It will be a night of celebration in Eamonn Deacy Park tonight Friday when Galway United are presented with their first silverware in 26 years, with club captain, Conor McCormack, set to lift the First Division league trophy.

The car-park at the ground will be closed to the public, with turnstiles opening at the earlier time of 6.30pm with a bumper crowd expected for the visit of Wexford FC (7.45pm). Supporters are urged to buy their ticket online in advance to avoid congestion at the turnstiles.

“We are a club for the city and county, we have had a special season, a lot of young supporters coming, a lot of teenagers, outside of the old crowd we have a new following, these moments are there to be enjoyed.

“We haven’t had a cup in 26 years, we haven’t won the league in 30 years, we want people to be there and enjoy it, that is what it is all about,” United manager John Caulfield said ahead of the game.

There has been a pitch encroachment by United fans after almost every home game this season, but the club is pleading with supporters to stay off the pitch tonight: the trophy presentation is due to take place on the pitch after the game, after which the players and management will parade the trophy around the ground.

A club official says the club wants the players, staff and fans to enjoy what promises to be a very special occasion in a safe manner, but both the club and the FAI have warned that the presentation ceremony will be abandoned if people enter the pitch.

As well as being presented with silverware, it could also be a night of history, as the home side will be bidding to complete the season with a 100% home record in the league.

They won’t be unique in that regard, and a big thanks goes to Julian Canny for his help with the following: Bohemians won all nine home games in both the 1923/24 and 1929/30 seasons; Shels did the same in 1928/29; and Cork Unted and Limerick both went seven from seven at home in 1944/45.