Premier role for Portsmouth

Fratton Park will welcome in the new English Premiership season - and net Portsmouth a six-figure sum in the process.

Satellite broadcasters Sky have selected the match against Aston Villa to kick off their schedule for the new campaign, which will see the season begin with an unprecedented lunchtime kick-off on August 16th at 12.05 p.m.

For Harry Redknapp's team, back in the top flight for the first time since 1988, it will bring a massive financial windfall and goes to emphasise the
widening gap between Division One and the elite of English football.

Having the match shown live on Sky Sports will net Portsmouth in the region of £600,000 compared to around £60,000 for a Division One game, and with the trip to Fulham in November also picked for television, the south-coast club are looking at television earnings of just over £1 million.

Chairman Milan Mandaric, who has bankrolled the club's rise to the
Premiership, cannot wait for the new season to start.

"We could be top of the Premier League by 2.15," he joked, "Even a draw
will have us up there in second place. I know many more Pompey fans across the country, and from all over the world, will now be watching this game. "It is an historical game and now many more people can at least share in the occasion from afar."

Sky have selected Liverpool's first home match against Chelsea for their
opening Super Sunday show on August 17th at 4.05 p.m., while armchair
fans will get their first view of champions Manchester United when the match at Newcastle on August 23rd will be screened live at noon.

The satellite broadcaster will have featured every top-flight club in a live game by the final week of October, with other highlights including Manchester United against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday, September
21st and the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool on Saturday, August 30th.

Vic Wakeling, Sky Sports' managing director commented: "Over the first 31
days of the season, we shall see the top seven teams from last season, and
all three promoted clubs in live games on Sky Sports. We think it's a fascinating selection of matches."