It's called the beautiful game for a reason...

One of the best days of the year.

No I'm not talking about Easter or New Year's Day or even Christmas. It's fixture release day!

  

Everyone has their own little obsession whether it's reading or fangirling/noting. While people like that look out for the dates of the book festivals or the gig of their favourite band, I like to eagerly await the revealing of my favourite team's matches. From the long treks up north to the derby days, it's all part of the game.

My passion? Like millions in the world, it's football. I only got into football by watching the 2007 FA Cup Final. But I didn't know the teams that were playing. I'm pretty sure I didn't know football even existed until I stumbled across the final minutes of Chelsea's victory over Manchester United at Wembley that day. Don't judge me...

Ever since I've been hooked. I've never been a person who only cares about their team or just the Premier League. I watch and try to appreciate all professional levels of football.

And with only fixture release day and the start of pre-season to entertain me, I took my own perspective on the 2014/15 league season in England.

The ups and downs:

Premier League
Champions: Chelsea
Relegated: Hull, Burnley, QPR

It was no surprise that Chelsea won it, I could have bet everything I own (that's not a lot) on it happening and they finished comfortably at the top. Mourinho decided to grind out results in the back end of last season, which I understand, but there really wasn't a need for it. The others weren't good enough to give them a run for their money. Will they be last year? For the entertainment factor, I REALLY hope so.

Liverpool had an on-off season which made last season look like a complete one off and they saw the departure of their legend Steven Gerrard.  They'll continue to hope for Champions League next year. United finished fourth  unspectacularly and will look to build on last season in their post Ferguson era. Arsenal are starting to improve shown by finishing 3rd and their fans will once again hope of a title challenge that goes the distance after successive FA Cup wins.

Championship

Champions: AFC Bournemouth
Promoted: Watford, Norwich
Relegated: Wigan, Millwall, Blackpool

Bournemouth and Watford played great football with skill and their rise up the leagues is admirable. Norwich were mid table around January so it was a great comeback for them to go straight back up through the playoffs. How they all cope next year though will be interesting. Oh and Derby really bottled it this year.

Blackpool and Millwall's relegation was inevitable. Millwall as they had struggled for a number of years and Blackpool because they were really strapped for cash. You have to feel sorry for their fans.

League 1

Champions: Bristol City
Promoted: MK Dons, Preston
Relegated: Notts County, Crawley, Leyton Orient, Yeovil

Bristol City led from start to front and the future looks good for them under their new ownership. Premier League in a few years? Who knows...
Preston bottled automatic promotion but recovered to win the playoffs in some style. MK Dons will be in the Championship for the first time in their 11 year history, but to some opposition. It's seen as a franchise, not a club and their rise is apparently "everything that's wrong with football".

League One was seriously tight this year in mid table which made things very interesting. Even more so at the bottom when 6 teams were in relegation trouble on the last day of the season.

League 2

Champions: Burton Albion
Promoted: Shrewsbury, Bury, Southend
Relegated: Cheltenham, Tranmere

I must admit I didn't really focus too much on League 2 this year. But fair play to Wycombe who went from last day relegation survivors to play off finalists in just one season. I have to give a mention to Tranmere who I remember being top of League One in February 2013 and in August this year, will be playing in the new National League (Conference) for the first time in 94 years. Only God knows how they managed to do that so quickly...

Conference

Champions: BARNET
Promoted: Bristol Rovers
Relegated: AFC Telford, Nuneaton, Alfreton, Dartford

:) To keep this simple, we had the title in our hands from 30th August last year. Didn't win it comfortably but like I care! Back where we belong! Fair play to Bristol Rovers whose fans embraced non league football. Their team pushed us all the way while losing only 2 games from mid September to May so they deserved promotion as much as us.

So there you have it, the Premier League next season is set to be one of the most exciting yet with Chelsea still the strongest team, but Arsenal have momentum and the missing piece of the jigsaw in Petr Cech. United and City are willing to splash the cash for better players to challenge as well. I hope for another AGUEEEEEERRRROOOOOOOOO.