Club History | Season 1973-1974
Once again saved by goal difference. Captain Alex Kinninmonth and Ken Mackie appeared in all 46 matches. Ken Mackie was top scorer with 17 goals.
Having regained top level status at the first time of asking, would George Miller`s team of youngsters be able to carry on their scoring adventures and flourish in the higher division? In preparation for the new season, some changes had been made. Bonar Mercer and Joe Hughes had both left to join Montrose. Billy McLardy and Dave Edmonds returned to junior football. The main signing was former Pars hero Jackie Sinclair, who returned from a successful career in England, to bring much needed experience. Also arriving were promising youngsters Gordon Forrest, Ian Campbell and Allan Evans.
The high goal tally in 1972/73 had gained the club access to the Drybrough Cup, but Dunfermline went out at the first hurdle after a 6-1 mauling from Celtic. They did, however, win pre-season friendlies 3-1 at home to Morton, 3-0 at home to Preston North End and 2-1 away to Raith Rovers.
As the season proper kicked off, Stenhousemuir, Berwick Rangers and St Mirren were in the League Cup section. It began miserably with a 1-0 reverse at Ochilview. Jackie Sinclair made the first appearance of his second spell and Ian Campbell came on from the bench. The first home match brought a narrow 3-2 win against a Berwick team managed by Harry Melrose and captained by Willie Callaghan. It was home again to St Mirren and a 5-1 thrashing handed out to Willie Cunningham`s team and past Jim Herriot in The Buddies` goal. Berwick were beaten 2-1 at Shielfield but St Mirren prevailed 2-1 at Love Street. Ken Mackie and Dennis Nelson scored the goals in a less than satisfactory 2-2 draw at home to Stenhousemuir. Because the top two in each section went through, Dunfermline progressed to the second round.
September 1st brought Celtic to East End Park for the opening League match, but despite goals for Alex Kinninmonth and Jackie Sinclair, The Hoops inched it 3-2. The Pars started well away, however, with a 1-0 win at Bayview, thanks to Graham Shaw. The 2nd round of the League Cup provided Dundee as opponents. They too escaped with a 3-2 win from East End. The first home point in the League came in the next game, a dull 1-1 draw with Arbroath. Promising youngster Rab Cameron had made his debut in the Dundee game and held on to his place. With Jackie Sinclair and Ian Campbell established first teamers, only Allan Evans and Gordon Forrest of the newcomers had still to break through. Brian Jenkins joined on a provisional contract. Dennis Nelson scored to bring a point back from Firhill to complete the month`s business.
October was going to be more testing and it started badly with a 3-0 defeat at Tynecastle. The away leg of the League Cup second round tie with Dundee ended with a fighting 2-2 draw but a 5-4 defeat on aggregate. A shock came next with a 4-0 hammering at home to Ayr United. Former Pars Alex Ferguson with 2 and George McLean with 1 goal brought about Athletic`s demise. Former Celtic player Jim Baillie, who had been training with the club since his return from Cambridge United, signed a full contract. An away draw 0-0 at Pittodrie was an improvement and, encouraged by this, a 3-0 win away to Morton ended the month nicely.
November got under way with a home match against Rangers. Manager Miller`s faith in youngsters saw Allan Evans make his debut. He started the game well but suffered a broken leg, so it would be a while before he got back into the side. A creditable 2-2 draw was achieved, with Alex Kinninmonth`s equaliser, struck from distance, one to stick in the memory. The programme noted that the Club had appointed its first commercial manager in George Gilchrist. Also noted was a first honour for Flash Watson who had been selected for the Scottish Youth pool. The next game for Athletic was at that graveyard of Pars hopes, Shawfield. This time the defeat was 1-0. George Thomson made his only first team appearance in goal as Motherwell inflicted a 4-2 defeat at East End Park. The following week produced a shock - this time a pleasant one - as Dunfermline thrashed Dundee 5-1 at Dens Park. Ken Mackie scored a hat trick to add to goals from Ian Campbell and Dennis Nelson.
December`s early fixtures fell victim to the weather and before Dunfermline could get the month`s business underway, there came the tragic news that John Lunn had died after losing his courageous fight against serious illness. It was 15th before Athletic`s next game, at home to Hibs. Despite goals from Jim Leishman and Graham Shaw, the Edinburgh side won 3-2. Giant goalkeeper Geir Karlsen, who had been such a star in last season`s friendly with Rosenborg, made his debut. It was not a happy one as Dundee United took the points back to Tannadice after another 3-2 defeat for The Pars. The year ended ignominiously with a 6-0 pasting at Celtic Park.
Both my hangover and I were in place to see the new year in miserably, as Athletic went down at home to East Fife. Ernie McGarr put up the shutter for the men from Methil and future Pars Walter Borthwick, Kevin Hegarty and Jim Hamilton also featured. Graham Shaw scored in a disappointing 3-1 defeat at Gayfield before a stuffy 1-1 draw at home to Partick Thistle. Willie McCallum, who had given many years of service to Motherwell, made his Pars debut in this match. Ian Campbell scored to win the League match 1-0 at Brockville before returning a week later for a Cup match, played in front of 9,500 fans, which ended in a 2-2 draw. The midweek replay saw Ian Campbell again score the goal which took The Pars through. Ian Campbell scored yet again as February eventually got off and running but it was not enough as George McLean was amongst the scorers for Ayr United as they recorded a 3-1 home win.
It was back to the Cup next with Queen of the South as visitors. Alex Kinninmonth scored the only goal in front of a crowd of well over 7,500. This game made history as the first game played at East End Park on a Sunday - How times have changed! Great consternation was caused as the result the Sunday Market, then a regular feature, had to close at 1pm. Manager of the Doonhamers was Willie McLean and he included former Par Billy McLaren at centre half. Ken Mackie and Jim Wallace were chosen for the Scottish Under 23`s and Jim also played for the Scottish League against the English League at Maine Road, Manchester. The month ended with a 0-0 draw at home to Aberdeen. John Arrol moved to Partick Thistle as cover for Alan Rough.
At home again to bring in March, Athletic drew 1-1 with Morton. The following match was on Scottish Cup business and a quarter final at home to Dundee United. Alex Kinninmonth scored The Pars goal in a 1-1 draw. Two days later, Dunfermline lost the replay 4-0 at Tannadice. Ian Campbell and Jackie Sinclair both scored in the home match against Clyde but the misery continued as The Bully Wee won 3-2. Allan Evans made his comeback on the bench for this game. A narrow 1-0 defeat away to Motherwell was followed by Dundee gaining full revenge for their earlier thrashing at Dens Park by reversing the score and winning 5-1 at East End. Perilous times indeed!
April arrived with a 3-0 defeat at Ibrox and defeat again the following week 3-1 to St Johnstone in Perth. The team had slumped to bottom spot - time for drastic action. Jim Baillie was introduced and Gordon Forrest on the bench as St Johnstone were met again, this time at East End Park. Goals from Ian Campbell, Jim Baillie and Ken Mackie gained a 3-1 victory. A home match against Dumbarton quickly followed and a narrow 3-2 win achieved. The result took the team up two places, but the third game in a week ended 3-2 for Hearts. Jackie Sinclair scored to earn a 1-1 draw at Easter Road but the worries returned when Dumbarton won 1-0 at Boghead. The League had been left in a mess, due to the Miners` Strike and the ban on the use of floodlights, resulting in a backlog of games.
On what should have been the final Saturday of the season (April 27th) the results were as follows:- Morton lost 3-0 at home to Hibs, East Fife lost 1-0 at home to Ayr United, Clyde lost 1-0 at home to St Johnstone whilst Falkirk drew 1-1 at home to Celtic. Dunfermline were away to Dundee United and with Flash Watson making his debut, Graham Shaw scored a priceless winner, 1-0 to The Pars. This meant that the games in hand which Clyde had did not matter because neither East Fife nor Falkirk could overtake Athletic. It was just as well, because The Bully Wee gained two points to finish above Dunfermline. Once again saved by goal difference. Captain Alex Kinninmonth and Ken Mackie appeared in all 46 matches with Jim Wallace, Jim Scott, Graham Shaw and Kenny Thomson also in the forties. Ken Mackie was top scorer with 17 goals.
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