Archives | Dick Campbell 1999
The club was still in the SPL when a disillusioned Bert Paton resigned on 4th January 1999. Dick took over, initially as caretaker, and guided the Pars to a run of just one league defeat in six matches, and that was against Rangers
The club was still in the SPL when a disillusioned Bert Paton resigned on 4th January 1999. Dick took over, initially as caretaker, and guided the Pars to a run of just one league defeat in six matches, and that was against Rangers.
When Andy Dickson left Dunfermline in 1960 and stated that the one sure way of disassociating oneself from a football club is by becoming its manager, he was expressing a sentiment that Dick Campbell would become all too familiar with almost forty years later.
Born in Dunfermline on 22nd November 1953, Dick was signed by Dundee United as a youngster but things didn`t turn out as he had hoped and he came home to play part-time with Cowdenbeath while completing a shipwright apprenticeship at Rosyth Dockyard.
In 1974 he linked up with twin brother Ian when George Miller signed him to boost Dunfermline`s chances of a top ten finish that would guarantee entry to the inaugural Premier League. A versatile defender, Dick made 21 appearances for the Pars but a disastrous second half of the season saw their hopes turn to dust.
One of eleven players released, he continued his career with Ross County in the Highland League before the first of two periods with Brechin City and a stint as player/coach with East Stirling. A flourishing coaching career began with Raith Rovers and carried on with Brechin, a period that was interrupted in 1987 by a short spell as manager of Cowdenbeath.
After spending time away from the game, Dick was invited by Pars legend and former St. Johnstone assistant manager Bert Paton to help out at Rosyth Recreation, from where they made their return to Dunfermline in 1993. Dick`s charm and Lochgelly humour were a good foil for Bert and the two worked well together as they brought the excitement back to East End Park.
After achieving promotion in 1995/96, the club was still in the SPL when a disillusioned Bert resigned on 4th January 1999. Dick took over, initially as caretaker, and guided the Pars to a run of just one league defeat in six matches, and that was against Rangers. This culminated in back to back wins over Dundee and St. Johnstone that lifted the club into eighth place, giving hope that Dunfermline could avoid relegation and encouraging the board to hand Dick the reins on a permanent basis.
The view of some that the board had acted impetuously seemed to be reinforced after a shocking 0-6 defeat by Kilmarnock that led to questions over the new manager`s tactics and team selection. Sadly, the Pars gained only one point from the last eight matches and slid into the First Division.
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