Published: Thursday, 18th June, 2009 11:15am

Pars start with Caley at home

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THE Pars will be hoping history repeats itself as their opening match of the First Division season is at home to Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday 8th August.

The omens are good as the Highlanders were soundly beaten at East End Park 10 years ago on the first day of a campaign that ended in promotion.

Andy Smith, Brian Reid, Scott Thomson and Stewart Petrie were all on target as Athletic won 4-0 in the opening game of the 1999-2000 season.

Jimmy Calderwood"s men were promoted – although they finished second – but Jim McIntyre will have to finish top of the pile to get to the SPL in May.

The Pars also have a Fife derby to look forward to this season with a crunch New Year battle at home to Raith Rovers on Saturday 2nd January.

Diaries will already be marked with the first derby encounter too, an East End Park clash on Saturday 29th August.

That"ll be the Pars" third home match out of the opening four fixtures with a trip to Greenock on 15th August and a home match against Livingston a week later.

There are only two festive fixtures with a Boxing Day bash at Livingston followed by the New Year derby with Rovers and, if the Pars are still in the promotion mix, they"ll have a tricky finish to the campaign.

Three out of the final four matches are on the road with long trips to Ayr and Inverness on consecutive Saturdays, 10th and 17th April, before Morton at home and away to Livi on the final day, 1st May.

Pars chairman John Yorkston said, 'I"m delighted to have the New Year derby back and both sets of fans will be looking forward to that one.

'We"ve got three out of the first four matches at East End, which could help us off to a good start, although we"ll have to improve our home form after last season. The opening match with Inverness won"t be easy and they"ll have something to prove after their relegation.'

The Pars are still looking to add to their squad and the chairman was optimistic new faces would be arriving soon.

Yorkston continued, 'We"re getting a young team together and obviously there"s a lot of personnel change with senior staff having left.

'It"s a new look side and I"m very excited about the amount of wingers and attacking players we have.

'Jim wants his team to play with a bit of flair but he was restricted last year with the injuries to Simon Wiles and Kevin Harper, two of the more creative players.

'He"s addressing that by targeting other lads, bringing in people like Joe Cardle and David Graham and Wiles will be out to earn a contract now he"s fit again.

'It gives us more options, more width, and hopefully that will help us play better and win more games.'