News & Events | Brothers play into Pars history

The Sutherland brothers and the Tod brothers were winners playing together in the Dunfermline team that lifted SPFL Reserve Cup on 23rd April 2024.

As far as we can ascertain this is a unique occurrence with two pairs of brothers playing together for Dunfermline Athletic. Jake (17) and Taylor (18) Sutherland were joined by Andrew (18) and John Tod (16). This was the third reserve game where the brothers have played together after first turning out together in the reserves 3-0 win over Ayr United at Townhead Park, Cumnock in March.

Above: Andrew and John Tod, Taylor and Jake Sutherland pictured after Reserve League match in April 2024

Taylor Sutherland
Coming from Cowdenbeath, Taylor started his football with Blue Brazil and then the Fife Football Performance Academy (FFPA). He was with Fife Elite from the age of ten and progressed through the age groups until joining Dunfermline in 2021.

Taylor made his first team debut when he started the SPFL Trust Trophy match against Celtic B on 15th November 2022. His impact was immediate, scoring within 2 minutes and 11 seconds. Taylor has so far made 13 appearances for Dunfermline.

Taylor made three further appearances last season and another five at the start of this season `“ scoring again in the Viaplay Cup win over Albion Rovers before going out on loan to League Two Bonnyrigg Rose. He scored twice in his 11 appearances, before returning to East End Park in January.

Jake Sutherland
Jake is the younger brother of Taylor and together they proved to be a very effective striking partnership in the under 18s. Jake attended Beath High School, also started playing football at Blue Brazil, was part of FFPA (Fife Football Academy) and joined Fife Elite before it became the Dunfermline Athletic Academy.

Jake was 15 when he was brought into the under 18s and cost the reserve three points when he played in the Reserve League Cup against Dundee United, ineligible to play 15 days before his 16th birthday! Jake signed a two year apprenticeship in the summer of 2023.

He made his first team debut in the 2-2 draw with Ayr United on 30th December 2023. It was an impressive cameo from the powerful striker, who played the final 13 minutes after replacing Michael O`Halloran. He has only made the subs bench since then and is currently out on loan to Crossgates Primrose.

Andrew Tod
Andrew is the eldest son of Pars legend Andy Tod. He joined the Fife Elite Academy as a Dunfermline Athletic registered player in March 2016, signing from Kinross Colts. A stand out in the Dunfermline under 18s during the 2022-2023 season, Andrew is considered a fantastic prospect.

Andrew attended the SFA Performance school at Broughton in Edinburgh though he lives in Kinross. He joined the Hibernian Academy in November 2018, returning to Dunfermline Athletic in May 2021. Towards the end of the 2021-2022 season he trained regularly with the first team squad and continued in 2022-2023 until on 28th February 2023, he joined Elgin City on loan for the remainder of the season.

Andrew made three starts in his seven appearances for Elgin City and has now made 13 appearances for Dunfermline, the last in the opening league match of the season against Airdrieonians before niggly injuries curtailed his season.

John Tod
John who is not 17 until next month and started off playing up an age group in his father`s 2006s side at Kinross in which his older brother also played in. At the age of nine he came to Dunfermline and played at Fife Elite 2006s. He returned to his own age group for half a season before Greg Shields asked him to play at centre half following Sam Young going out on loan. Since then centre half has been his position even though he scored twice on his debut for the under 18s against St Johnstone.

Powerful for his age, John plays comfortably on the left side of a back three and attributes his strength with both feet to his grandad John Meiklem who encouraged him to use his left as well as his right. The Under 18s captain now hopes that he will get a contract at Dunfermline so that he can follow both his father and brother into the Pars first team.

Reserve team coach Gary Montignani has worked with Andrew and John before at Fife Elite and seen them develop from a very young age from nine and ten year old. He said `they just take what they have done in the back garden and take it on to a bigger pitch now.`

The Reserve Cup final was the biggest stage so far for them and Gary felt that it would have been a proud moment for their families.

`John was up against a big centre forward but I don`t think he lost an aerial duel. He was excellent on the ball and really calm bringing it out. Andrew does what Andrew does, this is the sort of occasion he relishes in. It is testimony to the work of the Academy that they are bringing these players through. We want them to kick on and get their chance moving forward.`

The last brothers to play together for Dunfermline were Louis and Jackson Longridge (pictured above) who were signed by Allan Johnston on 1st June 2018. Now we wait and see if the next brothers to play in the same first team for Dunfermline will be Sutherlands or Tods!

The record of brothers to play for the club at the same time includes:

Tom and Jim McKee were founding members of the club.
David and Jack Frew played together in the early 1890s.
Willie and Sandy Strang in 1900s
Willie and Arthur Beveridge in early 1900s
Sam and Jimmy Tonner* - played together for both the junior and senior teams during WW1.
Jimmy and Willie Rarity in 1930s
Ted and Walter Richardson played in 1923/24
Bill and Jimmy Harrower - played during WW2
Willie and Colin Syme - played during WW2
Tommy and Willie Callaghan in 1960s
Dick and Ian Campbell in 1970s
Bobby and Stuart Dall in 1980s
Steve and Stuart Morrison in 1980s
Darren and Derek Young in 2000s
Louis and Jackson Longridge in 2010s

* With younger brother John Tonner, Sam and Jimmy were all with Clapton Orient in 1919/20, a rare example of three brothers in the same team. Jimmy was the oldest surviving player at the centenary celebrations in 1985

The Strangs, Dalls and Campbells were twins. Robin and Harry Melrose didn`t play in the same sides in the 1950s, nor did Alex and Martin Ferguson in the 1960s.

Above: Willie and Tommy Callaghan Scottish Cup winners 1968