Club History | Season 1990-1991
The Pars finished eighth, the same as last season, so at least Iain Munro had maintained the position in the top flight. There was, however, none of the feel-good factor, no hopes for Europe and some decidedly ropey performances.
Like most Pars fans I spent the summer looking forward, with relish, to the new season. Last season had seen the Club maintain the remarkable progress under Jim Leishman. At one point we had even topped the SPL. Iain Munro was recognised as an excellent coach and Jim as one of the best man managers in the game. One worry was that the board had made a dangerous decision in creating a joint manager set up with Munro and Leishman.
Undoubtedly this was to try and keep Munro happy to stay with the club. Before the new season started, the board made the most catastrophic decision in the history of Dunfermline Athletic by making Iain Munro manager and attempting to move Jim Leishman upstairs and away from management at the age of 36.
The bombshell was dropped, first on Jim, then as news came out on the fans. The explanations did not fool the fans, nor were they accepted by Jim Leishman, who, though it must have been heartbreaking for him, turned down the offer. Munro, good coach as he was, had never shown any ability as a manager. (Never showed it at Dunfermline and never showed it in his short managerial career elsewhere.) The protests by the fans were loud and sustained but the board was not for listening and the decision stood. Many fans, myself included, began a boycott.
Before and after the turmoil, some players left the club. Doug Rougvie moved to Montrose, Grant Tierney and Graeme Robertson to Partick Thistle, Phil Bonnyman retired from the playing side to help as coach, and Sandy Clark rejoined Hearts as a coach. On the way in were an excellent goalkeeper in Andy Rhodes from Oldham, former Celtic centre half Davie Moyes, later to become a top manager, former favourite Ian McCall from Bradford City and Scott Leitch from Motherwell. Youngster Mark Haro was added to the pool and another former favourite, Hugh Whyte, returned as club doctor.
There were three games in August, the first of which was at home to Albion Rovers in the League Cup. A good 4-0 win saw debuts for Moyes, McCall and, from the bench, young Paul O`Brien, who scored one of the goals. A 3-1 defeat at Ibrox got the League campaign started, with Andy Rhodes making his debut. Back to the League Cup and a 2-1 defeat at home to Queen of the South.
September started well with a 2-0 win at home to Hearts and this was followed by a 1-1 draw, also at home to Aberdeen. A 3-2 reversal in the Pars` first match at McDiarmid Park, St Johnstone`s new ground, was followed by another away defeat, this time 2-0 at Fir Park. George O`Boyle returned to the team after injury and scored in the 1-1 draw with Hibs to end the month.
October featured only three games, with mixed results. Dundee United won 3-0 at Tannadice but a Ross Jack goal earned a 1-1 draw at home to Celtic. Ross was on the mark again to gain a 1-0 win at Love Street. Jimmy Nicholl left to take over as player manager of Raith Rovers.
November was to be busier and a Norrie McCathie goal earned a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle. A share of the points in the next game, a 3-3 draw at home to Motherwell, was followed by another draw, this time away to Hibs. Unfortunately, the month ended with two home defeats, 1-0 against Rangers and 2-1 v St Johnstone.
December also started poorly with a 3-2 defeat at Pittodrie. A 0-0 draw at home to St Mirren was a marginal improvement but the next game saw a great 2-1 win away to Celtic, Davie Moyes and George O`Boyle the scorers. The year ended on a high when it was Davie Moyes, again, who scored the only goal in the home win against Dundee United.
The year 1991 began well when a Ross Jack goal gained a victory away to St Johnstone but a heavy 4-1 defeat at home to Aberdeen brought everyone back to earth. The month was completed by two visits to Ibrox, both ending in 2-0 defeats, first in the League, then in the Cup.
Only three games in February: a 2-2 draw at Love Street, a 3-1 win at home to Hearts and a 1-0 defeat at Motherwell. March was busier, but began with two defeats, 1-0 at Tannadice and by the same score at home to Celtic. A slight improvement in the next two games with a 0-0 draw at Pittodrie followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Hibs. Milos Drizic made his debut and, at last, a victory `” 3-2 at home to St Johnstone `” but the month ended with another defeat, 1-0 at home to Rangers.
April kicked off with a 4-1 hammering at Tynecastle and, although a 2-2 draw was achieved at home to St Mirren, another roasting was next on the agenda, as Celtic won 5-1 at Celtic Park. The woes continued as Motherwell won 5-2 at East End Park. Sixteen goals conceded in the month was hard to bear.
The month of May carried on the misery as Hibs won 3-0 at Easter Road. The season finished on a positive note when a Davie Moyes goal was enough to beat Dundee United at East End.
The Pars finished eighth, the same as last season, so at least Iain Munro had maintained the position in the top flight. There was, however, none of the feel-good factor, no hopes for Europe and some decidedly ropey performances. Top scorer was Ross Jack, but with only 10 goals. Top for appearances was Norrie McCathie with 39, closely followed by Davie Moyes (38), Istvan Kozma and Andy Rhodes (37). Crowds were well down on last season, some even dropping below the 4,000 mark.
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