Fixtures Released for Season 2013/14

The eagerly awaited Scottish Football League fixtures were announced at 9.00 a.m. today - Wednesday, 19th June, 2013

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE - FIXTURES SEASON 2013/14

The last set of fixtures produced by The Scottish Football League that are issued today were not easily put together however, the small team led by Operations and Events Manager Anton Fagan have worked hard in the last few weeks to compile these fixtures.

The fixtures for season 2013/14 have had the additional complication of three new artificial pitches being installed during the summer with the new surfaces all being in the First Division where Hamilton Academical, Falkirk and Queen of the South are all moving away from grass.

Accordingly, two of the three clubs have all been scheduled to be away from home in the opening week of the League season and also they have been paired with Clyde, Alloa Athletic and Annan Athletic in terms of their home and away games should they require a temporary home due to the work taking longer than anticipated.

Fagan said: “We have to take that approach with Stenhousemuir and East Stirlingshire who ground share so it was that same approach seven times this season.”

Two of the opening day fixtures will see Championship winning Flags hoisted high in the air with Palmerston seeing the Second Division Flag raised before the visit of Dundee and Rangers' Ibrox having a likewise honour before kick-off against Brechin.

Throw in concerts at Bellahouston Park affecting Rangers games, the necessity for the Ibrox side and Celtic to not be at home on the same day as well as Dundee United and Dundee having the same requirement, linking in games becomes harder to do. This season there is one clash of fixtures in Glasgow between Rangers and Celtic and one on Tayside between Dundee and Dundee United however, TV scheduling may see these matters taken care of.

The use of Hampden Park for international games effects Queen’s Park’s Third Division games before their relocation to ground share with Airdrieonians after 24th November due to the Commonwealth games.The Gold Cup at Ayr race course effects Somerset Park matches while The Great Scottish Run is another factor to be contended with in Glasgow, as well as local events throughout the country.

Fagan added: “It may well be the last set of fixtures produced by the SFL but they were not easy to do. They were hard to schedule this year due to all the factors that had to be considered and we had to make a last minute change on Tuesday after an issue was identified.

“We have been in discussions with the Scottish Police fairly frequently and they understand the complexities we have had to deal with to meet some of their requirements.”

The first Scottish Football League matches of the season start on Saturday, 10th August, 2013.

Scottish Football League The opening day fixtures are as follows:-