News and Events | End of an Era: Farewell to Mo Hutton

Legendary Kitman retires

When the final whistle sounded at Hampden on Saturday 23rd May 2026, it marked not just the end of a Scottish Cup Final `“ it brought down the curtain on one of the most remarkable careers in Dunfermline Athletic`s history.

Andrew `˜Mo` Hutton is hanging up his kit bags after 33 years of service to the club he loves. And what a way to go out `“ a Scottish Cup Final against Celtic at the National stadium. In front of 16,000 Pars fans, many of whom have grown up knowing Mo as a permanent fixture at KDM Group East End Park. `I`ve enjoyed my time,` he says. `It`s time to move on, and let the younger troops in.`

Mo`s story is the kind football romantics write songs about. He arrived at East End Park in 1993 as a volunteer youth coach under Bert Paton and Dick Campbell, driven by nothing more than a love for his club. Six years later he stepped into the kit man role and never looked back.

Bert Paton, who brought him into the club alongside Dick Campbell, put it simply: `From the time myself and Dick Campbell brought Mo into the club in 1993, the job has increased ten fold. It`s a testament to Mo he is still doing a fantastic job. He`s worked with so many managers during his time `“ it proves how good and dedicated he is to the role.`

Thirty-three years. Seventeen managers. Five promotions. Three Scottish Cup Finals, a League Cup Final, and a Challenge Cup Final. The numbers alone are extraordinary. But numbers don`t capture what Mo Hutton actually means to this football club.

Saturday was Mo`s fourth cup final, and all four have come against Celtic. He is philosophical about the 3-1 defeat. `It`s just the way we set up. The second half was better, yeah. You can`t take it away from our players, they`ve done really well. Some of them have played 47 games. It just tells in the end, it takes a toll when you`ve not got the rotation of the squad.`

He was in characteristically relaxed mood on the morning of the game, spending the night before at the team hotel with his grandson, who has helped him out at the club for a number of years. `I was feeling quite relaxed. It was a nice hotel. There are no football people in the place, nobody really bothered us. We had a nice meal, nice room. I just sat with my grandson, we just had a few laughs and a couple of beers in the room.`

Behind every clean strip hung out in the dressing room, every detail accounted for before a big game, every kit accounted for on the road and at home, there was Mo `“ quietly getting on with it (well with the odd complaint!) No fanfare. Just dedication.

Above: Mo Hutton and Bert Paton

Mo finishes up officially on Friday, though what comes next is still to be decided. Former Pars boss Dick Campbell has been in touch about a role at East Fife, but Mo is weighing up whether he wants to commit his Saturdays again. `I`ve done that for 23 years. Every Saturday you are away.` The idea of going as a spectator instead has its appeal. `I can pick my games. At most of the teams I`ve got contacts if I want to go to the games `“ Hearts, Celtic.` And he is part of a tight-knit group of fellow kit men who have stayed close over the years. `We call ourselves the Old School. There`s wee Danny at Hamilton, Alan at Motherwell, Willie at Queen`s Park. We just keep in touch.`

Manager Neil Lennon has come to know him well since arriving at East End Park, and his affection for Mo is genuine.

`I like people who have been around the game and he`s given so much service to Dunfermline. He`s fully deserving of a testimonial and he is great company. I like these kind of people. These genuine, hard-working, dedicated people in the club.`

Neil Lennon knows better than most what a good kitman means to a football environment. He drew a parallel with John Clarke, the former Celtic player who served as kitman at Parkhead for many years. `I like having the old senior boys,` he explained, `because they`ve been there, seen it, done it. They know how to look after the young ones, manage them the right way, teach them good habits and stuff like that, and berate them when they need berating.`

It is a role that is easy to overlook and almost impossible to replace. Mo is, as his final gaffer put it, `part of the furniture `“ and we don`t take that for granted either.`

Stepping back, Mo reflects honestly on the players he has worked with. The best squad he worked with, he says without hesitation, was the 2004 group under Jimmy Calderwood. `They spent a lot of money getting that group together. They bought experience as well.`

He is encouraged by what Neil Lennon is building. `He`ll want to win the league. Hopefully he does. I think the man will back him as well, you can see what he`s done in a short time. The pitch itself has been a massive improvement. Behind the scenes it`s been a lot better.`

The man taking over the kit room is Liam Murphy, who has experience at Celtic and Hibs. Mo is warm about his successor. `He`s a decent guy. I think he`s got the club at heart as well.`

This season, Dunfermline Athletic marked Mo`s contribution with a full testimonial year. Events brought together players, staff, former managers and supporters to pay tribute to a man who has given his working life to this club. And there is more to come `“ a special day is planned for October, bringing together 17 of the managers Mo has worked under. It would have been 18, had Jimmy Calderwood still been alive.

Mo laughs when asked how many hours he has been putting in. `I just started with 40 hours,` he says. `I do the thinking. I`m a delegator.` He is grateful to the people around him `“ Sammi, Bobby and Jack `“ who have helped carry the load. But he is also ready to hand it over. `I look forward to taking it a bit easier. Not getting up in the morning to be first in every morning. You`ve got to be first in and sometimes you`re last away.`

Above: Bobby Drummond and Sammi Connell with Mo Hutton

As for the 33 years themselves `“ the cooking he did for the players for 11 years, the countless trips, the decades of service `“ he has not quite allowed himself to sit with it yet. `I`ve not really sat and thought about that yet. I probably will next week.`

There is a beautiful symmetry in the way Mo Hutton`s story ends. He was part of Dunfermline`s last Scottish Cup Final appearance, and now, decades on, he walked out at Hampden one final time `“ not as a supporter in the stands, but as a member of staff on the touchline, doing the job he has always done. He became part of what Dunfermline Athletic is. The players changed, the managers changed, the league positions changed `“ but Mo remained a constant throughout.

The Pars manager summed it up simply: `I`m sorry to see him go but we have enjoyed him while he`s been here.`

From everyone at Dunfermline Athletic Football Club `“ thank you, Mo. You are, and always will be, one of the Pars.