The last time Dunfermline and Falkirk met on league business was in May 2007 in the SPL and incredibly there is only one member of that Pars team still at the club as they prepare to face the Bairns today.
Calum Woods is the last man standing from the Stephen Kenny-managed side that lost 3-0 over three years ago at East End Park.
He is determined that result will not be repeated this afternoon as Dunfermline travel to the home of their bitter rivals, desperate to start their latest promotion push in style.
“We cannot wait to take on Falkirk and we would love to get off to a good start,” said Woods.
“We could not ask for a better opener. It is all-ticket and we should be taking a big support through there.
“Hopefully, we can show them what we are capable of. It is vital to begin well. We did not do that last year and we do not want to be playing catch-up again.
“I believe the league is wide open this season and I think we have a good squad capable of winning it.
“I did not know I was the last person left from the 2007 team,” he confessed. “I do not recall much about the game but I do remember that when I first came here everyone was speaking about the big rivalry between Dunfermline and Falkirk.
“And you can always tell that when you play against them. It does, though, seem incredible to think I am the last player from that team still at the club.
“Nick Phinn was also here at the time but he did not take part in the Falkirk game as he was quite young.”
Woods found himself the innocent victim at the centre of the furore that erupted after he came on as a substitute against Stenhousemuir in the Scottish Cup last season.
The Liverpool-born defender should have been suspended for the match but was sent on after a clerical oversight.
Despite winning 7-1, the Pars were initially expelled from the cup before being reinstated to face Celtic in the next round.
While the incident was the main talking point in Scottish football for weeks, Woods confessed he just got on with playing football.
“It was quite weird as it did not really affect me too much,” he said. “I had been injured for three months just prior to everything happening.
“When I came on in the game, it was only to try to help me regain fitness.
“Even after, when everything was going on, I just kept my head down trying to work on my fitness and to get back playing again.
“Of course, I was inundated with calls from friends and family asking what was happening.
“The press were also constantly in touch, but the gaffer had told me not to say a word until it was all over.
“All in all, it was a strange claim to fame and I am just glad it is over with.”
Woods’ gaffer Jim McIntyre admitted he is relishing today’s fixture.
“We are really looking forward to the game.
“There should be a great atmosphere and a full house so it is a cracking match to be involved in.
“Obviously, Falkirk are the team which has just come down and they will be determined to set the tone for the season ahead.
“But we will have a big travelling support and we are definitely going there to try to win the game.”
Falkirk will involve all five summer signings in their pool for the clash against the Pars with French defender Mehdi Khalis, former Celtic players Jason Marr and Mark Millar, along with goal grabber Kenny Deuchar and former Rochdale front-man Kallum Higginbotham all included in manager Steven Pressley’s squad.
Pressley said, “Everyone here is really looking forward to this game. There will be a big crowd and a fantastic atmosphere.
“I know that we will need to play well as Dunfermline are one of the favourites for the league and we have watched them several times to ensure we get our tactics right.”
Left-sided defender Marc Twaddle is absent through suspension with young defender Calum McLean ruled out because of a knee knock.