ATHLETIC have discovered their fixture schedule for the new league season - and face a fierce rival in their first home encounter.

Matches for the 2024/25 William Hill SPFL campaign have been released this morning (Thursday) and Dunfermline will be on the road for their opening match on Saturday August 3.

They will go to Livingston, relegated from last term's Premiership, and who they will also face in next month's Premier Sports Cup group stage, before taking on their foes from across the Kincardine Bridge, Falkirk, in their first outing at KDM Group East End Park a week later on August 10.

That match against the Bairns, who clinched the League One title last season, a year after the Pars did so, is set to be a mouth-watering prospect for supporters and a stand-out in the early season calendar.

Another such match will take place on September 14 when Fife derby rivals, Raith Rovers, make their first trip to East End, which comes after an away day to Hamilton Academical - promoted from the third tier through the play-offs - on August 24, and a home fixture with Ayr United on August 31.

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James McPake and his team will travel to Partick Thistle for their sixth match of the season seven days after entertaining Rovers, and round off their opening quarter with matches against Queen's Park at home, Airdrieonians away and Greenock Morton at home.

The first visit to the Falkirk Stadium takes place on Saturday October 26, and December 14 will see the second Fife derby take place at Stark's Park.

A week later, a trip to Cappielow to play Morton opens up the festive schedule, which then brings Falkirk back along the Halbeath Road on December 28, before Athletic play their first match of 2025 at Partick on January 4.

Raith will return to East End on February 1, before hosting the fourth and final clash between the sides on March 15, a week after Dunfermline go to Falkirk for their last meeting of the season with them.

To close the campaign, the Pars will host Partick and Airdrie, on April 19 and 26 respectively, before their final match at Morton, which will be played on Friday May 2 at 7.45pm.