New grounds, new teams and over 10,000 miles - what Sunderland fans can look forward to in League One

The Jack Ross era gets underway on Saturday, August 4 when the Black Cats host Charlton in a televised lunchtime kick-off.

Sunderland's passionate fanbase will then start clocking up the miles on the road, with the club's loyal fanbase desperate for something to cheer after successive relegations.

Supporters will clock up almost 1,000 extra miles than they did in the Championship.

The first away day is to Luton Town on August 11, a 496-mile round trip.

Those fans making round-trips to every League One game will travel 10,052 miles in total and that doesn't include FA Cup, Carabao Cup or Checkatrade Trophy fixtures.

It will come as no surprise that the longest trip is the 812-mile round trip to Plymouth Argyle on November 3.

Other long journeys include the trip to Portsmouth (676 miles) on December 22, AFC Wimbledon (608 miles) on August 25 and Gillingham (606 miles) four days earlier.

The shortest trip of the season will see Sunderland travel 228 miles to Bradford City and there are plenty of other (relatively) close trips with Barnsley, Doncaster, Accrington, Scunthorpe,

Fleetwood, Blackpool and Rochdale all in League One.

Sunderland will lock horns with AFC Wimbledon, Joey Barton's Fleetwood Town, Rochdale and Wycombe Wanderers for the first time after relegation to the third tier.

As well as trips to those clubs, fans can look forward to trips to Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium, Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium, Scunthorpe United’s Glanford Park, and

Shrewsbury Town’s New Meadow for the first time in competitive first-team fixtures.

We take a look at three key away games for Sunderland supporters to look forward to:

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (A)

It’s an 812-mile round-trip from the Stadium of Light to Home Park - but that won’t put off Sunderland fans on the weekend of November 3.

Scores of supporters will no doubt make the journey to the South West to cheer on their side against the resurgent Pilgrims.

Sunderland last made the journey to Plymouth in February 2007 as goals from Anthony Stokes and David Connolly handed the Black Cats victory.

Home Park has undergone significant redevelopment since that last visit with construction of a new £5m grandstand already underway.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY (A)

December 8 sees Sunderland make the trip to Accrington Stanley - who are they?

Sunderland will hope to avoid a major upset and leave with three points from the trip to the Crown Ground, away fans situated in the open-air terrace behind the goal.

Perhaps one of the less glamorous venues that supporters will visit this season, but that doesn’t detract from the excitement of visiting somewhere new.

Plenty of fans will no doubt take in the relatively short journey to Lancashire as Sunderland face a side looking to build on last season’s League Two triumph.

A classic, old-school ground. The first league meeting between the two sides since Sunderland last faced the first senior side from Accrington back in 1892, a 4-2 win for Sunderland.

BLACKPOOL (A)

Oh we do love to be beside the seaside! Mind, it may be a bit chilly when Sunderland visit on New Year's Day!

Away games on the coast are always a firm fans’ favourite, and they don’t get much better than Blackpool - with many fans set to bring in 2019 in Blackpool and enjoy all the sights and sounds it has to offer.

This was the fixture that caught the eye when the full programme was released - and Jack Ross will be hoping he heads back to the North East with three points - and a stick of Blackpool rock - in his back pocket.

Mileage breakdown:

Accrington Stanley: 244

AFC Wimbledon: 608

Barnsley: 232

Blackpool: 294

Bradford City: 228

Bristol Rovers: 578

Burton Albion: 340

Charlton Athletic: 568

Coventry City: 412

Doncaster Rovers: 236

Fleetwood Town: 282

Gillingham: 606

Luton Town: 496

Oxford United: 518

Peterborough United: 394

Plymouth Argyle: 812

Portsmouth: 676

Rochdale: 268

Scunthorpe United: 262

Shrewsbury Town: 454

Southend United: 588

Walsall: 406

Wycombe Wanderers: 550