THE 2022/23 Sky Bet League One line-up is complete.
Port Vale’s 3-0 win over Mansfield Town in yesterday’s Sky Bet League Two play-off final means Oxford United now know the 23 teams they will compete against in the third tier next season.
The Burslem-based side join automatically promoted trio Forest Green Rovers, Exeter City and Bristol Rovers in climbing out of the fourth division.
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It could see two former U’s teammates return to the Kassam Stadium in the away dugout next season, with Andy Crosby and Dean Whitehead assistant boss and first-team coach respectively at Port Vale.
The clubs will meet in League One for the first time since 2017, while United have not faced Exeter at this level for 38 years – the last fixture coming in 1984.
The U’s played Bristol Rovers in the third tier just last year, but Forest Green are competing in this division for the first time in their history.
The promoted teams replace Gillingham, Doncaster Rovers, AFC Wimbledon and Crewe Alexandra.
Gillingham and Wimbledon’s relegation means United are now the third longest-serving club in League One.
The U’s will be competing at this level for a seventh successive season, more than any of their rivals except for Fleetwood Town (nine) and Shrewsbury Town (eight).
At the other end of the table, relegated Sky Bet Championship trio Peterborough United, Derby County and Barnsley replace promoted clubs Wigan Athletic, Rotherham United and Sunderland.
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United have never faced the Rams in a League One fixture, with the last game between the sides back in 1994.
Meetings with Barnsley and Peterborough are much more recent, coming in 2019 and 2021 respectively.
Despite losing Wigan and Sunderland, next season’s division will still contain seven clubs who have played in the Premier League: Derby, Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth, Ipswich Town, Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic.
Three of those – Portsmouth, Ipswich and Bolton – have even played European football since 2000.
It shows the disparity of the division that there are also 11 teams who have been in non-league this century, of which United are one.
League One line-up 2022/23:
- Accrington Stanley
- Barnsley
- Bolton Wanderers
- Bristol Rovers
- Burton Albion
- Cambridge United
- Charlton Athletic
- Cheltenham Town
- Derby County
- Exeter City
- Fleetwood Town
- Forest Green Rovers
- Ipswich Town
- Lincoln City
- MK Dons
- Morecambe
- Oxford United
- Peterborough United
- Plymouth Argyle
- Portsmouth
- Port Vale
- Sheffield Wednesday
- Shrewsbury Town
- Wycombe Wanderers
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