I have been asked to help allocate 8 venues (Venue 1, Venue 2, Venue 3, Venue 4, Venue 5, Venue 6, Venue 7, Venue 8), to the fixtures below, each team (Team 1, Team 2, Team 3, Team 4, Team 5, Team 6, Team 7, Team 8) must never play at the same venue more than once across all rounds.

I have been told the fixtures order can’t be changed because it must be organised based on how teams finished in the competition in previous year.

I’m wondering if I can achieve this somehow in PHP… I do use PHP although quite rusty but I just wouldn’t know where to start, so thought I’d ask the question in case anyone already had experience in this. I’m happy to have a go but really need pointing in the right direction.

I’ve tried using excel but lost countless hours without success! 😩

If what I’m asking is not realistic, more than happy for this to be closed!

I offered my help voluntarily thinking this can’t be too hard, but how wrong I was!

Round 1

• Team 1 vs Team 8
• Team 2 vs Team 7
• Team 3 vs Team 6
• Team 4 vs Team 5

Round 2

• Team 7 vs Team 1
• Team 8 vs Team 2
• Team 5 vs Team 3
• Team 6 vs Team 4

Round 3

• Team 1 vs Team 6
• Team 2 vs Team 5
• Team 3 vs Team 8
• Team 4 vs Team 7

Round 4

• Team 5 vs Team 1
• Team 6 vs Team 2
• Team 3 vs Team 7
• Team 4 vs Team 8

Round 5

• Team 1 vs Team 4
• Team 2 vs Team 3
• Team 8 vs Team 5
• Team 7 vs Team 6

Round 6

• Team 3 vs Team 1
• Team 4 vs Team 2
• Team 5 vs Team 7
• Team 6 vs Team 8

Round 7

• Team 1 vs Team 2
• Team 3 vs Team 4
• Team 5 vs Team 6
• Team 7 vs Team 8

I’ve tried in excel but always end up with a few teams playing on the same venue more than once. I’m now considering PHP but not sure if it’s doable and don’t want to lose endless hours trying if it’s not realistic, so may have to keep trying with excel