Helicopter Saturday

One of Dundee, Hamilton Accies or Falkirk will be crowned the first ever SPFL Championship winners at 4.45pm today, with the league trophy delivered by helicopter to the winners moments later.

The SPFL has booked a PDG helicopter, based at Cumbernauld Airport, which will travel with the trophy to a site close to the home stadium of the eventual winners as soon as they are confirmed. It will then be swiftly delivered to the ground of the triumphant team and presented to them.

Dundee currently occupy top spot on 66 points and entertain Dumbarton this Saturday; Hamilton Accies are close behind on 64 points ahead of their home game with Morton; and third-placed Falkirk (63 points) host Alloa Athletic.

All three clubs have a chance of winning the title on a final day being labelled “Helicopter Saturday”, with fans of all three clubs helping build the excitement on Twitter via the hashtag #helicopterSaturday. It will be the latest occasion a helicopter has been used to deliver a trophy to newly-crowned champions outwith the top league on the final day of the season, with Stirling Albion (2010 SFL Second Division champions) and Gretna (2007 SFL First Division champions) the most recent examples.

It all promises to be a stirring end to a dramatic title chase with the two runners-up having to console themselves with a second crack at promotion via the new Premiership play-off.

Neil Doncaster, SPFL chief executive, said: “We’d like to congratulate all three clubs on providing such a superb Championship title race in the first season of the new league set-up.

“Of course, there can only be one winner this afternoon and it is only right that the successful group of players and coaching staff can get their hands on the trophy as celebrations get into full swing and for the fans to enjoy. May the best team win.”

Details of today’s fixtures and the current SPFL Championship league table can be found at: http://spfl.co.uk/championship/