Club History | Season 1969-1970
Barrie Mitchell played in all 45 games with John Lunn one behind. George McLean who scored 19 goals, was the only one in double figures
The new season arrived with friendlies away to Aston Villa and Blackpool, both narrowly lost. Initially the only new signing was Billy McLaren from Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. Full back Jimmy Brown also stepped up from the part timers and big things were expected of young Dave McNicoll. On the way out were Stewart Kennedy and Eddie Ferguson. Also leaving was Alex Totten who had played many fine games but always as cover for either Willie Callaghan or John Lunn.
The month of August began with the customary League Cup sectional ties. Aberdeen, Hibernian and Clyde were the opponents. A draw, 2-2 at Pittodrie kicked the season off. A good result spoilt by Jim Fraser suffering a leg break. Billy McLaren went straight into the team for his debut. The first home match was midweek against Hibernian and finished in a 3-1 win. As they often did, Clyde threw cold water onto things with a boring 0-0 draw at East End. Hibs got revenge by winning 2-0 at Easter Road and when Aberdeen won 1-0 at East End, progress in the competition was looking bleak. The mood was not helped by Bent Martin repeating his transfer request and being dropped. He was replaced by Willie Duff. The Pars interest in the League Cup finished with another 0-0 bore draw with Clyde, this time at Shawfield. The month finished with a bang when a George McLean hat trick secured a 3-1 win at Love Street to begin the League campaign.
September started with a 0-0 draw at home to newly promoted Ayr United but the fans were thrilled by a 2-1 home win against Celtic in the next game. Eddie Ferguson had signed for Dumbarton and Alex Totten joined Willie Cunningham at Falkirk. A 2-1 away win at Firhill kept the good form going as the Pars re-entered European competition. The French side Girondins Bordeaux provided the opposition but Roy Barry was missing from the side undergoing a cartilage operation. Doug Baillie took his place. In front of an East End Park crowd of around 12,000, two goals from Bert Paton and one each from Pat Gardner and Barrie Mitchell saw Dunfermline through against the brawling French, who had two players sent off. George McLean scored the only goal at home to Hearts and found the net again at Starks Park to bring the month to a close with a 1-1 draw.
October arrived for Athletic with another brutal assault in Bordeaux. The Pars contained things enough to only lose 2-0 and thus win 4-2 on aggregate. George McLean scored the goal which beat Clyde 1-0 at East End Park. Morton won 3-1 at Cappielow and manager Farm made changes for the home game against Kilmarnock. Bent Martin returned in goal, Jim Thomson replaced Willie Renton and youngsters Jimmy Brown and Jim Traynor given their debuts. Traynor scored as The Pars won 2-1. Roy Barry finally got his move to England, signing for Coventry City, much to the disappointment of Pars fans, who nonetheless wished him well. Also leaving was Ian Lister, who moved to St.Mirren. After all this activity, Rangers inflicted a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox.
Aberdeen were the first visitors in November and two goal Alex Edwards was the star of the show in a 2-1 win. The following midweek brought the home leg with Gwardia. Pat Gardner and George McLean scored the goals in a 2-1 win. George McKimmie had made his debut against Aberdeen and kept his place against the Poles. An Ian Cowan goal earned a 1-1 draw at Dens Park. Airdrie were the next to visit East End Park and were well beaten 4-2. A Willie Renton goal and a spirited defensive display produced a 1-0 win in the return leg in Warsaw but the month ended badly with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat away to Hibs.
December`s fixtures kicked off with a challenge match at home to Wolves. The match was part of the deal which took George Miller to Molineux in 1965. Rather a long time to organise! Peter Millar had been signed from Arbroath and made his debut from the bench. Fir Park Motherwell was the venue for a dull 0-0 draw and a debut for Dave McNicoll. The home fixture against Dundee United was a disaster with a 3-2 defeat and the loss of Bert Paton with a broken leg. The team rallied in the next match, also at home, when goals from Barrie Mitchell and Pat Gardner beat St. Mirren 2-0. Things were looking good when the team returned from Belgium with only a 1-0 deficit but they were to lose the last two games of the year, both away, to Ayr United and St Johnstone by the same score. There had been moves on the transfer front. With Bent Martin put on the transfer list, goalkeeper John Arrol was signed from Dundee and winger Jim Gillespie from Raith Rovers. Ne-er Day brought first foots Raith to East End. Jim Gillespie made his debut against his old club, who were beaten 3-0. Two days later, Hearts won 2-0 at Tynecastle, not the best preparation for the return leg, at home to Anderlecht.
A strong attacking performance against the skilful Belgians, led by Paul van Himst, saw two goals for George McLean and one for Barrie Mitchell. Unfortunately the defence let the side down and allowed the Belgians to get the two goals they needed to win on the away goals rule. George Farm was raging and Doug Baillie never played for The Pars again. Willie Renton, Ian Cowan and Hugh Robertson joined Bent Martin on the transfer list and John Arrol replaced Willie Duff in goal. A 1-1 draw was fought out with Partick Thistle at East End Park. Amidst the turmoil, Dave McNicoll was made captain, at the tender age of 18 and a half, in time for the cup match away to Celtic. The Pars lost narrowly by 2-1 but lost again at the same venue, the following week, this time 3-1 in the League.
Bad weather in February meant that it was the 21st before a fixture was fulfilled, losing, as usual, away to Clyde, 2-1 the score. The last day of the month presented a home match against Morton which was also lost 2-1. The season was rapidly going down the pan and morale was hardly at its best.
As March dawned, a 1-0 loss at Kilmarnock was followed by a good 2-1 win at home to Rangers, Billy McLaren and George McLean the scorers. Despite this, morale continued to drop. Pat Gardner became the latest addition to Mr Farm`s transfer list, a shoddy way to treat players who had been great performers over the years. A 2-0 defeat at Pittodrie ended hopes of qualifying for Europe next season. A midweek 2-1 win over Motherwell, at East End was followed by a 3-2 defeat of Dundee, also in Dunfermline.
April began with a trip to Airdrie and a 3-0 defeat but form picked up in the next game with St Johnstone on the end of 3-0 defeat in the Pars favour. The last home game brought a 2-1 win for Hibs but the balance was restored when Athletic`s last game of the season was won 3-1 at Tannadice.
Despite the fact that George Farm had presided over two successful seasons, this one had descended into farce after the unlucky exit from Europe. His treatment of Pars favourites was poor to say the least with six on the transfer list and now Barrie Mitchell and Alex Edwards also asking for a transfer. Gloomy as Pars fans felt none of them realised the extent of the downward spiral which had started.
Barrie Mitchell played in all 45 games with John Lunn one behind. George McLean who scored 19 goals, was the only one in double figures.
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