It seems barely credible that, on a weekend that the third Ashes Test of the summer is being played, the new football season is kicking off.

But, if you get the feeling it gets earlier, you would be right – never before has the opening day been quite so early in August.

At least the fixture list has been kind to AFC Wimbledon supporters.

Whoever operates the fixture computer must have typed in the words “great days out” next to the Dons’ name because they start the season with a trip to Torquay United tomorrow.

Not only that, but they remain in the holiday spirit in a fortnight when they return to Devon to face Exeter while, to complete a generous hat-trick, their trip to Plymouth is set for Easter Monday.

Obviously, not every club has been so lucky and, on a weekend in which the Football League celebrates the start of its 125th anniversary, it will be interesting to see how attendances compare to previous years.

With the school holidays having barely got under way I suspect more than a few fans will have had to bow to family pressure and miss their team’s opening fixture.

The early start is a price to pay for the end-of-season play-offs that continue to thrill and astonish in equal measure every season.

Of course, the Premier League doesn’t start for another fortnight and you can hardly blame the Football League for wanting a higher profile before the saturation coverage and marketing coverage for “the greatest league in the world” kicks in.

And there is logic in extending the season so that there are less midweek matches during the course of the season.

There’s certainly something more appealing about going to a match on a sunny afternoon in August than on a miserable cold Tuesday night in January.

But, with the World Cup coming up in Brazil next summer, this season is going to be a test of stamina for supporters as well as players. Are you ready?