SPL return starts v Buddies

After an absence of four seasons the Pars will kick off in the SPL on Monday 25th July 2011

Dunfermline Athletic will kick off their SPL season at home to St Mirren live on Sky Sports on Monday 25th July 2011.  The following week they are in Communities Cup action away to Annan Athletic in what will be the Pars first ever competitive match against the Solway side.  Then it's back to SPL with another home game against Terry Butcher's Inverness Caley Thistle before the first derby match against St Johnstone in Perth on 13th August.   For fans with an eye on a weekend break in the Highland capital the only away game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle (at least pre split) will be on 22nd October.

The first of the Old Firm to visit East End Park will be Rangers on Saturday 24th September. The first match against Celtic will be the re-arranged away match from 30th July.

The fixtures over the festive season see Dunfermline play St Johnstone at home on Christmas Eve, Motherwell away on 28th December and Celtic at East End Park on 2nd January!.  That Wednesday fixture between Christmas and New Year is currently the only one scheduled in midweek and for those trying to fit in a weekend away from football, the international weekends in the first weekend in September and the second weekend in October have no SPL fixtures currently planned.  Remember all these SPL fixtures are subject to change to allow for opponents playing in Europe, television schedules etc.

Full list of Dunfermline's SPL Fixtures

Reaction from Assistant Manager Gerry McCabe and new signing, Paul Gallacher will follow after a Club press conference on Friday.

Pre season friendlies have been arranged at Livingston on Saturday 2nd July and away to Brechin City on Tuesday 5th July .