JIM LEISHMAN, (pictured) the director of football at Dunfermline Athletic FC, is gearing up for one of the most important encounters of his life—an appointment with the Queen.

The former Pars player, who has also managed the club twice, is to receive the MBE at Buckingham Palace this morning.

He said, “I would say in footballing terms nothing can beat winning medals and getting promotion but, from a personal point of view, this is hard to beat.

“I feel very proud.”

Leishman flew to London on Sunday with his wife Mary and they will be joined at his investiture by their children Kate and Jamie.

The 53-year-old admitted he was excited.

“The suit is ready and everything is done and dusted and ready,” he added.

Leishman is a lifelong Pars fan and once said if you cut him open he would bleed the club’s colours of black and white.

He used to bunk off school so he could walk from his hometown of Lochgelly just to see his team play in Europe.

He played for the Pars during the 1960s and it is 40 years since he started training with the first team at McKane Park in Dunfermline.

He went on to become manager in 1983, turning the East End Park club’s fortunes around in dramatic fashion before sensationally quitting in 1990.

Leishman said the MBE was as much an award for all the people who had helped him down the years.

He also discovered at the weekend that he could be in line for another honour.

Fife Council is considering renaming Wardlaw Crescent in the Abbeyview area of the town as Leishman Drive.

Councillors were expected to approve the move at a meeting of the City of Dunfermline area committee yesterday morning.

However, Mike Rumney, one of four councillors who represent the area, asked for more time to consult residents.

Leishman admitted, “I heard about it on Saturday when somebody phoned and said they were considering it.

“It would be quite an honour, but I don’t want to say too much until they’ve decided.”

The matter was continued to next month’s meeting.

The renaming of Wardlaw Crescent was put forward by Mr Rumney, who suggested as the area was being redeveloped it would give the community a fresh start.

Much of the work to build new homes is being carried out by the Fife Special Housing Association.

Labour’s Mr Rumney suggested it could be renamed Aberdour Grove, but Nationalist councillor Bill Walker come up with the idea of Leishman Drive.

Councillors Tony Martin and Brian Goodall, as well as housing association officials, said they had no objection.

The council said naming it Leishman Drive would “commemorate the service of a well known and popular local figure.”

All four councillors will ask their constituents what they think of the idea and report back to the committee.