Club History | Season 1993-1994
Bert Paton takes over as Manager with Dick Campbell his assistant.
On 10th June 1993, it was announced that Bert Paton would be the new manager of Dunfermline Athletic, with Dick Campbell his assistant. Like all Pars fans, I was delighted with this and looked forward to the new season with great anticipation. After the misery of the Munro and Scott years, both good coaches but hopeless man managers and alienated from the fans, it was refreshing to have a Pars Man in charge.
Once again, the powers that be were messing around with the league structure. If only they would admit that their set up sucks and revert to larger divisions (will they ever get it right). This time they would change, at the end of the season, to four divisions, each of ten teams. At least teams would play each other an even number of times, home and away, instead of the unfair farce which currently prevailed.
The method of achieving this would be fair:- Teams 1-9 in the Premiership would combine with the champions of Div 1 to form the new SPL. Premier teams 10-12 would combine with Div 1 teams 2-7 and the champions of Div 2 to form the new Div 1, Div 1 teams 8-12 would combine with Div 2 teams 2-6 to form the new Div 2 and Div 2 teams 7-14 along with two newly elected teams would form the new Div 3.
As far as the Athletic were concerned, there was only one promotion spot open to them.
On the playing side, Paul Chalmers left to join Hamilton, Scott Leitch to Hearts, Roddy Grant to Partick Thistle and Rab Shannon to Motherwell. Also leaving were Mark Haro to Montrose and Andy Williamson to East Fife. Norman Kelly and John Reilly were both freed.
On the way in were former Montrose and Dundee forward Ivo den Bieman, former Dundee United and Hearts winger Allan Preston, centre half Lex Baillie (son of Doug) from St Mirren and young Iain Downie from Aberdeen. Partick Thistle legend Dave McParland came in as a coach.
As August began, so did the League season and Dunfermline travelled through to Brockville where they lost 2-3 to Falkirk. Ivo den Bieman and Allan Preston made their debuts, Ivo scoring along with Hamish French. This proved to be David Moyes last appearance for The Pars before moving to Hamilton Accies. The Skol cup was next and with Lex Baillie replacing Moyes, goals, in extra time, from Craig Robertson and Hamish French saw progress at home to East Stirling. Clydebank were next, in the League and they won 2-0 at East End with Dunfermline losing their next game also. This time 0-1 away to Brechin City.
The poor form continued, as The Pars exited the Skol Cup defeated 0-2, at home to Rangers. Stewart Petrie was signed from Forfar Athletic and went straight into the team for the home match against Airdrie, which was won 3-2 with goals from Hamish French, Allan Preston and George O`Boyle.
Having got that first win, The Pars started September with a 2-0 victory over Clyde at Douglas Park, where they were currently exiled, Hamish French and George O`Boyle hitting the target. The poor form returned with a 2-0 defeat at Stirling Albion`s new Forthbank stadium and followed with a loss 3-4 at home to St. Mirren. A resounding 4-0 home win against Morton was followed by a 1-1 draw away to Ayr United, courtesy of George O`Boyle.
Back to Hamilton, this time to see the home team soundly beaten by two Allan Preston goals. Accies manager was Iain Munro and I was amused to hear the home fans booing their manager. Colin Miller and Kenny Ward both played for Hamilton, but David Moyes had moved on after only 4 weeks, to Preston North End with whom he was later to begin his illustrious managerial career.
The month of October began well for The Pars with a 4-1 home victory over Dumbarton. Norrie McCathie, Paul Smith, George O`Boyle and Derek Laing all scored. There was an interesting article in the programme, entitled "Where are they now" Ian Westwater was at Falkirk, Graeme Robertson and Hugh Burns at Ayr United, Bobby Smith was running a pub in Dalkeith, Stevie Morrison was with Clyde, Trevor Smith in Irish football, Mark Smith with Shrewsbury Town, Davie Irons was at St. Johnstone, Ray Farningham with Dundee and Grant Tierney with Partick Thistle. John Holt was manager at Montrose. Willie Callaghan was with Cowdenbeath, Eddie Gallagher at St. Mirren, both Andy Williamson and Stuart Beedie at East Fife and John Watson was player-coach with Berwick Rangers.
Back to the football and Derek Laing scored the only goal to beat Falkirk at East End. The good form continued with a 2-1 win at Love Street. The second round of the B+Q Cup took Dunfermline down to Dumfries, where they wiped out Queen of the South 6-0. Stirling Albion were the next visitors and they were neatly despatched 3-0. The third round of the B+Q Cup was a disaster as Falkirk prevailed 4-1 at Brockville. Dunfermline bounced back as the month ended with a 4-0 home win against Brechin City, who included Marc Millar in their midfield.
Paul Smith scored to gain a 1-1 draw away to Airdrie as The Pars November schedule got under way. It continued with a 4-0 win at home to Clyde and progressed with a 5-1 thrashing of Dumbarton at Boghead. Hamish French scored a hat trick in this game and Derek Laing a brace. On to December and a hard fought 0-0 draw with Morton at the Tail of the Bank. Andy Tod made his debut, from the bench, in this game. Athletic`s excellent form continued with a comfortable 4-0 home win against Hamilton Accies. A 3-0 away win against Clydebank and a 6-1 thrashing handed out to Ayr United, kept the pre-Christmas fun going. The year finished on a high, at East End Park, when St. Mirren were defeated 4-2.
There were several postponements as the new year came in. The Pars first game was not until 11th when they won 1-0 in Brechin. A blip, the following week when Dunfermline lost 0-2 away to Falkirk, but they bounced back with a 2-0 home victory against Clydebank. A dour 0-0 draw at home to Airdrie was followed by an away Scottish Cup tie against the same opponents. A late Andy Tod goal secured a replay 1-1. February began with a surprise 0-1 defeat away to Stirling Albion, but The Pars held on to top spot. The home replay against Airdrie was next and in front of 6,494 fans, Dunfermline lost 1-3, with Jackie McNamara sent off.
The SFL had decided to accept the applications for membership from Dingwall based Ross County and from a union of two of the three Inverness clubs, Caley and Thistle with Clachnacuddin retaining their independence and their place in the Highland League. As The Athletic returned to League action, two Andy Tod goals and one from Stewart Petrie were enough to see off Dumbarton 3-2 at East End Park.
The next game had an interesting back story. It was an away match against Clyde, which had been abandoned, earlier in the season, at Douglas Park, where Clyde were playing their matches. Now they were ensconced in their new stadium at Broadwood. The Pars enjoyed their first ever visit by winning 1-0, thanks again to Andy Tod. The month ended with heavy snow and more postponements.
The snow meant that March was going to be a busy month, as clubs caught up with their fixtures. Dunfermline`s first was a trip to Hamilton, where they drew 1-1. Next they comfortably disposed of Morton, 3-0 at East End. Ayr United were next on the hit list at Somerset Park. Two goals from Stewart Petrie and one each for Ivo den Bieman and Paul Smith produced an excellent 4-0 win. Andy Tod and George O`Boyle took care of things to secure a 2 0 win at Love Street. On the last Saturday of the month, Falkirk took a point away when Greg Shaw equalised George O`Boyle`s counter. The crowd inside East End Park was 13,357. The game was Allan Moore`s debut for The Pars, Allan Preston having moved in the opposite direction. One more midweek game completed the month. A goal by George O`Boyle proved the winner, away to Clydebank. John Hillcoat left to join Clyde.
A nervous 2-1 win at home to Stirling Albion, heralded April`s fixtures. It was debut time, second time around for Pars Great, Ian Westwater, who had signed from Dundee. The Pars began to wind down their season with two more wins, 2-0 away to Dumbarton and 2-1 at home to Hamilton. In a packed fixture list, Dunfermline next drew 2-2 away to Morton, with goals from Andy Tod and Norrie McCathie. A single goal from Hamish French secured a 1-0 home win against Ayr United. The month ended with a 2-1 win at home to Brechin City.
Amidst much hullaballoo, Airdrie played their last match at Broomfield. The result was the worst possible for The Pars as John Martin put up the shutters and a wicked deflection off Neale Cooper gave all three points to The Diamonds. This allowed Falkirk to go back in front of Dunfermline, with only one game to go. The equation was simple:-
Athletic had to win at home to Clyde and hope that Clydebank could win at home to Falkirk. The Pars played their part when four goals from George O`Boyle and one from Andy Tod, gave them a 5-0 win. The Bairns got their point in a 1-1 draw to deny Dunfermline and take the title. It was cruel in the extreme.
Dunfermline had a record number of wins, for the division, they had a points tally of 65, which would have won the title in any other year (it still being only two points for a win) and they had scored 104 goals in all competitions. There were high returns from George O`Boyle with 19 goals, Hamish French chipped in with 16 and, in only half a season, Andy Tod scored 13. None of this could change matters, well as Dunfermline had done, Falkirk had more points and deserved their success. Pars fans were disappointed rather than depressed and the remarkable job that Bert and Dick had done, gave everyone hope for the new season under the new structure
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