Official Opening for New Look EEP

The football fraternity is alight with the news of the visit of English Premiership, Arsenal.

English Premiership Arsenal will play a friendly against Dunfermline at East End Park on Wednesday 9th August. The match will be the official opening of the all seated East End Park.

It remains to be seen if Pires and Lauren, French Euro stars Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera and Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp all turn out in what will be a pre season friendly for the Gunners.

Could give the Pars defence quite a testing! Chairman John Yorkston, announcing the coup, said "We are delighted that a club of Arsenal`s calibre has agreed to come to East End Park and I am sure our fans will be excited by news of the fixture.

"We decided to delay the formal opening of the new look East End Park until we could fix up top class opposition and arsenal certainly come into that category.

"I think the fixture is another significant step in our ambition to see Athletic progress on and off the field.

We now have four Internationalists in our squad which is a first for the club and I am confident we will surprise a few team`s when we rejoin the Premier League this season.

We are determined to pull out all the stops and make the formal opening a gala occasion and plans are already in hand for several "extra attractions" on the night.

We hope to make Arsenal`s visit an evening to remember for the whole family."

Season tickets will be valid for the Arsenal match as well as the Huddersfield and Norwich City pre season friendlies.

General Manager Paul D`Mello said "We promised our fans that our season ticket deal would be one of the best in Scotland. The decision to include the arsenal match in the deal is proof of our commitment to that promise."