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Norrie McCathie
Date of Birth: 23-03-1961
Position: Central Defence
Joined: 24-10-1981
Appearances: 561
Substitute Appearances: 11
Goals: 59
Nationality: Scottish
Previous Clubs: Cowdenbeath
Subsequent Clubs:

Died: 08-01-1996

Signed from Cowdenbeath in August 1981 in a swap for Craig McFarlane.
Debut: 24.10.1981 v Ayr United
Last Game: 06.01.1996 v St Mirren
He went on to play a record number of league appearances for the Pars.

Team captain, consistent and talented defender (although he started his career as a forward and maintained a scoring record throughout his career).

Norrie McCathie was the Dunfermline Athletic Club Captain when he tragically died from carbon monoxide poisoning at his home on 8th January 1996. He was only 34.

He played in the 1991 League Cup Final and captained the 1986 championship side. He has a stand at East End Park named in his honour.

After playing in a struggling Dunfermline side apparently going nowhere, the club`s explosive, unexpected rise to the top flight of the Scottish game as well as Norrie`s belated introduction to full time football, may have contributed to the emergence of the reserved, dignified model professional who had both feet set firmly on the ground.

Norrie McCathie first attracted attention in 1979/80 as a centre forward with Edinburgh amateur side, Edina Hibs, scoring 36 goals. Cowdenbeath manager Pat Stanton was tipped off about him and signed the striker for £350, £50 of which Norrie always maintained he never received!

He made his league debut on September 27th 1980 as a substitute, helping Cowdenbeath defeat Meadowbank 1-0. The following week saw Norrie play from the start at Forfar, but this time was replaced himself by none other than future Pars team mate Grant Tierney.

Pat Stanton quickly moved on to East End Park while Norrie found his appearances limited under new boss Andy Rolland. During the summer Stanton was surprised to receive a phone call suggesting that Cowdenbeath might be interested in swapping Norrie for Pars forward Craig MacFarlane. Norrie agreed to the move and became a Pars player on August 10th 1981. The transfer went almost unnoticed amidst the blaze of publicity surrounding the arrival of Dunfermline`s then record signing Doug Considine from Aberdeen.

Despite signing as a striker Stanton had noticed the versatility of the player and had already moved him into midfield. Although he`d been in the first team squad for the previous two matches, it was still something of a surprise when the boss gave him his debut at Ayr on 24th October 1981. The 20-year-old was only told an hour before the kick off that he was standing in for the absent Kevin Hegarty and in spite of the shock played well helping the Pars to a 1-1 draw against the joint league leaders.

On a couple of occasions that season Norrie lined up in central defence and in one of those against Motherwell, Dunfermline conceded six goals! Back in midfield Norrie scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 victory over Queens Park in February. Three days later a trip to Dumfries saw Norrie score two more, including the 84th minute winner.

Further progress was expected in 1982/83 but the change of managers to Tom Forsyth saw Norrie confined to the reserves. After another handful of outings as a centre half Forsyth eventually gave Norrie an extended run in midfield but he couldn`t help the Pars escape relegation.

At least the 1983/84 season saw him emerge as an automatic first team selection despite a terrible season for the club and the Dunfermline Press nominated him as the outstanding player at East End Park, praising his "tireless, inspiration of colleagues."

His attacking ability saw him form a potent strikeforce alongside John Watson and Grant Jenkins in 1984/85. After an impressive start to the season both the team`s and Norrie`s form waned. However, December`s 2-2 draw with Stirling Albion saw Alan Forsyth sent off and once again the versatile Norrie McCathie filled the gap and played extremely well.

It wasn`t until late February that Jim Leishman decided to play Norrie beside big Davie Young in the defence for a match at league leaders Alloa Athletic. The gamble paid off as Norrie was superb in the Pars 3-1 win and Leishman kept him in that position for the remainder of the season .

1985/86 was Norrie`s first full season in defence and proved a triumph as Dunfermline lifted the Second Division Championship. Forming a strong partnership with Dave Young, Norrie would often venture upfield and managed to score 8 goals that season. To demonstrate just how crucial a player he was, the Pars lost heavily to Queen of the South and Meadowbank in the two matches he missed through suspension.

There was no such problems in 1986/87 as Norrie played in all 44 league games - the only Pars player to do so. The Club again went on again to gain promotion and again the McCathie-Young combination was unsurpassed.

Initially the season began with Norrie partnering Grant Reid, but Dave was soon back in the team and the understanding was better than ever.

Although Bobby Robertson was Club captain, Norrie provided much of the drive and inspira



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