It will be an emotional occasion for everyone associated with Dunfermline this Saturday as they lift the first division championship in front of their own fans at East End Park.
For one Pars player in particular, though, the afternoon will be that extra bit special.
Winger Joe Cardle began the year back at the family home in Lytham St Anne’s, near Blackpool, helping to care for his ill mother Irene, after being granted compassionate leave by manager Jim McIntyre.
When the curtain comes down on a title-winning campaign at the end of the match against Falkirk, Cardle will be greeted by a host of family members, including his now-recovering mum.
“I had the bad news at the turn of the year there with my ma,” said Cardle.
“The gaffer was great with me and gave me some time off so I was down the road for three or four weeks dealing with that.
“I had to get my head round that.
“Since January, though, my mum has come on well and is doing brilliantly.
“That has been keeping me going, seeing a massive difference in her every time I see her.Unbelievable”So the year started terribly for me but the way it has gone since then has been unbelievable.
“It has turned around so much in just a few months and we have now clinched the championship.
“My mum and dad are coming along on Saturday and my brother Scott, who is a boxer, is coming back from the Ukraine, where he has been fighting for the Great Britain team.
“Also, my girl friend is coming back from America, so it will be a special day for me on so many levels.”
With so much to look forward to, Cardle does not want a negative result to put a dampener on things.
“We want to go out with a bang now and that means beating Falkirk,” he added.
“The unbeaten run now stretches to 11 games so we want to keep that going.
“The Falkirk boys will be professional and this is not just a runabout on the park because both teams will be desperate to get the victory.
“It is going to be a hard match for us because they are a good team one of the better sides in the league.
“We have done our job well so far by clinching the championship and now we want to round everything off by winning in front of our own fans before picking up the trophy.”
Once the party is over, thoughts will turn to a well-deserved sunshine break which Cardle and his team-mates have received courtesy of grateful chairman John Yorkston and the board.
“We all go to Magaluf for four days next Monday which will be great because all the boys get on so well,” added Cardle.
“After that, I will be going away with the family for a break.
“I will try to switch off and then get back for pre-season training.Tough”That will be tough as we prepare for life in the SPL but I am looking forward to it already.”
Pars boss McIntyre will be without defender Callum Woods because of a groin strain.
Falkirk midfielder Ryan Flynn, meanwhile, hopes the pain of seeing Dunfermline lift the first division trophy will spur the Bairns on to promotion next season.
Massive changes are planned at Falkirk this summer with manager Steven Pressley freeing 18 players, and Flynn hopes they can take the title next year.
“You want it to be yourself going into the last game of the season having already won the league but Dunfermline have been the best team and they deserve it,” he said.
“They are our rivals and we respect them for winning the league.
“The league table shows they have been the best team and the league table doesn’t lie.
“We look at it as a game we want to win and that is what we are going to go out and try to do.
“It has been a disappointing end because we have not done what we set out to do but we have to look at the positives.”
Manager Pressley added, “We got very close but in the end fell a little bit short and maybe that was down to a little bit of inexperience.
“Now we have to go and experience our arch-rivals’ title party.
“All credit to them, though, and I mean that.
“Credit to Jim McIntyre, he has taken his time but he has taken a side on to win this league and that is no easy feat.”
Fife Police advised supporters travelling to the game at East End Park to leave plenty time for their journey.
A police spokesman said, “It is anticipated that traffic will be busy.
“Motorists are asked to build in time for their journeys, use public transport or car share, if attending the game and using a car leave time to park appropriately.
“If passing through Dunfermline it is recommended that routes away from Halbeath Road area are used, particularly between 2.30pm and 3pm and 4.30 to 6pm.”