Club History | Season 1987-1988

The Pars were relegated but had won many friends with their exploits and hopes were high that they could bounce back next season.

After so many years absence from the top flight, it was clearly going to be a real struggle to stay up. Especially as the SPL had decided to reduce their number back down to ten at the end of the season and, therefore, three teams would be relegated, with only the First Division Champions promoted.

Although he remained associated with the Club, another Legend left at the start of the season. Hugh Whyte played at a time when the team was not at its best. It is all the more remarkable, therefore, that his 362 appearances he achieved 116 shut outs. Later he would be actively involved again but in the meantime, Well Played Shuggy. Another major blow was that the excellent coach Gregor Abel felt that he could not be a part-time coach with a full time SPL club and resigned. He had played a vital role in the climb back to the top.

In preparation, three very sound signings had been made. Queen of the South captain Graeme Robertson and Raith Rovers skipper Craig Robertson joined George Cowie along with youngsters Andy Williamson, Raymond Sharp, Ronnie Findlay and Stuart Wardell. Former Scotland International Iain Munro joined as the new coach and Jack Kyle was appointed General Manager. A flurry of away friendlies saw the side undefeated with wins at Chesterfield, Shepshed Charterhouse, Balintore, Ross County and Brechin City, along with draws against Raith Rovers, Gala Fairydean, Vale of Leithen and Clydebank.

The Pars had been handed a home fixture against Hibernian, to kick off their season. In a very entertaining match, Athletic refused to be beaten and held out for a 3-3 draw. The scorers were Davie Young with two and Stewart Beedie in front of a crowd of 11,474. Graeme and Craig Robertson made their competitive debuts alongside Andy Williamson. Eric Ferguson scored to earn a point in a 1-1 draw away to St. Mirren. The Pars remained unbeaten after drawing 0-0 away to Falkirk and moved across Falkirk to beat East Stirling 3-1 at Firs Park in the League Cup.

The remarkable start continued in the next game as Dunfermline beat Celtic 2-1 in front of an East End Park crowd of 18,070. Craig Robertson and Eric Ferguson netted The Pars goals. The other half of the Old Firm was next to visit, in the League Cup, but an Ian McCall penalty was not nearly enough to prevent Rangers winning 4-1. That was McCall`s last effort for Dunfermline, as he was transferred to Ibrox the following midweek. Having lost their unbeaten record, Athletic went on to finish the month well and truly in the dumps following a 5-0 drubbing at Dens Park.

September began with a home match against Motherwell, but The Pars were finding things more difficult now and lost 1-0. Former Hibs and Leicester City full back Bobby Smith made his debut in this game. Ibrox and a 4-0 rout was next, as Billy Kirkwood made his debut. Things bucked up again with a 4-1 win at home against Morton, with new signings Gary Riddell from Aberdeen and John Holt from Dundee United. Gary Thompson had moved to St Johnstone and Gordon Connolly, initially on loan, to Ross County. A tough month ended with a 1-0 home defeat by Hearts.

October began in Aberdeen and on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline. A hard fought 0-0 draw at home to Dundee United was next but it was back to the misery with a 4-0 thumping at Easter Road, despite the arrival of former Celtic winger Mark Smith. The next visitors to the Kingdom were Dundee and they escaped with a 1-0 victory. Pars fans welcomed back John Watson for his first game of the season and whilst Grant Reid moved on to East Fife, former Norwich and Dundee striker Ross Jack arrived at the Club. He along with Craig Robertson both scored at Fir Park but The Well inched it 3-2. During the warm up to the game John Watson noticed his good friend Norrie McCathie almost doubled up with laughter. What had happened was that Motherwell`s East Stand comedians, unable to resist the great mane of red hair which Winker sported at the time had started chanting "One Bonnie Langford - There`s Only One Bonnie Langford" A visit from Rangers ended in a 4-0 defeat and Davie Young moved to Airdrie with Norwegian Under 21 International Vetle Andersen joining the club. The month ended brightly with a 2-1 win at Cappielow.

November got off to a good start with a 2-0 win at home to St Mirren, but a 1-0 defeat at Tannadice was next on the list. Former Aston Villa star Ken McNaught joined the coaching staff and Rowan Hamilton moved to Brechin City. Vetle Andersen made his debut in the 4-0 defeat at Celtic Park and after a 3-2 loss at Tynecastle and a 3-0 rout from Aberdeen at East End, things were looking bleak. Long serving favourite Bobby Forrest moved to Arbroath after 208 appearances and 17 goals, whilst Gregor Abel was congratulated upon his appointment as manager of Alloa.

Thankfully December came in a bit brighter with a 1-0 win at home to Hibs, thanks to Craig Robertson, but this was followed by a disappointing 4-1 loss at Love Street. The defence had suffered when Ian Westwater was injured in a car accident and Tom Carson was recruited on loan from Dundee. With Carson now settled between the sticks, an excellent 2-2 draw was achieved at Ibrox. It was disappointing, therefore, when the next two games, both at home, only produced 1-1 draws against Morton and Motherwell. Player/Coach Ian Campbell left to take over at Hill of Beath and John Donnelly was loaned to East Fife. Ronnie Findlay joined Gregor Abel at Alloa. The Pars finished the year in 10th place, which would not keep them in the SPL.

The year 1988 began at Dens Park with a 2-0 defeat. Westy was still not fit and Tom Carson was not allowed to play against his parent club, so Rangers reserve keeper Nicky Walker stood in. The first home match resulted in a 4-0 thrashing from Hearts. With Tom Carson now injured, Ian Westwater was back in goal, but he did not look fully fit. Two more departures followed, Eric Ferguson going on loan to Clyde and Willie Irvine trying his luck in Norway with FK Vidar. A narrow 1-0 loss at Pittodrie dropped Athletic into second bottom slot before the Scottish Cup campaign began with a home tie against Ayr United, two divisions below. A hopeful crowd of 8,484 turned up but it took a Ross Jack equaliser to save the tie. An even bigger crowd of 11,712 crammed into Somerset Park for the midweek replay.

Although a competitive match, The Pars were much more authorative and won 2-0 with goals from Ross Jack and Trevor Smith. A 1-0 loss at Falkirk brought the hard times back but on 10th there was an attractive distraction when Girondins Bordeaux came to East End Park for a challenge match. Ross Jack scored in the 1-1 draw against a French side packed with internationals such as goalkeeper Dropsy and midfield maestro Jean Tigana.

As the month progressed, Dunfermline failed to score for the fifth time in an eight game run in the League allowing Dundee an easy 3-0 win at East End Park. Ian Westwater had to drop out again through injury and this time his replacement was Dave McKellar. Sadly another fans favourite left the Club when Grant Jenkins joined the growing colony of former Pars at St Johnstone. Round Four of the Cup was next and a home tie against Rangers. There was much media hype, in which Jim Leishman had more than played his part. In an inspired performance, goals from Mark Smith and John Watson gave the homesters a famous victory in front of 19,000 fans.

March kicked off with a postponed match at home to Celtic but a 4-0 trouncing was the outcome. Tom Carson was back in goals, but it proved to be his last game. Davie Irons was signed from Clydebank and made his debut in this match. Three days later Rangers returned on League business and gained revenge with a 3-0 win. Billy Kirkwood was next to depart, joining Dundee.

In the Tennents Sixes at Coasters Arena in Falkirk, the guest English team was Nottingham Forest along with their manager, the ebullient Brian Clough. After hearing from Jim about our goalkeeper problems, Cloughie made the splendid gesture of loaning The Pars his reserve goalkeeper Hans Segers. Hans was in place when Athletic`s cup run ended in the Quarter Final at Tynecastle. The awful run of eight League games without scoring came to an end with a vengeance, when Dundee were whipped 6-1 at East End Park. Willie Callaghan (Jnr) and Bobby Robertson returned to the team. The month ended with two away games, a splendid 3-0 win at Cappielow and a narrow 3-2 loss at Fir Park.

April`s fixtures began with a home match against Aberdeen and in front of 7,132 fans, a Craig Robertson goal earned a 1-1 draw. Hearts handed out a 2-1 defeat at Tynecastle before St Mirren were faced at East End Park. Despite a 2-1 win, relegation was now a certainty. A 2-2 draw at Tannadice was a good result but the last home game was a let-down when Falkirk won 1-0. John Donnelly`s career was brought to an end when he was sacked for repeated breaches of contract.

The only game in May was at Celtic Park, where the champions won 1-0. The Pars were relegated but had won many friends with their exploits and hopes were high that they could bounce back next season.

Three players had topped 40 appearances:- Craig Robertson(47), Norrie McCathie (45) and Stuart Beedie (42). Craig Robertson top scored with 13. Due to Westy`s injury problems, five goalkeepers had appeared. Amongst the departures, the most significant was Bobby Robertson who joined Gregor Abel at Alloa Athletic.