Topics: Premier League, England
Jack Kenmare