Ward's debut hat-trick and a Stadium of Light trip - opening-day memories

[BBC] [Getty Images] With the countdown to the 2026-27 Premier League fixture release well and truly on, we asked for your stories of opening-day games - both good and bad - that have stuck in your minds most. Here are some of your replies: Mark: It was the first match of the 2016-17 season and we were playing Barnsley at home. The first half didn't last long in the memory, but at half-time we introduced new signing Grant Ward, who we had bought from Tottenham for about £500,000. His first touch ended up in the back of the net and he had grabbed his second less than 20 minutes later. The crowd were buzzing and when he got another chance near the end, he didn't disappoint. He completed his hat-trick in less than 45 minutes. It was a brilliant way to start the season. We had beaten Barnsley 4-2, which coincidentally was the same score as the play-off final! Happy days. Louis: My worst opening-day memory is being all over Liverpool only to then go and concede two goals against the run of play in August 2024. KB: Our return to the Championship after four years in League One began with a trip to Sunderland . It was the opening fixture of a remarkable 2023-24 campaign that ultimately delivered us back‑to‑back promotions to the Premier League. A packed Stadium of Light set the stage for a Sunday evening opener and a hard‑earned 2-1 away win, which sparked what would become an unforgettable season. We haven't been back to the Stadium of Light since. Will history repeat itself? Come back to this page at 10:00 BST to see how Town's 2026-27 Premier League fixtures have fallen.