SPL Fixtures Released This Week

The first games of the new season will take place on the weekend of August 4 and the list will be transferred to diaries and calendars by supporters as they anticipate the forthcoming campaign. This is the first season to be sponsored by the Clydesdale Bank.

The first game always rates special attention. Could the computer deliver us another opener against either of the Old Firm? We have started against them for the last three seasons and last year we lost 2-1 to Rangers in Malpas's debut game at Fir Park..

In previous years we have faced Celtic(h) 4-4, Celtic(a) L 0-2, Dundee (h) L 0-2, Livingston (a) L 2-3, Dunfermline(a) L 2-5, Dundee(h) L 0-2. The eagled-eyed reader will not fail to spot a worrying trend in these curtain raisers. Let's hope that the pattern comes to halt at the beginning of August. In any event, it appears that the result in the first game of the season has little effect on our final placing.

We will have no trip across the Forth Bridge to East End Park this season and the SPL newcomer will provide the shortest away journey imaginable. The Gretna games will be fascinating, particularly the phantom 'away' trips!. Will we have a Ne'rday fixture? And who will it be?

Tune in on Thursday and all will be revealed.