When does it all kick off again?

Here is a list of dates to put in your diary for the upcoming season in World Cup year.

AUGUST

6 August

Football League kick-off
The Championship League One and Two get underway. Southampton will be vying for promotion straight back into the Premiership, Nottingham Forest will be every team's cup final in League One while Barnet and Carlisle will be savouring their return to the League.

Opening Championship fixtures

Opening League One fixtures

Opening League Two fixtures

7 August

Community Shield
The Ashley Cole 'tapping-up' saga will only have aggravated the rivalry between Chelsea and Arsenal as the Premiership champions play the FA Cup winners at the Millennium Stadium to launch the top-flight season.

13 August

Premiership kick-off
The start of the new league season as Chelsea set out to regain their Premiership title while Arsenal and Manchester United will be trying to knock the Stamford Bridge outfit off their heady perch.

Opening Premiership fixtures

Conference kick-off
The non-league season begins with one automatic promotion place up for grabs with another spot via the play-offs.

23/24 August

Carling Cup
Championship, League One and Two teams start out on the road to the Millennium stadium while the Premiership clubs not in Europe join at the second stage. The third round sees the rest of the top-flight contingent join, including holders Chelsea.

26 August

Uefa Cup first round draw
Bolton, having qualified for European football for the first time in their history, and Middlesbrough will be in the hat for the first round proper. The draw takes place in Monaco.

31 August

Transfer window closes
Clubs have until 1700 BST to complete their signings before the window slams shut.

OCTOBER

8 & 12 October
World Cup qualifying showdown
A double header and last of the group games for the European zone. The eight group winners will progress automatically to the finals in Germany along with the two-best second placed teams.

The other six teams who finish runners-up will be drawn against each other and play-off for the remaining three places.

DECEMBER

9 December
The draw for the World Cup will take place in Leipzig in Germany.

31 December

Transfer window re-opens
The chance to strengthen in order to further a push for promotion, a European spot, the play-offs or stave off relegation is available for clubs wanting to bolster their squads.

JANUARY 2006

31 January

Transfer window comes down
At 1700 GMT the shutters will be drawn and clubs will have to make do with the players they have until the end of the season.

FEBRUARY 2006

26 February

Carling Cup final
The first knockout competition final of the season with a Uefa Cup place on offer for the winners.

MAY

6/7 May

Premiership & Football League final curtain
Dreams will have been realised or may still have the chance to come true via the play-offs and relegation nightmares may have come true as the league campaign comes to a close.

The season is finishing earlier than usual to allow players on World Cup duty an extended rest before the finals in Germany.

13 May

FA Cup final
This should take place at the new Wembley if building work on the national stadium has been completed on time.

17 May

Champions League final
The Stade de France in Paris is the venue for this season's European showpiece.

JUNE

9 June

World Cup
Thirty-two countries will embark on Germany with aspirations of winning football's biggest tournament and succeeding holders Brazil as world champions.