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May 12, 2015


When Does Your Season Start?  (Sky Sports)

Everton and West ham UnitedThe current Premier League season comes to an end on May 24 – but some Premier League stars won't be getting much time off this summer.

For many of the top-flight's South American stars, it will be a case of wrapping up the club campaign and then hastily jumping on a plane to join up with their international team-mates for the Copa America.

The tournament begins on June 11 and runs until July 4, by which time most teams will be preparing to start pre-season and remarkably one Premier League side will have already played their first competitive match of the new term.

It is a similar story for those players competing in the European Under-21 Championship, that runs from June 17 until June 30.

So when exactly will your side kick-off their 2015/16 season?

July 2 - West Ham or Everton

The prize for the winners of the Premier League Fair Play League is a place in the Europa League first qualifying round and a nice, early start to the forthcoming campaign. Liverpool currently top the Fair Play table but are highly likely to secure qualification through their league position, meaning one of West Ham or Everton will gain entry.

Such an early start to a season is never an ideal situation, with managers having to combine pre-season training with preparing for competitive matches, and it is made even worse by the fact that both clubs have players competing in either the Copa America or the U21 European Championsips.

Enner Valencia is the highest-profile Hammers player who could find himself going without a holiday this summer. The striker will play for Ecuador in the Copa America and should they reach the latter stages, he could still be representing his country when West Ham begin their season.

Everton, meanwhile, could be without defenders John Stones and Luke Garbutt, should he sign a contract to stay at Goodison Park, if they sneak in ahead of West Ham. The duo are in line to be selected for Gareth Southgate's England Under-21 squad for the European U21 Championships, with Ross Barkley also eligible to take part.

July 30 - Swansea, Southampton, Tottenham or Liverpool

Almost a month on and, providing they get through, Everton or West Ham will be joined by one of Liverpool, Southampton, Swansea or Tottenham in the Europa League third qualifying round.

However, which club it will be cannot be determined until after the FA Cup final at the end of May. Should Aston Villa beat Arsenal, the side who finishes sixth will enter the competition here with Villa going straight into the Europa League group stages.

If Arsenal retain the cup though, the team finishing seventh will earn a European place, entering here with the sixth-placed side bumped into the group phase.

As things stand, it would be Spurs or Southampton in line to begin their season at the end of July, although should either of them overhaul Liverpool in fifth or be leapfrogged by Swansea, then Brendan Rodgers or Garry Monk could be starting their season earlier than anticipated.

August 1 - Chelsea and Aston Villa or Arsenal

Traditionally the curtain-raiser for the new season, the Community Shield will be the first chance to see the Premier League champions Chelsea in action in 2015/16. They will, of course, play the FA Cup winners, meaning either Arsenal or Aston Villa will have the opportunity to pick up the season's first available silverware.

With overseas tours the norm for most top-flight clubs, Wembley will likely be the first glimpse fans have of their sides' new signings in the flesh.

August 8-10 - Everybody else

The date many fans will already have circled on their calendar. The league campaign gets under way in both the Premier League and the Football League.

Those fans not treated to an early start for European qualifiers can rejoice that two months without seeing their team in competitive action are over.

When will the top four start playing in the Champions League?

The top three in the Premier League will go straight into the Champions League group phase, beginning September 15 or 16. The fourth placed team, currently Manchester United, face a play-off with the first leg taking place on August 18 or 19.

When will Premier League sides start playing in the Europa League?

As already mentioned, for one of West Ham or Everton the Europa League begins as early July 2 with another Premier League side entering at the third qualifying stage. Should they progress, they will be entered into the play-off round beginning on August 20, with the winners reaching the group stage. The fifth-placed side and either Aston Villa - if they win the FA Cup - or the sixth-placed team - if they don’t - will also come in at the group stage, which commences on September 17.



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