Club History | Season 2006-2007
Stephen Kenny arrives but top scorers were Stevie Crawford and Stephen Simmons with only 5 goals each.
There was quite a clear out during the summer. Allan McGregor returned to Rangers whilst the following were either freed or did not have their contracts renewed: Andy Campbell, John Dunn, Bryn Halliwell, Liam Horsted, Lee Makel, Bartosz Tarachulski, Derek Young and Yannick Zambernardi. Simon Donnelly moved to Partick Thistle and Noel Hunt to Dundee United. On the way in were: Dorus DeVries, Phil McGuire, Callum Woods, Owen Morrison, Callum Smith and at the end of August, Jim Hamilton and Stevie Crawford. Scott Thomson and Nick Phinn were both injured and would miss the whole season.
A series of home friendlies had been arranged. The first of these, on 15th July, saw Gretna make their first and, so far, only visit to East End Park, celebrating with a 3-1 win. Next to visit were Atletico Osasuna in a 0-0 stalemate. Carlisle United inflicted a 2-0 defeat and finally a 1-0 reverse at the hands of West Brom. Sol Bamba, on trial from Paris SG, played and impressed. Noel Whelan made his debut, lasting all of five minutes.
August began at the Falkirk Stadium, with a 1-0 defeat. Rangers were next at East End Park, where an Owen Morrison goal earned a 1-1 draw. The trip to Tannadice ended goal-less, whilst the midweek found The Pars struggle past Ayr United on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the CIS Cup, at Somerset Park. Dorus DeVries and Owen Morrison both made their first official starts in this match. The month ended with a narrow 1-0 defeat at Pittodrie.
September kicked off, after the customary international break, with a home match against Kilmarnock. A spirited performance produced a 3-2 win, made special by the return of favourite Stevie Crawford paired up front with Jim Hamilton. Iain Campbell had just transferred to Killie and was not included in their line up. A narrow 1-0 defeat at Celtic Park was followed by a visit from the other half of the Old Firm who prevailed 2-0 to end Athletic`s interest in the CIS Cup. St Mirren were the next callers at East End Park and a good 2-1 win was achieved against Gus MacPherson`s Buddies. The month ended with a 1-0 defeat in Inverness.
October began with a blank week, as usual and, when the football started, Dunfermline lost 2-1 away to Motherwell. Athletic were relying on their home form so, when Hibs had an easy 4-0 win at East End Park, the alarm bells started ringing. Jim Leishman resigned to allow the club to find someone to save their season. He returned to his role as Director of Football and Craig Robertson was put in temporary charge. The final action in the month was a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle, leaving The Pars second bottom, one point ahead of Dundee United.
Into November and another inept performance at home ended in a 3-0 defeat by Falkirk. After a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox, The Pars approached the home game against Dundee United, five points behind them after United had won their last two games. Athletic won an exciting game 2-1. The board appointed Stephen Kenny to the managerial post and he watched from the stand as Dunfermline lost 3-0 at home to Aberdeen.
As December started, things went from bad to worse and Dunfermline were hammered 5-1 at Rugby Park. Celtic were the next to visit and won 2-1. A 0-0 draw away to St Mirren led to a couple of home games either side of Christmas. The first of these ended goal-less against Inverness Caley Thistle. On Boxing Day, Motherwell won 2-0, the same score by which The Pars finished the year away to Hibs. The form was shocking, worse even than when Jim had called it a day.
The new year brought no joy as the home game against Hearts ended 1-0 to the visitors. Something to draw encouragement from was becoming desperately needed and it came the following week, when bottom of the league Dunfermline not only put Rangers out of the Cup, but for most of the game played them off the park. The score at East End Park was 3-2. Jim O`Brien, on loan from Celtic, made his debut in this game. Whilst the performances had improved, the League results had not and The Pars lost the next two games 1-0, first at the Falkirk Stadium, next at home to Rangers.
Adam Hammill, on loan from Liverpool, came off the bench and looked a real prospect. The month`s fixtures were completed with a 1-1 draw at Tannadice, Stephen Glass, on loan from Hibs, made his debut. The Pars were eight points adrift at the bottom of the table.
The 3rd February was 4th Round day in the Scottish Cup and Hearts the visitors. A stuffy game ended gloriously when a majestic Scott Wilson header won the tie. Aberdeen won 3-0 at Pittodrie as the League misery continued. Kilmarnock were the next visitors and held out for a 1-1 draw. The Cup Quarter Final brought Dick Campbell`s Partick Thistle to East End Park. Two goals from Stephen Simmons produced the victory cigars.
Adam Hammill scored a wonder goal at Celtic Park but it was not enough and The Hoops won 2-1. Tam McManus, the latest recruit, came off the bench in this game. A bore draw at home to St Mirren ended 0-0 before Stephen Kenny got his first win in the League. It was St Patrick`s Day when the lads won 3-1 in Inverness but Motherwell won 2-0 at Fir Park to complete the month`s fixtures. Athletic were bottom, seven points behind St Mirren and fifteen behind Inverness. It looked a hopeless task.
April kicked off with a 1-0 win, at home to Hibs. The 15th was Semi-Final day at Hampden where a rather dull 0-0 draw was played out. The Pars run of form had contrasted with that of their rival and they were now within four points of St Mirren, as they entered the five post-split games. In the first of these Tam McManus scored to secure a 1-0 win at home to Dundee United. The Semi-Final replay was next and again no goals as it went into extra time. Another brilliant run by Adam Hammill was halted by a foul in the box. Up stepped Jim McIntyre and he won his place in Fife folklore with a cheeky dinked penalty to take The Pars to the final. Tam McManus scored again to beat St Mirren at Love Street and to within a point of The Buddies, with three games to play.
May started with great promise as Motherwell were thumped 4-1 at East End Park. In the penultimate games, with just a short time remaining, the Pars were leading 1-0 in Inverness and Motherwell were beating St Mirren. If the games finished like that Athletic would have pulled off a miraculous escape and stayed up. It was not to be as both St Mirren and Caley Thistle fought back to take the lead and Dunfermline were relegated. The final game at home to Falkirk meant nothing and was lost easily 3-0.
That left the Scottish Cup Final and the Pars matched Celtic only to lose to a scrappy and undeserved goal by Celtic. The only consolation was that there would be European soccer to look forward to next season.
Gary Mason had the most appearances with 42. Top scorers were Stevie Crawford and Stephen Simmons with only 5 goals each.
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