Club History | Season 1998-1999
It had been a sad season. Top status had been lost and with only 28 points, it was not hard to see why. All those draws - 16 in total, cost The Pars dearly. Only 30 goals had been scored in all competitions, with Andy Smith netting 10, nobody else scored more than two. Bert Paton had resigned.
The previous season had been a bit of a disappointment, but relegation had not been a real threat and Andy Smith had been a tremendous success. There had been quite a clear out of players in the March and more followed at the end of the season. Sergio Duarte and Zoran Lemajic moved to CS Maritimo, Dave Bingham opted for Livingston and Craig Robertson was released along with Scott Young.
Shortly after the start of the season, Raymond Sharp and Paul McDonald also left. The three arrivals last March (Craig Faulconbridge, Richard Huxford and Jamie Squires) continued. Other close season newcomers were experienced duo from Wigan Athletic, Gavin Johnson and goalkeeper Lee Butler, former Rangers, Hearts and Sunderland star Derek Ferguson from Falkirk, former Don Scott Thomson from Raith Rovers and former Ipswich and Blackpool skipper David Linighan. Youngsters called up included Chris Templeman, Colin Nish, David Hay and Craig Martin. Most importantly Andy Smith signed a new contract despite tempting offers from elsewhere.
The season opened with a League match away to Celtic. David Linighan and Scott Thomson made their debuts but Athletic lost heavily 5-0. This was followed by a Coca Cola Cup tie away to Livingston which was also lost, this time 1-0. Lee Butler came in for this game in place of the injured Ian Westwater. Steve Welsh moved to Ayr United on loan.
Something better was needed as East End Park, complete with two new stands, hosted its first game of the season. Young Chris Templeman was in the starting eleven and Gavin Johnson, David Hay and Craig Martin on the bench, as goals from Andy Smith and George Shaw were enough to beat Dundee 2-0. Fir Park was the next venue and 0-0 the result. The Well introduced their two new Dutch signings, Michel Doesburg and Rob Matthei, both of whom would end up joining The Pars. Hamish French scored to earn a 1-1 draw at home to Aberdeen, to complete the month`s fixtures.
September began with a 1-1 draw away to St. Johnstone, courtesy of Andy Smith and it was Andy who scored again to secure a home draw with Hearts. Steve Welsh`s transfer to Ayr was made permanent. Jamie Squires got the goal which earned a 1-1 draw at Tannadice. The draws were quite good results but they did not rack up the points very quickly and The Pars were in 8th place as they faced Rangers at home. The Gers won 2-0 with Scott Wilson on their bench. The popular Ivo den Bieman was granted a transfer, to get first team football and Ross County was his destination.
October arrived and it was back to the draws with a 0-0 stalemate at Rugby Park. Celtic were the next visitors to East End Park and 2-2 the result, Gerry Britton and Hamish French the scorers. Athletic lost 1-0 away to Dundee in midweek before finishing the month with yet another draw, this time 1-1 at home to St. Johnstone.
November began for The Pars at Pittodrie where Aberdeen won 2-1. At last a win when Andy Tod and Scott McCulloch got the goals to beat Dundee United 2-1 at East End Park. Two newcomers were on the bench for the first time, Brazilian international Edinho and youngster David Graham from Rangers. Hearts won 2-1 at Tynecastle but the month ended badly with a 3-0 defeat at home to Kilmarnock, which left Dunfermline in bottom place. Leaving the club were Gerry Britton on loan to Raith Rovers and Craig Faulconbridge who returned to Coventry City.
The draws continued into December when Stewart Petrie earned a draw 1-1 at Ibrox but the next one was less good 1-1 at home to Motherwell, before which The Norrie McCathie Stand was officially named in a short ceremony. Former Par, Billy Davies was now manager of The Well and his side was packed with Pars connections. Eddie May, Ged Brannan, Owen Coyle and Michel Doesburg all started and Rob Matthei was on the bench. Next, Celtic inflicted a 5-0 drubbing at Parkhead and Aberdeen won 2-1 at East End Park. The year finished with yet another draw, this time 1-1 at McDiarmid Park. Craig Martin made his first start.
The new year began as the old year had ended, with a draw when the home match with Hearts ended goal-less. Former Partick Thistle skipper Billy MacDonald made his debut from the bench. The next weeks fixtures were wiped out by the weather, so it was Firhill for thrills, as The Pars kicked off their Cup campaign with a 2-1 win, Andy Smith netting both goals. Back to the League and back to the draws as Andy Smith earned a 1-1 draw at Tannadice.
February kicked off with a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Rangers and with Colin Nish making his debut from the bench, The Gers had Barry Nicholson and Allan McGregor on their bench. Everybody was disappointed when Bert Paton resigned, disillusioned with Scottish Football. The board opted for continuity by asking Dick Campbell to step up and confirmed John McVeigh as his assistant. A 4-0 defeat away to Celtic was their welcome. Back to the drawing board, this time 1-1 against Motherwell at Fir Park. New signings Jason Dair and Jamie Dolan made their debuts with Scott McCulloch moving to Dundee United.
I was in London for a break and went to a Kent League match between Beckenham Town and Crockenhill which ended in a 1-1 draw. The level was on a par with a Scottish Junior game and played with a similar brutality. It was the first game I had seen with a female referee, a Ms. Amy Smart. There was no sexual discrimination and she was treated with the same disrespect that a male referee would have been afforded.
March began for The Pars with guess what? Yes a draw, 0-0 at Rugby Park. Owen Coyle, newly signed from Motherwell made his debut, a proven goalscorer, hopefully he could help produce a win. It started well as Dundee were beaten 2-0 at East End Park with goals from Scott Thomson and David Graham and when Stewart Petrie scored the goal which won the home encounter with St Johnstone, Athletic were off the bottom for the first time since December.
April brought an end to the raised spirits, a 3-1 defeat at Pittodrie was followed by losing narrowly 1-0 to Rangers at Ibrox. The sky fell in when Kilmarnock handed out a 6-0 drubbing at East End Park and the best The Pars could muster in the month was a 2-2 draw at home to Dundee United.
May began for The Pars with a 2-0 defeat at Tynecastle, which meant that they must take at least a point at home to Celtic to have any chance of avoiding the drop. At last, Owen Coyle scored a goal, but it was not enough and, despite all the late pressure, Athletic could not get an equaliser, lost 2-1 and were relegated. A defeat 3-1 at Dens Park preceded the final game, a 2-1 defeat, at home, to Motherwell.
It had been a sad season. Top status had been lost and with only 28 points, it was not hard to see why. All those draws - 16 in total, cost The Pars dearly. Dundee United and Aberdeen, the two teams above Dunfermline, actually lost more games, but they also won more. Only 30 goals had been scored in all competitions, with Andy Smith netting 10, nobody else scored more than two. With only one goal in twelve games, Owen Coyle had the worst scoring drought of his career. Bert Paton had resigned.
Top for appearances were Greg Shields, 39, and both Lee Butler and Andy Smith with 38. Fans waited to see what would happen over the summer, believing that a quick return was feasible.
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