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06-20-2005, 11:08 PM
The pulsating Champions League final is still fresh in the memory but less than a month after Liverpool's dramatic triumph on 25 May the new football season is about to start.
The Intertoto Cup first round got underway on Saturday as teams bid to qualify for the Uefa Cup while the draw to kickstart this season's Champions League will be on 24 June.
Reds fans may still be rubbing their eyes in amazement at beating AC Milan but they will be jolted out of their happy haze as they begin the defence of their crown on 12/13 July.
Newcastle's season will start with the third round of the Intertoto Cup on 16/17 July while Manchester United and Everton will join the Champions League race at the third qualifying round on 16/17 August.
There has been little time to catch your breath in the ever-diminishing so-called football summer break and the BBC Sport website will be bringing you a list of this season's league fixtures on 23 June.
But here is a list of dates on the domestic and European front to put in you diaries for the upcoming campaign in World Cup year.
JUNE
18/19 June
Intertoto Cup first round, first leg
Twenty-four days after the Champions League final, the new season starts with teams vying for a Uefa Cup spot through this competition.
24 June
Champions League first and second qualifying round draw
Liverpool have been granted permission to play in the competition, despite not qualifying through the Premiership and will have to start at the earliest stage to retain their trophy.
JULY
12/13 July
Champions League first qualifying round, first leg
Glentoran, Shelbourne and Total Network Solutions will join Liverpool at the start of the Champions League trail.
14 July
Uefa Cup first qualifying round, first leg
CSKA Moscow claimed the 2004/2005 Uefa Cup crown and this year's final will take place at PSV Eindhoven's ground in Holland.
16/17 July
Intertoto Cup third round
Newcastle take to the stage as they aim to earn a Uefa Cup spot.
30 July
Scottish Premier League kick-off
Rangers and Celtic, managed by Gordon Strachan, begin their annual tussle for the SPL crown which the former claimed in a dramatic final day of last season.
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 and while Barnet and Carlisle will be savouring their return to the League.
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.
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, hopefully, 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.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4094962.stm
The Intertoto Cup first round got underway on Saturday as teams bid to qualify for the Uefa Cup while the draw to kickstart this season's Champions League will be on 24 June.
Reds fans may still be rubbing their eyes in amazement at beating AC Milan but they will be jolted out of their happy haze as they begin the defence of their crown on 12/13 July.
Newcastle's season will start with the third round of the Intertoto Cup on 16/17 July while Manchester United and Everton will join the Champions League race at the third qualifying round on 16/17 August.
There has been little time to catch your breath in the ever-diminishing so-called football summer break and the BBC Sport website will be bringing you a list of this season's league fixtures on 23 June.
But here is a list of dates on the domestic and European front to put in you diaries for the upcoming campaign in World Cup year.
JUNE
18/19 June
Intertoto Cup first round, first leg
Twenty-four days after the Champions League final, the new season starts with teams vying for a Uefa Cup spot through this competition.
24 June
Champions League first and second qualifying round draw
Liverpool have been granted permission to play in the competition, despite not qualifying through the Premiership and will have to start at the earliest stage to retain their trophy.
JULY
12/13 July
Champions League first qualifying round, first leg
Glentoran, Shelbourne and Total Network Solutions will join Liverpool at the start of the Champions League trail.
14 July
Uefa Cup first qualifying round, first leg
CSKA Moscow claimed the 2004/2005 Uefa Cup crown and this year's final will take place at PSV Eindhoven's ground in Holland.
16/17 July
Intertoto Cup third round
Newcastle take to the stage as they aim to earn a Uefa Cup spot.
30 July
Scottish Premier League kick-off
Rangers and Celtic, managed by Gordon Strachan, begin their annual tussle for the SPL crown which the former claimed in a dramatic final day of last season.
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 and while Barnet and Carlisle will be savouring their return to the League.
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.
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, hopefully, 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.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4094962.stm