Club History | Season 1963-1964
Dunfermline finished 5th and qualified again for the Fairs Cup. Jim Kerray was top scorer with
21, closely followed by Charlie Dickson on 20.
Season 1962/63 had not been one of the best under Jock Stein. Though perfectly safe, the team had finished 8th and had, therefore, failed to qualify for Europe. Jock`s team was changing. Both Willie Cunningham and Jackie Williamson had retired and centre half Jim Stevenson had failed to recover from his leg break and was freed. The replacements were youngsters Pat Wilson from Blairhall and Jim Fraser from St Andrews. Also returning was Jim Kerray.
The season began as usual with the League Cup and a section shared with Dundee, Airdrie and Third Lanark. The opening match, on 10th August, was away to Airdrie and a single goal from Jim Kerray won the points. The good work was undone, when Third Lanark won 3-2 at East End Park. A 4-1 pasting at the hands of Dundee, at Dens Park was the precursor to the departure of another stalwart, when Eddie Connachan made the move to Middlesbrough for £5,500. To replace him, Willie Whiteside was promoted from the youths.
As was the norm, the opening League match took place halfway through the League Cup section and a healthy 2-0 win was recorded away to Motherwell. Back to League Cup business and Airdrie were beaten 3-2 at East End Park and revenge was gained over Third Lanark with a 3-0 win at Cathkin Park. This gave The Pars the chance to win the section, if they could defeat Dundee at East End but The Dark Blues won a thrilling match by 4-3.
September saw a return to League duty with a 2-1 win at Palmerston and followed this with a 2-2 draw at home to Hearts. The great start to the League campaign continued with a 3-0 win away to Kilmarnock and when Dundee United were seen off by 4-2 at East End, everything was looking rosy.
An excellent 2-2 draw away to Celtic got October off to a good start and Hibs were quickly despatched 3-0 in Dunfermline, John Lunn on the scoresheet. Partick Thistle proved sterner opposition returning home with a point from a 0-0 draw. The local firm James Scott & Co. had installed floodlights at a number of clubs, including Dunfermline and when they did a similar job at Barrow`s Holker Street ground, The Pars were invited to inaugurate the lights. Athletic won 7-1 and were confident of completing the month in style at Dens Park. In a close fought encounter, Dundee edged it 2-1.
Away from competition Jock Stein went to Milan to study the methods of Helenio Herrera, whilst at home, lighting was installed at Humbug Park to allow training on winter nights
November got off to a flyer with a 4-0 win at home to St Johnstone. Two trips to Falkirk were next and after drawing 2-2 at Brockville, The Pars went on to beat East Stirling 2-0 at Firs Park. Athletic`s first home defeat in the League came at the hands of Rangers in front of around 21,000 fans. At board level, David Thomson stood down as chairman, though he remained on the board. His replacement was Andrew Watson. The month ended with a 0-0 draw at Broomfield.
December began even brighter when St Mirren were hammered 5-0 at East End Park. The contributions of Jackie Williamson and Willie Cunningham were recognised in a special match against Newcastle United. The Pars team, with guests Eddie Connachan and Cammy Fraser, along with John Colrain of Ipswich, won 2-0 with goals by Jim Kerray and Tom Callaghan. The following weekend it was Third Lanark`s turn to come a cropper at East End, 3-0 the score. The following Saturday fell foul to the weather, so it was after Christmas before Athletic completed their year`s fixtures with a 1-1 draw at Fir Park. Eric Martin had been acquired from Blairhall to provide a challenge to Jim Herriot.
1964 began quietly with a dull 0-0 draw at home to Queen of the South. Hearts edged the other Ne-er Day derby by 2-1 at Tynecastle. The programme included a New Year message from Hearts captain Roy Barry. Kilmarnock inflicted a 3-2 defeat at East End. Thankfully a victory was carved out at Tannadice 2-1 to send the team in confident for this year`s Scottish Cup campaign, at home to Fraserburgh. Charlie Dickson scored 5 of The Pars goals in a 7-0 romp.
February began away from home at Celtic Park and Dunfermline won 1-0 thanks to a Billy McNeill own goal. Easter Road was next and a 0-0 draw. The next round of the cup took The Pars to Firs Park, where a 6-1 thrashing was handed out to East Stirling. Still away from home, Jim Kerray scored the only goal at Firhill, so it was hard to take, after all that away success, when Dundee won 2-1 at East End. The month ended badly with a 3-2 defeat away to St. Johnstone. The atmosphere around the town was not helped by the announcement that Jock Stein intended to leave at the end of the season.
The Quarter Final of the cup brought Ayr United to East End Park Another 7-0 slaughter was handed out and Athletic were in the Semi- Finals again. The postponed game against Falkirk, was caught up with a 1-0 win at East End Park and this was followed by a 4-1 home win over East Stirling. Rangers at Ibrox was closely fought, with Rangers winning 2-1. The same two met the following Saturday at Hampden in the cup Semi-Final. A single Davie Wilson goal ended The Pars interest.
The following Monday, Athletic got back on track with a 5-1 home win against Airdrie. A few days later it was announced that Jock Stein was being allowed to leave early in order that he could take up the vacant post at Hibernian and that trainer Jimmy Stevenson would join him. Willie Cunningham was quickly appointed to take over as manager.
Love Street Paisley was the venue for the first of April`s fixtures and 1-1 the result. Aberdeen at Pittodrie was next and Jackie Sinclair scored to secure the points. Harry Melrose scored the goal that mattered at Cathkin Park and the League season finished with a 3-1 win over Aberdeen at East End Park.
Dunfermline finished 5th and qualified again for the Fairs Cup. Jim Kerray was top scorer with 21, closely followed by Charlie Dickson on 20.
The unpopular Summer Cup took up May, beginning with a 5-2 win over Falkirk at East End. Hibs were next at Easter Road and managed now by Jock Stein. A closely fought 1-1 draw was the outcome. Hearts won 2-1 at Tynecastle and the tie at Brockville was drawn 3-3. Another draw 1-1 with Hibs, this time in Dunfermline, preceded a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Hearts. This meant a second place play-off between The Pars and Hibs, played at Tynecastle and won 3-1 by the Edinburgh club. As the season ended, veteran Ronnie Mailer hung up his boots.
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