Dunfermline Athletic

News and Events | Alex Kinninmonth (September 1941 - August 2024)

Alex played the last of his 155 games for the Pars against Falkirk on 27th December 1975. His four years at East End Park saw him score 21 goals.

Alex Kinninmonth played a vital role of skippering a very young side through a very difficult time in the club`s history.

With the halcyon days of the 1960s now firmly behind them, and with outstanding players like Bert Paton, Pat Gardner, Willie Callaghan, John Lunn, Alex Edwards and Jim Fraser either retiring or leaving, the early 1970s provided the club with one of their biggest challenges. One of new manager George Miller`s first priorities for 1972/73, his first full season in charge, was to bring in 30-year-old Alex Kinninmonth from Dundee. The midfielder had been released by the Dens Park side at the end of the previous season, and Dunfermline had to compete with Raith Rovers, Arbroath and Dundee United for his signature. However, it turned out to be a great move at the time because, after signing in 1972, Alex never missed a match until 6th December 1975, ending a run of 152 consecutive appearances. Unfortunately, a burst blood vessel ensured that he played only three more matches and he could do little more than watch helplessly as the Pars slid into the Second Division.

Born on 26th September 1941 in Buckhaven, Alex played for two juvenile clubs, St Andrews Swifts and Wellsgreen Athletic, before moving into the junior grade with Blairgowrie Juniors. It was from there that he signed for Dundee as a 19 year-old in November 1960. It took him four years to make his league debut `“ perhaps not surprising given the quality of a Dundee team that could boast the likes of Hamilton, Penman, Cousin and Gilzean. Despite not always being a first choice at Dundee, he went on to play 167 games, scoring 25 goals, for the Dens Park side over a ten year period, which included some of Dundee`s greatest European nights against the likes of Leeds United, Cologne and AC Milan.

Following the Pars` relegation in 1972, Dunfermline manager George Miller saw Alex as providing vital experience for his young Pars team whose average age was under 21. Dunfermline played some tremendous attacking football in Alex`s first season 1972/73, winning many games by big margins. Kinninmonth`s passing ability and shooting power from his left midfield position were often crucial factors.

However, as might be expected with a young team, it wasn`t all plain sailing. Indeed, Dunfermline only broke into the top two in late January 1973 with a 2-1 win at league leaders Clyde. Going into the final month of a very competitive season five clubs were still involved in the promotion race though Clyde were in an almost unassailable position. With five games to go, things swung in the Pars` favour, thanks to Alex. The first of these matches was a midweek meeting with Stirling Albion, who were two points behind with a game in hand. An attendance of 8,140 created a tremendous atmosphere as Dunfermline pushed forward incessantly only to find goalkeeper George Young in brilliant form. Albion`s counter-attacks seemed to have paid off when they struck late on but, roared on by their fans, the Pars equalised through Kinninmonth in the dying seconds. A deflated Albion then suffered a couple of surprising home defeats while St. Mirren and Raith Rovers also slipped up. The Pars pressed home their advantage and clinched promotion after losing just one of their last fifteen matches.

Alex`s second season at East End Park proved to be disappointing, with the club only just managing to survive relegation with a final day win over Dundee United. Despite that, there were some memorable matches, such as a 2-2 draw against Rangers in which Alex scored with a tremendous volley, and a 5-1 win at Dens Park.

Everyone then knew that season 1974/75 was going to be crucial as the Scottish League were planning wholesale changes the following season. In order to get into the inaugural Premier Division, Dunfermline had to be among the top ten teams, and by January, that`s exactly where they were. Inexplicably, a serious loss of form saw Dunfermline lose 12 of their last 15 league games, and the club found itself in the new First Division.

The summer of 1975 saw Alex celebrate his 33rd birthday and with it came the decision to become a part-time player. He suggested to the boss that it might be better if the captaincy stayed with a full-time colleague but Miller, mindful of the excellent job that Alex had done, was happy for the situation to remain as it was. Unfortunately, worse was to follow, and, not helped by Kinninmonth`s injury in December 1975, Dunfermline found themselves relegated again.

Alex was released following the club`s relegation in 1976, and went on to have a brief spell with Forfar Athletic, before taking up a coaching post with Raith Rovers, where his former teammate Gordon Wallace was manager. Alex resigned after Wallace left, but returned to Starks Park in 1983 as Reserve Team Coach where he served under four different managers, including Jimmy Nicholl.

Alex played the last of his 155 games for the Pars against Falkirk on 27th December 1975. His four years at East End Park saw him score 21 goals. Alex had more than repaid the faith shown in him by George Miller and had been a shining example to the youngsters at East End Park. At a time of considerable disruption and change, Alex was the steadying force who supported young players to do their very best.

He even wrote a column for the match programme, `˜The Alex Angle`, in which he often encouraged younger players to maintain their confidence in their own ability. Under his influence guys like Graham Shaw went on to enjoy good careers in Scottish football, while others made a huge impact at the club in other ways `“ remember a young player called Jim Leishman? Alex remains in the memories of our fans from that era as someone who took on a huge responsibility and did so with passion and commitment.



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