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Fixtures buzz for O'Kelly
DONCASTER Rovers No 2 Richard O'Kelly may have been in the game a long time, but he still gets a buzz every year when the fixtures come out.
"It was exciting last year with it being the club's first season in the Championship but it is even more exciting this year," he told The Star.
"We'll be playing against some fantastic teams in some fantastic stadiums. You look at every fixture and say: 'That's a big game.' "
Rovers, who visit Watford, start their Championship campaign on the road for a second successive season.
"Personally I'm not fussed about whether we are home or away on the opening day of the season," said O'Kelly.
"You have to play everyone home and away during the season. At least it gets one of our longest trips out of the way early on while the weather is good.
"People might say that if we going to be away that we could have had a harder game than Watford.
"But they are still a team with a lot of Premiership quality players. They have also got a new manager in Malky Mackay.
"Brendan Rodgers, who has now moved on to Reading, had got them playing football in his time in charge.
"But Malky, who worked under Brendan is the same.
"He was on a coaching course with me last week and I know him very well. He's very intelligent, very articulate and he's got fantastic enthusiasm for the game, so it should be a good encounter."
Rovers, who have three home games in the first month of the season, also visit relegated Middlesbrough.
"I've always thought that it is probably best to catch a relegated team early on," said O'Kelly.
"It can be a shock to the system when you are relegated and can take a few games to find your feet, whereas a promoted team often have momentum from the previous season."
Nottingham Forest, who reportedly made the same bid as previously rejected, have drawn another blank in their efforts to land defender Matt Mills.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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