Club History | Season 2019-2020

Covid denied The Pars the chance of a play off place. Kevin Nisbet scored an impressive 32 goals in his debut and only season at the club.

Although nobody knew at the time, this was to become the most bizarre season since the Second World War. The Pars had finished the previous season in 7th place. Stevie Crawford was manager with Jason Dair and Greg Shields his lieutenants.

Of last season`s pool of players, many had moved on, some during the campaign. Out went Lee Robinson, Ryan Williamson, Jackson and Louis Longridge, Mark Durnan, Kallum Higginbotham, Myles Hyppolyte, James Craigen, Aidan Connolly, Faissal el Bakhtaoui, James Vincent, Aidan Keena, Brandon Luke, Malaury Martin, Robbie Muirhead, Bruce Anderson, Ryan Blair. Incoming were:- Aaron Comrie, Tom Lang, Euan Murray, Gabby McGill, Ryan Dow, Kyle Turner, Kevin Nisbet, Matty Bowman, Paul Paton, Josh Edwards and Josh Coley along with several youngsters.

After a home friendly against Hibs, The Pars kicked off their season in the League Cup, which now back in a sectional format. They began in great form by defeating St. Mirren 3-2 in Paisley, with Andy Ryan getting two of the goals and Tom Beadling the other. Young Stuart Morrison made his debut as Athletic handed out a 6-0 thrashing to Albion Rovers at East End. New striker Kevin Nisbet scored a hat trick and Kyle Turner two along with a first goal for Aaron Comrie.

After such a good start, the next result came as a surprise when Edinburgh City, playing their matches at Spartans Ainslie Park, beat Dunfermline 1-0. All this took place in July and there was one more game to play to complete the month`s fixtures. A first ever home match against East Kilbride finished 4-0 for The Pars, with two more Kevin Nisbet goals, one for Tom Beadling and a first for Josh Coley.

August opened with a home League match against Dundee, managed by James McPake. The result a 2-2 draw and the points were also shared in the next game, a 1-1 draw away to Queen of the South. The next round of the League Cup it took Dunfermline to Celtic Park and with an excellent Tom Beadling goal and a splendid team performance, took Celtic to extra time to record a 2-1 win. Bogey team Dundee United were next to visit East End Park and managed a 2-0 win and the month ended badly with a 1-0 defeat away to Arbroath.

September also began badly when Alloa won 2-1 at East End to put Athletic out of the Challenge Cup. Greg Kiltie had been signed on loan just before the deadline and made his debut and scored his first goal in this game. The gloom continued when Inverness Caley Thistle inflicted a 1-0 home defeat but it was Firhill for Thrills next with a fine 3-0 win over Partick Thistle. The month ended with another visit from Alloa, this time in the League, which finished drawn 1-1.

October`s opener was at Cappielow and finished 1-1, thanks to Andy Ryan. Ayr United were the next visitors to Dunfermline. Athletic won 3-2. However Dundee United at Tannadice were next and a 2-0 defeat was not unexpected. Dick Campbell brought his Red Lichties to East End and they were sent home pointless, thanks to two more Kevin Nisbet goals. Kevin was showing himself to be a real quality striker.

Into November and a visit from Queen of the South was navigated satisfactorily with a 2-0 win. The Allan Johnston, Sandy Clark management team was in place in Dumfries and The Doonhamers had Scott Mercer, Dan Pybus and Faissal el Bakhtaoui in their side. Disaster followed in the next two games, both away. First Alloa won 2-1 at Recreation Park, then Stranraer put The Pars out of the Scottish Cup with a 1-0 win at Stair Park. The frustration was taken out on Partick Thistle when Athletic cuffed them 5-1 at East End Park, Kevin Nisbet netting four of the goals.

A midweek trip to Ayr ended with a 1-0 win, thanks again to Kevin Nisbet. Morton were the next visitors to The Kingdom and Greg Kiltie and two goal Kevin Nisbet secured a 3-1 win. Athletic were unlucky to lose a high scoring match at Dens Park 4-3 but followed this by another defeat on the road, 2-0 away in Inverness. The year ended very badly with a 3-1 defeat at home to bottom club Alloa. Just as 2019 ended badly, so 2020 also began with a home defeat, 1-0 against Ayr United. The Pars were right in the middle of the table, with 25 points. Things did not improve as Morton won 3-2 at Cappielow.

Two new arrivals were announced, Dom Thomas from Kilmarnock and Ethan Ross on loan from Aberdeen. Ryan Dow and Kevin Nisbet scored the goals as Dundee were beaten 2-0 at East End Park. The Coronavirus was by now making its effect known across the world but February started well for The Pars with a 3-2 win at Palmerston. Unfortunately the form was not maintained and a 2-1 loss at home to Inverness Caley Thistle was hard to bear. Two more arrivals had beaten the January deadline, Welsh International goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams was joined by Celtic loanee Jonathan Afolabi. The month ended with a most welcome 2-0 win at home to Dundee United, Kevin Nisbet and Jonathan Afolabi the scorers.

By now, the pandemic had arrived in the UK with a vengeance but the football continued with a 0-0 draw at Gayfield. Queen of the South drew 1-1 at East End and the next game was also drawn 1-1 at Firhill. This was on 10th of March but the country went into lockdown soon afterwards and the season brought to a sudden end. This denied The Pars the chance of a play off place.

Aaron Comrie was top of the appearances table with 34. Lewis Martin and Kyle Turner (33), Kevin Nisbet (32) Lee Ashcroft and Paul Paton (31) not far behind. With 23 goals Kevin Nisbet had been a tremendous success.

What would next season bring? Would there be one?

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