Club History | Season 1982-1983
Top scorer, in a miserable season, was Stevie Morrison with 11 goals. Bobby Forrest led the way for appearances with 44, followed by Bobby Robertson on 40.
Manager Stanton had not really set the heather alight and team performances were generally mediocre. If there was no sign of promotion, at least he had kept the club in the middle division.
His decision to release Kenny Thomson was both bewildering and deeply unpopular with the fans. Kenny moved to Alloa and another stalwart, Bonar Mercer, retired. Coming in was the experienced Bobby Ford from Raith Rovers, along with youngsters Paul Crawford, Trevor Smith, Colin Grant and Kevin Hepburn. On the fringes were Graeme Black, Graham Buckley, Dave McGovern and Paul Scullion. Doug Considine was made captain and Jim Leishman was added to the coaching staff. Long serving chairman Andrew Watson retired and was replaced on the board by local businessman Bill Braisby who was a valued sponsor.
The pre-season friendlies were all at home and after a 0-0 draw with Dundee United, defeats to English opposition followed, 2-0 to Sheffield United and 1-0 to Sunderland (scorer, Ally McCoist). The League Cup was still in sectional format and The Pars fellow section members were Celtic, Arbroath and Alloa. Athletic`s first encounter was at Celtic Park, where they were on the receiving end of a 6-0 drubbing. The second game brought little joy in a 0-0 stalemate at home to an Arbroath side which included David Young and Graham Shaw. In the match programme season tickets were advertised at £35 for the stand and £22 for the ground, the walk up prices were £1.80 for the stand and £1.30 for the ground.
Three days later, Alloa came visiting and were beaten 2-1, thanks to a brace from Stevie Morrison. The Wasps goal was scored by my workmate Arthur Grant, a very effective winger in Alex Totten`s side, which also featured Kenny Thomson, Stuart Munro (who was to go on to a successful spell with Rangers), and future Par Davie Houston. Graham Shaw scored to give Arbroath a 1-0 victory at Gayfield and this was followed by a shameful 7-1 defeat by Celtic at East End Park.
The woeful start to the season continued into September, with a 3-0 defeat at Alloa, which ensured that Dunfermline finished bottom of their group. Before the League started, manager Stanton moved to Hibs. The club made a fuss about compensation but, in truth his days must have been numbered. Before he left, he took another detrimental step by transferring Sandy McNaughton to Ayr United. The League campaign began a bit more promisingly with a 1-1 draw at Firhill. Jimmy Thomson was running the team until a successor could be found.
In the first home game, Clyde produced their usual dour performance, holding out for a 1-1 draw. Accies at Douglas Park was next and a heavy 4-1 defeat, followed quickly by a midweek 2-1 defeat at home to Raith Rovers. A 1-1 draw away to Dumbarton had The Pars languishing in 12th place and the need for a new managerial appointment. Unfortunately, when it came, it was to be a big mistake - Tom Forsyth. Tommy Docherty once said of him: "Tom Forsyth does not know the meaning of the word defeat - but then he does not know the meaning of lots of words." The first game of The Forsyth Era was a 4-2 defeat at home to St Johnstone but he made two good moves by bringing in Cammy Murray as coach and promoting Jim Leishman. September finished with an elusive home win against Ayr United, thanks to a Bobby Forrest goal.
October began with a trip to Broomfield to meet Airdrie. A Billy Blackie goal earned a 1-1 draw. The same score resulted from the next game, which was at home to Queens Park, this time it was Gavin Tait who came up trumps. Yet another 1-1 draw, at Kilbowie meant that the defeats had stopped, but there had been no wins in the month. George Young was freed to East Stirling and Jim Moffat brought in from Hamilton. Ian Wildridge was also signed. A heavy 4-1 defeat at Tynecastle preceded another draw, this time 0-0 at home to Falkirk had Athletic in 10th position.
November took The Pars to Alloa, where they achieved a 2-2 draw with new signing Tommy Sermanni making his debut. The next match saw Mo Johnston contribute two goals to Partick Thistle`s 4-0 win at East End Park. Things went from bad to worse when Dumbarton, leading 2-0, had two men sent off but still managed to add a third without reply also at East End. The final game of the month was a 2-0 defeat away to St Johnstone, leaving Dunfermline bottom of the table.
The clouds lifted a little as December kicked in with a 1-0 home win over Airdrie, thanks to Bobby Forrest. Paul Crawford and Derrick Rodier made their debuts along with Joe Smith, from the bench. A narrow 1-0 defeat at Somerset Park was followed by yet another draw, this time 1-1, at home to Hamilton Accies. Off the field, a disillusioned John Yellowley resigned as chairman, after twelve years, to be replaced by Jimmy Watters, with Mel Rennie taking over as vice chairman.
At this time in my life, I hated New Year. It was almost without exception a time of great misery and pain for me. I`ll admit it was self inflicted - a careless intake of all manner of alcoholic beverages to see out the old year and a zombie like trance which took me to wherever The Pars were playing their first game of the year. It was also bloody cold. 1983 took me to Starks Park, with a sore head, indigestion and dehydration, to see my heroes defeated 6-0 and hypothermia added to my list of ailments. I contemplated suicide but did not feel well enough.
In a remarkable act of faith, I was at East End Park, two days later, to see Athletic beat Alloa 2-0, thanks to two Stevie Morrison goals. It was the 15th before the next game, a 2-2 draw away to Queens Park. A narrow 1-0 defeat at Brockville was the forerunner to this year`s Cup campaign at Elgin City. Two goals each from Grant Jenkins and Gavin Tait along with one from Derrick Rodier secured a comfortable 5-0 victory.
February began with a good result, a 2-1 home win against Hearts, Grant Jenkins and Bobby Forrest the scorers. Postponements meant that it was the 19th before the next game took place, a 3-0 defeat at Celtic Park, which saw the end of the Cup for another season. The following midweek, Clydebank visited East End Park and drew 1-1. Former chairman Andrew Watson sadly died and The Pars finished the month bottom of the table following a 4-0 mauling at Douglas Park.
The beginning of March brought another roasting, this time at home to Partick Thistle by 3-0, followed by the customary dud show at Shawfield and a 1-0 defeat. Norrie McCathie, Bobby Forrest and Hugh Hamill scored to bring a surprise 3-1 win back from Dumbarton and move the club off the bottom. This was maintained with two 1-1 draws, at home to Clydebank and away to Alloa. The scorer on both occasions was Rab Stewart.
There were to be six games in April, as The Pars tried to climb that extra place to avoid relegation. Raith Rovers, at East End, was first and 2-2 the result, with both goals scored by Stevie Morrison. Midweek brought catastrophe with a 4-0 defeat at home to Airdrie. Back on the rails the following Saturday when Ayr United were beaten 3-2 at Somerset Park. Rab Stewart scored the only goal in the home win against Queens Park. A stuffy 0-0 draw at home to Clyde preceded the final game of the month, a good 3-3 draw at Tynecastle was not enough to raise the club from 13th position.
May dawned to find Athletic still within reach of Hamilton and Ayr, the two clubs above them, but after a 2-2 draw at home to Falkirk only Ayr remained catchable. As it turned out, a win would have done, but instead The Pars slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Muirton Park. It was back down to the bottom division - well done messrs. Stanton and Forsyth.
Top scorer, in a miserable season, was Stevie Morrison with 11 goals. Bobby Forrest led the way for appearances with 44, followed by Bobby Robertson on 40.
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