Club History | Season 1989-1990
Istvan Kozma arrives, Dunfermline top of the SPL in November. Survival in the Premier League, Harry Melrose appointed General Manager, Ross Jack top native Scot scorer in SPL, with 21 goals. Iain Munro replaces Jim Leishman as manager
Delight at the return to the Premier League had been tempered in June, when Gary Riddell died as he took part in the Dunfermline Half Marathon, in which he was running to raise funds for the Hillsborough Disaster Fund. It was also hugely disappointing when it became known that Pars Legend John Watson was leaving to try his luck in England with Fulham. The other main departures were Bobby Smith to Partick Thistle and Stuart Beedie to Dundee, with Stuart Rafferty coming in the opposite direction. Others arriving were Phil Bonnyman from Darlington, as player-coach, International full backs Jimmy Nicholl from Rangers and Doug Rougvie from Chelsea, George O`Boyle from Bordeaux, Eddie Cunnington also from Chelsea and, from St. Mirren John Hillcoat and Billy Abercrombie.
A crucial season got under way with Dundee the first visitors to East End Park. This
brought Stuart Rafferty and Stuart Beedie into conflict with their former clubs. Debuts
were also handed to Jimmy Nicholl, Doug Rougvie, Billy Abercrombie and George O`Boyle, in front of 8,987 fans. Stuart Beedie gave Dundee the lead but The Pars fought back to win with goals from Ross Jack and Davie Irons. Raith Rovers were the next visitors, in the Skol Cup and were beaten 3-0. A narrow 1-0 defeat at Celtic Park was not seen as too bad and the next game was at home, this time in the Skol Cup, at home to Dundee and resulted in a 1-0 victory. A 2-1 defeat at Tannadice followed and the month ended with the Skol Cup quarter final at Easter Road, a ground where The Pars seldom did well. A Doug Rougvie goalhad the teams level at full time and further strikes from Paul Smith and Ross Jack took Athletic through to the Semi-Final.
Home crowds continued to flourish and 8,715 were in East End Park to witness a 1-1 draw with Motherwell. Of course many had come to see the debut of £600,000 signing Istvan Kozma, the Hungarian international player. An away match at Pittodrie ended in a 2-1 win for The Dons. The Skol Cup semi final at Hampden Park was next and Rangers the opposition but there was to be no Final for The Pars after a heavy 5-0 defeat.
The following week 17,765 were in East End Park to see the same two teams battle out a 1-1 draw in which Ross Jack scored Athletic`s counter. The month`s fixtures concluded with another good result at Easter Road, Graeme Robertson netting both of The Pars goals, in a 2-2 draw.
As October began, the good form in Edinburgh continued with a 2-1 win at Tynecastle. The next
visitors to East End Park were St Mirren. Two goals from Ross Jack and a blissful hat trick from Istvan Kozma brought a 5-1 victory. Kozma was absolutely outstanding that afternoon and fans wallowed in pride at the artistry of probably the most skilful footballer ever to wear a Pars jersey. Behind the scenes, Mark Smith had arrived back from a loan spell with Hamilton Accies and Audrey Kelly had been promoted to the role of Commercial Manager.
Dundee were beaten 2-1 at Dens Park with Ross Jack and Paul Smith the scorers. The result took The Pars to third position in the SPL and a home game against Celtic. In a wonderful first half display Athletic played Celtic off the park and led through goals from Ross Jack and Istvan Kozma. Istvan was at his best and no-one in The Hoops team of internationals came near his level of skill. In the second half, Celtic came back into the game but Westy put up the shutters and Dunfermline held on to third place with a 2-0 win.
November`s batch of games began at home to Dundee United and another goal from the
Hungarian wizard earned a share of the spoils, the attendance 10,804. The second game was at Fir Park where Tom Wilson made his debut from the bench and a Ross Jack goal brought a 1-1 draw. This was a very important point for The Pars as it meant that they were top of the SPL - the top team in Scotland. It must have gone to everybody`s heads because the next game, even though it was at home, brought everyone down to earth with a thump, when Aberdeen, with their new signing, Hans Gilhaus running riot won 3-0. When Rangers inflicted the same score at Ibrox, Athletic were back down to 6th. A stuffy 0-0 draw at home to Hibernian led us into December.
Next Hearts returned to Edinburgh with the points after a 2-0 win at East End Park. Hugh Burns went down to Fulham for a trial period, where he was reunited with John Watson. Boxing Day saw Dundee visit and return again pointless after an Istvan Kozma goal separated the sides. The year ended gloriously with a 2-0 win at Celtic Park, Stuart Rafferty and Ross Jack the scorers. The Pars were 5th and everything looked rosy.
During the year, the board, recognising what an excellent coach Iain Munro was and in an attempt to keep him happy, made him joint manager with Jim Leishman. A foolish move perhaps, given that he had not shown any managerial aptitude. Obviously team selection was becoming a bone of contention.
The new year did not begin so well, with Dundee United winning 1-0 at Tannadice. The first home game brought another master class but this time the maestro was Motherwell`s Davie Cooper. He was at his mesmeric best and Bobby Russell not far behind as they ran up a 5-0 mauling for The Pars defence. Things went from bad to worse as the next two games, both away from home, ended in defeat. First St Mirren won 2-0 at Love Street then Aberdeen handed out a 4-1 thrashing at Pittodrie. Phil Bonnyman made his debut in this game.
It was hoped that the Scottish Cup would bring some respite, especially with a home tie against lower opposition, but Hamilton Accies held out for a 0-0 draw. The replay took place the following Wednesday, at Douglas Park and a George O`Boyle strike was enough to book The
Pars place in the next round. A disappointing month ended in another defeat 1-0 at home to
Rangers. Athletic had dropped down to ninth.
February was a welcome arrival and Dunfermline got back to winning ways by beating St Mirren 1-0 at home and things were really looking up when Hearts were defeated 2-0 at Tynecastle, thanks to Ross Jack and George O`Boyle. The next visit to Edinburgh saw Hibs edge home 2-1 and so it was back to the Cup to complete the month. The opponents were Cowdenbeath and the match was played at Starks Park. Two Ross Jack goals enabled a 2-1 win but George O`Boyle, who had been subjected to several crude challenges, was carried off with a suspected broken leg.
As March rolled in, Aberdeen proved to be a nuisance again, winning 4-2 at East End Park. Trevor Smith had been loaned to Hamilton Accies to assist his recovery from injury. Willie Callaghan (Jnr) had been freed for the second time and John Watson returned north to sign for Airdrie. Dundee won narrowly 1-0 at Dens Park before the Cup Quarter Final at home to Celtic. The Pars performed well at held The Hoops to a 0-0 draw, in front of a crowd of 19,568. The replay, four days later, saw Celtic win comfortably, 3-0. The next game brought Celtic back to East End Park, this time in the League, another 0-0 draw kept Athletic in eighth position. The month ended badly, when Dundee won 1-0 at East End. Sandy Clark arrived from Hearts and played in this game. Hugh Burns ended his spell with Fulham and returned to the fold and Mark Smith, now that he was fit again, completed a £100,000 move to Nottingham Forest.
April arrived with a trip to Motherwell which resulted in a fine 3-1 win. Unfortunately Hearts won 1-0 at East End Park to drop The Pars back down to ninth. Three games to go, the first of which was at Love Street. George O`Boyle had been rushed back from his injury and was in the starting eleven. It was too soon and he had to be substituted, but not before he put Athletic ahead from the spot. Ross Jack scored a second to secure a precious 2-1 win, confirm eighth place and secure safety with two games to go. A 2-0 defeat at Ibrox brought the month to a close. The last game of the season on 5th May, at home to Hibernian, was more of a Survival Celebration. A crowd of 9,681 witnessed a 1-1 draw. Fittingly, the scorer was Ross Jack.
There was so much to celebrate:- Survival in the Premier League, Harry Melrose appointed General Manager, Ross Jack top native Scot scorer in SPL, with 21 goals, an inspirational manager in Jim Leishman and a top coach in Iain Munro, the marvellous skills of Istvan Kozma, the ever reliable Norrie McCathie and Ian Westwater, along with many other fine players and the excellent attendances. The fans dreamt of a possible return to Europe next season and looked forward happily to the new season.
Then, in one of the most catastrophic decisions by a board of directors, Dunfermline Athletic ruined it all. As a result they alienated the fans, lost Jim Leishman and several fine players all to install a manager in Iain Munro who had no pedigree in that capacity. The crowds steadily built up over the years by Jim Leishman were lost at a stroke and what should have been a new season full of promise became a miserable experience saved only by surviving again.
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