MARTIN Hardie is relishing a return to East End Park this weekend and backed the Pars kids who used to clean his boots to clinch promotion.

The popular 37-year-old will return to the scene of “the most pivotal game of my career” – the title decider with Raith in 2011 – on Sunday for a charity match in aid of The Pars Foundation and Play as One Scotland.

The midfielder, without a club after leaving Airdrie in January, rates his time with Athletic as one of the most memorable in his career and told Press Sport that the Pars kids can take them to the Championship.

He said, “The majority of the team now were kids at under-17, under-19 and YTS during my time at the club but they’ve been given their chance, firstly in the Championship and now a full season in League One, which should stand them in good stead.

“It’ll be an interesting game whoever they play but it’s not so much about the performance but the result. Hopefully they can get back up to the Championship.” Hardie continued, “It will be a fantastic occasion to go back as it was always great to play at East End Park and even against Dunfermline.

“Although we should’ve done a bit better in the SPL it was a fantastic experience and the thing that kept us going was the team spirit built up by Jim McIntyre and Gerry McCabe. Going into training there was good humour and banter but there was a serious side as well.

“We fell just short of safety, which was disappointing, but things can go against you. That’s football.

“It didn’t help with the club’s hands being tied with things off the park but we just had to concentrate on the football.

“Through that I felt for the fans as they are the ones who pay the wages by going to watch the team.

“When you see the type of crowd we had for that Raith Rovers game, it was an unbelievable attendance.

“Although I’ve played against all my former clubs, playing against Dunfermline has been the only time where I’ve been applauded.

“It’s something that I hold dear to my heart as I look back on my time at the club fondly and I still look for their results.” Affectionately known as ‘Big Mad Mental’ by Pars fans, he’s been training with Partick Thistle’s under-20s and despite turning down the opportunity to join clubs in League Two in February, has no plans to hang up his boots just yet.

He added, “I didn’t feel I was quite fit enough to play but I still want to play. I feel that I could go and play no problem as I’m quite a fit guy naturally, so I’ll see how I am in pre-season. Sunday will be a good test to see where I am fitness-wise against the other old crocks!” As well as Hardie, fans will be able to see old favourites such as Austin McCann, Stevie Crawford and Hamish French strutting their stuff in the charity match.

The teams, sponsored by Fife Soccer 7s and JWF, will be managed by Bert Paton and Bonar Mercer.

The game kicks off at 2.30pm and Legends Bar will be open afterwards for refreshments.

Following on from the game there will be a fund-raising band night at PJ Molloys, with music from the Tartan Army’s own Ted Christopher, Stevie Agnew, Rachel McAlpine, The Wingnuts, Altered Sky, Dancing On Tables, DJ Joose, David Latto Band and Dexy’s Bootleg Runners.

The event starts at 7pm and tickets, which cost £5, are available from the bar, Dunfermline Academy of Sport at Pitreavie or by emailing mike@pa1s.org.uk. The Pars Foundation, formerly Pars in the Community, is a registered charity that delivers community football programmes to kids throughout Fife. Play As One Scotland is a new charity which aims to raise funds to support inclusive play and sport projects throughout Scotland. Cash raised from this game will go towards a disabled play area and sensory path within Pittencrieff Park.