Club History | Season 1962-1963
Dunfermline finished 8th in a season memorable for its European ties against Everton and Valencia
The summer of 1962 was a momentous time for The Pars. In Jock Stein`s second full season, they had finished fourth in the League and had reached the Quarter Finals of the European Cup Winners Cup. A brand new stand had been built and was ready for the new season and to cap it all, they had gained admission to the Inter Cities Fairs Cup so Europe beckoned again. Towards the end of 1961/62, Jim Maclean had been signed to bolster the defence and the exciting young wingers, Alex Edwards and Jackie Sinclair had been blooded. Andy Matthew and John Sweeney had both been released. Eddie Connachan and Jim Herriot fought it out for the goalkeeper`s jersey.
The season began, as usual, with the League Cup and a trip to Kirkcaldy for a Fife Derby which finished 2-2. August 15th saw the opening of the new stand and a crowd of 7,400 saw The Pars take a 2-0 lead at halftime. Kilmarnock fought back in the second half and the game finished 3-3. It was Broomfield next stop and Airdrie were beaten 4-2. Midway through the League Cup section, the opening league match was played and two goal Alex Smith, aided by Charlie Dickson and Harry Melrose, brought a fine 4-0 win back from Tannadice. The return Fife Derby produced a 1-1 draw at East End Park and the month finished badly with a 3-2 defeat away to Kilmarnock.
The first day of September cheered up Pars fans with a 4-1 win at home to Airdrie in the final sectional game in the League Cup. Athletic did not qualify for the later rounds. Raith Rovers were next and a resounding 6-0 win at East End Park enlightened by a George Peebles hat-trick, two for Charlie Dickson and a first goal for young Alex Edwards. The Fairs Cup Committee agreed to admit The Pars in place of a Greek team, who had withdrawn at the last minute, but a 4-0 away league defeat against Aberdeen brought the fans back down to earth. Falkirk, at home, was next and a tight 2-1 win. The month ended at Shawfield, where an Alex Edwards goal secured a 1-0 victory.
October began with a friendly match at home to Rosenborg from Dunfermline`s Norwegian twin town of Trondheim. With sixteen year old Alex Edwards already in the team, Tom Callaghan and Pat Wilson were given starts in this game. Hearts were the next visitors and a hard fought 2-2 draw the result. On Friday 12th, Dunfermline received £23,500 from Aston Villa for Cammy Fraser and the following day Third Lanark were beaten 3-0 at East End Park, another youngster, Willie Callaghan taking Cammy`s place in the team. A 2-1 defeat away to Partick Thistle was not the best preparation for the Fairs Cup trip to Liverpool to meet England`s richest club, Everton, but a superb defensive display limited The Toffees to a single goal win. The intervening Saturday brought a good 2-0 home win against Dundee, before the return leg against Everton.
A crowd of 22,713 packed East End Park and, against all the pundits` predictions, The Pars won 2-0 with goals from George Miller and Harry Melrose. Athletic had used the same line-up in both games against Everton. Jim Herriot had gained the keeper`s jersey, Willie Callaghan had replaced Cammy Fraser and the other stalwarts in defence were Willie Cunningham, Jim Thomson, Jim Maclean and George Miller. Up front, Dan McLindon, Alex Smith, Charlie Dickson, Harry Melrose and George Peebles filled the bill. The euphoria continued into November as The Pars gained their first ever point at Ibrox with a 1-1 draw. It was back down to earth the following week as St. Mirren won 3-1 at East End Park and when Queen of the South inflicted a 1-0 defeat at Palmerston, things had taken a worrying turn. The month came to a close with a tight 4-3 home win over Motherwell.
Into December and the worrying form continued with a 3-0 defeat at Rugby Park and with the first leg against Valencia looming a Jackie Sinclair goal gained a 1-0 win away to Airdrie. So to Spain, and with the same side as had defeated Everton, Athletic came a cropper to the tune of 4-0. A narrow 3-2 home win over Hibernian restored some pride and, on a frozen pitch, the return leg against Valencia was next on the agenda.
Jock Stein showed his genius. The tall Dan McLindon and Charlie Dickson were replaced by young and nippy wingers Alex Edwards and Jackie Sinclair and in an amazing game Dunfermline levelled the tie with a 6-2 win. The year ended with a narrow defeat away to Celtic on Boxing Day. The freezing weather continued and wiped out all January`s fixtures.
The next game was on February 6th and the play-off against Valencia, played in Lisbon. Only 3,000 fans saw Valencia win by the only goal. There were no games in Scotland in February either, due to the weather. It was 6th March before things got going again and Dunfermline started off with a 2-2 draw at Easter Road. Rangers won 2-1 at East End Park before Athletic scraped a 3-2 win in the Cup away to Cowdenbeath. The team had not really got back on form and a 3-1 defeat away to St Mirren was followed by a 4-0 thumping at Pittodrie and an exit from the Cup. Back to the League and Queen of the South were beaten 2-0. Two days later a 2-1 defeat away to Dundee United was followed by another away match and a 0-0 draw at Fir Park.
As April began with a home match against Kilmarnock, Jock took action by bringing back Jim Kerray and giving him a starting place along with a debut for another youngster, John Lunn. Kerray got the winner as Killie were beaten 1-0. Away form continued to be wretched and Dunfermline lost 2-0 at Brockville. The next 17 days had 6 matches, beginning with a 2-0 home win against Airdrie. Aberdeen were next and they were seen off to the tune of 3-0. Easter Road next and a creditable 1-1 draw. Home again, this time against Clyde, resulted in another draw 2-2 before the marathon was completed with a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park.
Yet another draw heralded May`s fixtures as Partick Thistle escaped with a point from East End Park after a 1-1 result. The season ended with two away defeats 1-0 to Dundee and 2-0 to Hearts. Dunfermline finished 8th. As the season finished, plans were already in place for the next. Most of the older players had moved on, Tommy McDonald to Raith Rovers, Willie Cunningham became coach and both Jackie Williamson and Jimmy Stevenson hung up their boots through injury. With Alex Edwards, Jackie Sinclair and Willie Callaghan already established, Tom Callaghan, John Lunn. Jim Fraser and Pat Wilson were all given full professional contracts. Youth was taking over.....
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