Club History | Season 1971-1972
From 1958 through the Glorious 60`s, Dunfermline Athletic had played in the top division. Over the summer, fans would have to get used to the fact that next year would be in the Second Division.
After the desperate battle during the close season to save the club, two new directors had been added to the board: William Jamieson and Mel Rennie. A clear indication of the poverty was the cheapskate new all white strips match - couldn`t afford the black stripes, nor did the budget stretch to the proper club badge, a horrible DAFC script being used instead. Long serving legends Jim Thomson and Hugh Robertson had been released, Jimmy T to Raith Rovers and Shuggie to Arbroath. Others who had left during last season were Willie Renton, George McKimmie, George McLean, Billy McLaren, Willie Duff and John McGarty.
August began with a glamour friendly against West Ham, complete with Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds, Trevor Brooking, Pop Robson and Geoff Hurst. A crowd in the region of 9,000 saw The Hammers win 3-1. John Lunn had suffered a recurrence of the illness which would later claim his life, so young Bonar Mercer was handed his debut. The League Cup section included Airdrie, Hearts and St Johnstone.
The first competitive game was at home to Airdrie. Joe McBride carried on where he had left off last season, scoring both goals in a 2-1 win. Ex Par Pat Delaney was at centre half for The Diamonds. Barrie Mitchell scored the goal which earned a draw at Muirton Park and Pat Gardner scored the only goal at home to Hearts. The following midweek brought a surprise 2-0 defeat at home to St Johnstone. The League Cup campaign crumbled from here on in, Airdrie winning 1-0 at Broomfield. The month ended with the sad news that Chairman Leonard Jack had died.
As September began, John Yellowley had been elected Chairman with Jimmy Watters as Vice-Chairman. The League Cup effort ended feebly with a 4-0 defeat away to Hearts. September 4th saw the start of the League campaign with a 1-0 win at Bayview, Pud Paterson the scorer, on his debut. The first home game ended in a 4-1 defeat by Hearts, though Jim Paterson scored again. Jim Scott scored in his first game of the season to earn a 1-1 draw away to Ayr United. The final game of the month also finished 1-1, this time at home to Motherwell. Jim Leishman made his debut in this game.
October`s first game was away to Aberdeen and was lost 2-0. Partick Thistle at home was next and finished 2-2. Following the game, Joe McBride transferred to Clyde. Mid month brought a 2-1 defeat at Brockville. During the month The Pars won the final of the BBC programme Quizball with a team made up of Alex Wright, John Cushley and Jim Fraser, defeating Leicester City. Alex Edwards was allowed to move to Hibernian for the ludicrously low figure of £13,000, but the club was desperate for the cash. The postponed match at home to Celtic was lost 2-1 and the month ended with a 1-0 home win against Airdrie, courtesy of Peter Millar.
November did not bring about any improvement and two more 2-0 defeats followed, away to Motherwell and at home to a Hibs side including George Best. Sandy McNaughton scored to earn a 1-1 draw at Douglas Park before things bucked up with 3-1 win at home to Clydebank (McFarlane, O`Brien and Leonard the scorers). The month ended with a 3-3 draw at Annfield.
November was to be a miserable month, beginning with a 2-0 defeat at Easter Road. Worse still, the team lost Bert Paton, just back from injury, to another broken leg. Next Athletic lost 1-0 to Kilmarnock at East End Park, then scraped a 0-0 draw at St Johnstone, before losing at home again, this time 2-1 to Dundee.
December proved even worse, with four defeats. Going down 1-0 at Cappielow, 2-0 at home to Rangers, 2-1 at Shawfield and 3-2 at Tannadice. This all meant that Athletic would finish the year in bottom position, two points below East Fife.
Could the new year bring fresh hope? A home fixture against East Fife ended drawn 2-2. Two days later, a big improvement as a 1-1 draw brought a point back from Tynecastle. The draws continued when Ayr United escaped East End with a 1-1 draw. A 4-1 thumping at Fir Park was not the best preparation for a visit from Aberdeen, but after bamboozling The Dons defensive stars Willie Young and Martin Buchan, Jim Gillespie scored the game`s only goal. Firhill was next, but a 2-0 defeat was a depressing end to the month.
February brought a start to the Scottish Cup campaign, a tie at George Farm`s Raith Rovers. A crowd of 7,483 saw Rovers shock the higher division Pars 2-0. After a week lost to weather, Athletic lost narrowly 1-0 at Celtic Park. At the following week`s board meeting, Alex Wright and Willie McLean were relieved of their duties. Former Pars legend George Miller retired from his playing career with Falkirk to take up the managerial reins at East End Park. Dunfermline were bottom of the table, one point behind Airdrie and a further three behind Clyde, Falkirk and Morton.
March opened with a vital away match at Airdrie, but a Drew Busby goal saw the points stay at Broomfield and the gulf extended. George Miller`s first home match was against Hibernian. Youngsters Jim Paterson and debutant Ken Mackie were brought in and both scored in a fine 2-1 win. A good 0-0 draw at Kilmarnock was the prequel to St Johnstone at home. Mackie scored again and Barrie Mitchell netted the other as the revival continued with a 2-1 win. Unfortunately Falkirk were to spoil it all by winning 1-0 at East End Park in the last game of the month.
So to April and a difficult match on April Fools Day was lost at Dens Park 1-0. Another youngster, Graham Shaw made his debut in this match. Ken Mackie scored again along with Jim Fraser, as The Pars beat Morton 2-1 at home. Going into the penultimate Saturday, Athletic were still bottom, two points behind Clyde and East Fife, but with a vital game in hand. A hard fought home match against Clyde finished all square at 2-2, but both East Fife and Falkirk won their matches. The vital game in hand was midweek, away to Rangers, so few people gave them any hope of an escape.
An own goal by Sandy Jardine and counters from Kenny Thomson and Ken Mackie defied the odds as the teams were level at 3-3. In a moment etched in memory, Pars young star Jim Leishman netted the winner. (As this was written in 2025, it was still the last time a Pars player scored a winner at Ibrox).
Going into the final matches, Clyde were now bottom on 23 points, Dunfermline also had 23 but a better goal difference. East Fife were on 24 but their goal difference was much worse. Both Clyde and East Fife were away and The Pars were at home to Dundee United. Athletic pounded the United goal but could not find the net and against the run of play, Kenny Cameron scored for United. Clyde drew at Airdrie and East Fife at Motherwell, so there was to be no salvation.
Barrie Mitchell played in all 40 matches, with Bonar Mercer on 39 and Dave McNicoll on 38, just behind. With only eight goals, Barrie Mitchell was top scorer. From 1958 through the Glorious 60`s, Dunfermline Athletic had played in the top division. Over the summer, fans would have to get used to the fact that next year would be in the second division. As the season ended, Bob Torrie resigned from the board.
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