Fixture Countdown: Why It`s All So Complex...

Fixtures for the 2009/10 season are two days away from being issued but now a BBC article which takes Southend, Ipswich and Colchester as an example explains how the permutations all work.

Paul Fletcher, on a blog post for the BBC, explains that for example, Southend request never to play at home on the same day as Premiership West Ham as the club actually share supporters and this might disadvantage the smaller team.

Sound stupid? Well, read on, if so.

Southend, Colchester and Ipswich are tricky customers as well, it turns out. The U`s cannot play at home on the same weekend as the Shrimpers, while Ipswich and our very own club apparently share a number of stewards with Town so that equally is out of the question.

To read the full piece, click here.

In the meantime, here are Vital`s top five fixture facts, taken direct from the article.

1) Every club is paired with another so that the fixtures mirror two team`s lists.


2) Fixture lists for each season have to be worked out a year in advance.


3) The IS a fixture computer - it`s called a laptop and owned by one man, called Glenn Thompson. He`s been running the show since 1993.


4) Draft fixture lists are issued in March.


5) One fixture change can affect up to 48 clubs at a time.


So, fixtures are out at 10:00 AM on Wednesday.

Due to the nature of football and the rules and regulations imposed, we aren't able to mention fixtures or publish lists, despite the fact these fixtures are basically just adverts for the games we pay our hard earnt money to go and see.

The cost for publishing fixtures on fanzines such as his one would be £500 for each site, according to a recent investigation by a well-known football magazine.

Vital Colchester will carry a summary of the best games on Wednesday teatime.

Be here to get all the reaction!


Which fixtures are YOU looking for come Wednesday morning?

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