Finally, Tranmere are within just a few days of kicking-off a brand-new season and one in which we’re back in the Football League.
After three long and painful years away, Rovers return to the EFL a changed team and a changed club. We have a proper manager, a united fan base and a club that has changed vastly since we dropped out a few years ago. Okay, we may not have that striker to partner Lord Norwood yet, but there’s still time.
Our three seasons away from the Football League has seen our habits change as fans and what we’re used to on matchday transformed. Thankfully, it’s time to readjust to EFL life, but there are a few changes since we were last here.
Poor Manish and his BBC highlights show are long gone, matchday squads are the biggest they’ve ever been, and some other details have changed.
So, as we celebrate the final countdown to our big Football League reunion, here are a few things that have changed since we were last here.
Match Highlights on TV
If you want to see highlights of Tranmere matches this season, you’ll no longer have to wait up until shortly before midnight for the old BBC show. Instead, this season sees a new deal come in to effect that shifts the Saturday night coverage in to a primetime 9pm spot.
The trade-off is that it’s on a TV channel called Quest, presented by Colin Murray. Don’t fear, Quest is not another paid subscription channel, instead it’s actually available on Freeview. You can find it here:
Freeview: ch 37
Sky: ch 144
YouView (BT / TalkTalk / PlusNet): ch 37
EE TV: ch 37
Freesat: ch 167
Virgin Media: ch 172
Struggling to find it? Check out this Quest FAQ.
Clubs are now allowed SEVEN subs for league games
For matches in the EFL, clubs are now able to name up to seven substitutes rather than the five when we were last in the division. This should not only give Rovers much more freedom in the players they can name on the bench, but it will also hopefully allow more opportunities for young players to be involved.
What’s that squiggle on shirts next to play names?
If you haven’t spotted it already, then you may well when you get a close-up look at the player’s shirts this season. Next to the first letter of the names on the back of shirts, there is what looks like a pen squiggle to the left. This is actually the logo of Mind, the new official charity partner of the EFL which will help to encourage mental wellbeing through football.
Here’s an example that we spotted on Twitter this week.
Still Mitre match balls…but a new design
It wouldn’t be the Football League without Mitre match balls. However, unsurprisingly the design has changed a little since we were last in the league.
Here they are in all of their glory.
