Club History | Season 2022-2023
League One Champions. After the previous season`s abject misery, Pars fans could celebrate. David Cook and the board had appointed an excellent manager and coach in James McPake and Dave Mackay.
Decisive action was needed to recover from the wreckage of last season. David Cook and the board had started their work once it had become obvious that John Hughes was not up to the job.
Given the emphasis on youth demanded by the German owners, James McPake appeared to fit the bill. He had a good record of bringing on young players and of working under a tight budget.
Of the side which capitulated against Queens Park in the playoff, ten were either released or did not have their contracts/loans renewed. Out, therefore, went Stolarczyk, Martin, Donaldson, Ambrose, Polworth, Pybus, Dorrans, Dow, Lawless and Kamwa. Out also went Dom Thomas, who had signed a pre-contract with Queens Park, Reece Cole and Leon Jones. Six others had left during the season: Graham, Watson, Gaspuitis, Fon Williams, Kennedy, Connolly and Wilson.
Having cleared the air, the dressing room had to be repaired. Dave Mackay was brought in as coach and a strong and commanding captain, Kyle Benedictus, recruited. Greg Shields ran the academy. Thirteen players remained from last season: Mehmet, Comrie, Edwards, McDonald, O`Hara, Allan, Todorov, Wighton, Todd, Fenton, McCann, Breen and Chalmers.
The League Cup was in sectional format and The Pars fellow section members were East Fife, Buckie Thistle, Ross County and Alloa. The season kicked off on 9th July at New Bayview, against Stevie Crawford`s East Fife. New signings Kyle Benedictus and Chris Hamilton made their debuts, as did Andrew Tod, from the bench, as Lewis McCann scored both goals in the 2-0 win. The first home game brought a rare visit from Buckie Thistle, who were demolished 5-0. The first negative result was a 1-0 reverse at Ross County. Chris Hamilton scored his first goal but it only achieved a 1-1 draw at home to Alloa. The month closed against the same opponents in the League, at East End Park. Matty Todd`s goal procured a 1-0 win.
August began with a trip to the re-vamped Meadowbank Stadium, where Edinburgh City were beaten 3-0. Chris Mochrie had been brought in on loan from Dundee United and made his debut from the bench scoring one of the goals. A tight game at home to Stewart Petrie`s Montrose was won by a solitary Nikolay Todorov goal. A first ever League visit to Kelty finished 0-0, before the month ended at home to Airdrie, which also ended in a draw, this time 1-1.
September began with a trip to Dumfries and a 2-0 win. Another loan signing, Sam Fisher from Dundee was amongst the substitutes for the game. The match against Clyde was postponed, so the next game brought Falkirk to East End. Kyle Benedictus scored for The Pars in a 1-1 draw. Another postponement meant no further games in September.
With October came the debuts, from the bench, of two new signings: Robbie Mahon, on loan from Motherwell and Kane Richie-Hosler from Rangers. The game finished 2-2 at home to Peterhead. An excellent performance saw Alloa defeated 3-0 at Recreation Park before Edinburgh City visited East End. A tight game finished 1-0 for The Pars. A rare defeat, 2-0 at Montrose was recovered in the next game, the previously postponed match at Broadwood, where Clyde were beaten 2-0. The month finished at home to Kelty Hearts with a hard fought 2-1 win.
The fireworks on 5th November were at the Falkirk Stadium, where a Craig Wighton goal secured a 1-0 win. Kyle Benedictus scored both of the goals in a hard fought game at home to Clyde, which finished 2-2. The postponed Challenge Cup match against Celtic B, was next and progress achieved with a 2-1 win. A number of youngsters played in this game: Max Little, Sam Young, Andrew Tod and Taylor Sutherland, who scored one of the goals in the 2-1 win. A good 2-0 win in Peterhead preceded the start of another Cup Campaign, at home to Forfar Athletic. Kane Richie-Hosler made his first start and scored one of the goals in the 4-0 win.
December started with a disappointing 1-1 draw, at home, to Queen of the South but The Pars returned to form in spectacular form by beating Arbroath 5-1 at Gayfield in the Challenge Cup. Christmas Eve and Athletic won 2-1 at Kelty, to finish 2022 in style.
The Pars began 2023 at Meadowbank, where a Craig Wighton goal gained a 1-0 win against second placed Edinburgh City. Athletic were now 7 points clear. Apart from the blip at Montrose, The Pars were unbeaten in the League. They maintained their record by beating Peterhead 4-0 at East End Park. The next round of the Cup found Dunfermline at Firhill, where they lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Cup interest finished when Dundee won 4-2 at Dens Park in the Challenge Cup. Back to the League and a 1-1 draw at Douglas Park, where Clyde were again exiled.
February brought Montrose to East End Park to be beaten 2-0. A close fought game at the Excelsior saw The Pars pull off a brilliant fight back to win 4-3. A week later and a postponed match at home to Airdrie finished drawn 1-1. To complete the month`s fixtures, Queen of the South were defeated 2-0 at Palmerston.
Two new signings arrived: the experienced Paul McGowan and ex Celtic youth Ewan Otoo. Both made their debuts at home to Alloa. Otoo from the start and McGowan from the bench in the 2-0 win. Time for another visit from Athletic`s closest rivals, Falkirk. Craig Wighton and Lewis McCann scored the two goals which gained a 2-0 win. Edinburgh City were next to visit and fought out a 0-0 draw before The Pars gained revenge over Montrose by winning 3-1 at Links Park. Pars 1961 cup winner John Sweeney sadly died.
April dawned with The Pars 11 points clear of Falkirk with seven games to go. Kelty Hearts held out for a 0-0 draw at East End Park, but the next game was at the Falkirk Stadium and a 2-2 draw was most satisfactory. A trip north was successfully navigated with a 2-0 win in Peterhead. This meant that The Pars went into their home match against Queen of the South needing two points to be absolutely sure of the title. The team did it in style by winning 5-0. Two more games to complete the month`s quota and a 1-1 draw away to Airdrie was the preparation for a celebration at home to Clyde. Amongst the festivities, Athletic did enough to win 2-1.
There was one more game to play, in May, before the season ended. Alloa away were beaten 2-0 to see Athletic crowned Champions with 81 points and 23 wins out of the 36 League games. Only the one defeat in the whole league season. Three players: Deniz Mehmet, Josh Edwards and Matty Todd made 43 appearances. Top scorer was Craig Wighton with 19 goals and Deniz Mehmet broke the record for shut-outs with 24.
After last season`s abject misery, Pars fans could celebrate. David Cook and the board had appointed an excellent manager and coach in James McPake and Dave Mackay. A commanding and influential skipper in Kyle Benedictus had restored a happy dressing room and the German owners had progressed the academy, under Greg Shields. All that was needed, now, was for resources to be provided to bolster the team so that it could compete in what is recognised to be Scotland`s toughest league.
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