READING FC will begin the 2016/17 Championship campaign with a home fixture against Preston North End.

New boss Jaap Stam will have the benefit of a home game for his first fixture in charge following his appointment last week.

The clash at Madejski Stadium will take place on Saturday, August 8, with 3pm kick off.

The fixtures have thrown up a tough start for the Royals overall, with away games at Wolves and newly relegated Newcastle United up next.

But Reading fans may not be too pleased with the sceduling of the St James' Park fixture as it is due to take place on a Wednesday night with a 7.45pm kick off.

Stam's men then host last season's promotion-challengers Brighton before a trip to Cardiff City which will be followed by a two-week international break.

Other stand-out fixtures include a midweek home clash against Aston Villa on Tuesday, October 18 plus back-to-back home games against another relegated top-flight side, Norwich City, on Boxing Day followed by Fulham on New Year's Eve.

The return clash against Rafa Benitez's Magpies takes place at Madejski Stadium on March 7 next year, another Tuesday night fixture under the floodlights.

Reading's trip to Villa Park is scheduled for Saturday, April 15, while Stam's side end the season with an away game at Burton Albion.

2016/17 Championship season:

06/08/2016    15:00    Reading v Preston North End
13/08/2016    15:00    Wolverhampton v Reading
17/08/2016    19:45    Newcastle United v Reading
20/08/2016    15:00    Reading v Brighton
27/08/2016    15:00    Cardiff City v Reading
10/09/2016    15:00    Reading v Ipswich Town
13/09/2016    20:00    Reading v Birmingham City
17/09/2016    15:00    Barnsley v Reading
24/09/2016    15:00    Reading v Huddersfield Town
27/09/2016    19:45    Brentford v Reading
01/10/2016    15:00    Reading v Derby County
15/10/2016    15:00    Queens Park Rangers v Reading
18/10/2016    20:00    Reading v Aston Villa
22/10/2016    15:00    Rotherham United v Reading
29/10/2016    15:00    Reading v Nottingham Forest
05/11/2016    15:00    Wigan Athletic v Reading
19/11/2016    15:00    Reading v Burton Albion
26/11/2016    15:00    Reading v Bristol City
03/12/2016    15:00    Fulham v Reading
10/12/2016    15:00    Reading v Sheffield Wednesday
13/12/2016    19:45    Leeds United v Reading
17/12/2016    15:00    Blackburn Rovers v Reading
26/12/2016    15:00    Reading v Norwich City
31/12/2016    15:00    Reading v Fulham
02/01/2017    15:00    Bristol City v Reading
14/01/2017    15:00    Reading v Queens Park Rangers
21/01/2017    15:00    Derby County v Reading
28/01/2017    15:00    Reading v Cardiff City
31/01/2017    19:45    Birmingham City v Reading
04/02/2017    15:00    Ipswich Town v Reading
11/02/2017    15:00    Reading v Barnsley
14/02/2017    20:00    Reading v Brentford
18/02/2017    15:00    Huddersfield Town v Reading
25/02/2017    15:00    Brighton v Reading
04/03/2017    15:00    Reading v Wolverhampton
07/03/2017    20:00    Reading v Newcastle United
11/03/2017    15:00    Preston North End v Reading
18/03/2017    15:00    Sheffield Wednesday v Reading
01/04/2017    15:00    Reading v Leeds United
04/04/2017    20:00    Reading v Blackburn Rovers
08/04/2017    15:00    Norwich City v Reading
15/04/2017    15:00    Aston Villa v Reading
17/04/2017    15:00    Reading v Rotherham United
22/04/2017    15:00    Nottingham Forest v Reading
29/04/2017    15:00    Reading v Wigan Athletic
07/05/2017    12:00    Burton Albion v Reading
 

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