The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has officially unveiled the fixture lists for the upcoming 2024/25 season, encompassing the William Hill Premiership, William Hill Championship, William Hill League 1, and William Hill League 2.
The 2024/25 season will signify the 12th year of the SPFL, with William Hill serving as its inaugural title sponsor. The season is scheduled to commence on the initial weekend of August and will incorporate a total of five games selected for live television coverage.
In the William Hill Premiership, Sky Sports is slated to air four matches, commencing with the Heart of Midlothian v Rangers clash on Saturday, August 3. Reigning champions Celtic will embark on their defence against Kilmarnock, and Dundee United will mark their top-flight return against city rivals Dundee. Further to this, Sky Sports will also provide live coverage of St Johnstone v Aberdeen. The inaugural match of the season will witness Falkirk’s William Hill Championship opener against Queen’s Park broadcast live on the BBC Scotland channel on August 2.
Commencing this season, Sky Sports holds the rights to exclusively broadcast up to 60 matches in the William Hill Premiership. Additional broadcast partners, such as Premier Sports, will also feature live matches. The restructured UEFA calendar for 2024/25 will result in the absence of a winter break in the William Hill Premiership. The final fixtures in the top flight are set for the weekend of May 17/18, whilst the William Hill Championship, William Hill League 1, and William Hill League 2 will conclude two weeks earlier.
Neil Doncaster, SPFL group chief executive, has conveyed his enthusiasm for the forthcoming season and has expressed gratitude to the league’s broadcast partners for their contribution to showcasing the SPFL. Gary Hughes, Director of Football at Sky Sports, has likewise expressed their enthusiasm for the new SPFL deal and the commitment to highlighting Scottish football.
The fixture card for the opening weekend encompasses a variety of matches across the different leagues. Nonetheless, certain William Hill Premiership matches may necessitate being rescheduled to Sundays due to clubs participating in UEFA competition matches on Thursdays. Moreover, discussions are ongoing regarding the scheduling of Rangers’ home fixtures in August due to ongoing stadium works at Ibrox.
In summary, the publication of the 2024/25 SPFL fixture list is anticipated to generate excitement among clubs and fans alike, with an augmented number of televised matches and a promising season ahead.