Club History | Season 2007-2008
Jim McIntyre saved the club from relegation, finishing in 5th position. Mark Burchill was the only scorer in double figures, with 15.
The previous season had been very strange. There had been the poor start, followed by Jim
Leishman`s resignation. There were even worse performances for the first five months of Stephen Kenny`s reign. The team had a fabulous cup run and finished the League season playing exciting attacking football which so nearly saved them.
The new season would be in the lower division and there were many changes. The brilliant Adam Hammill went back to Liverpool, when his loan was not extended, despite the chance to play European football with The Pars. The other winger, Jim O`Brien returned to Celtic. Dorus deVries went to Swansea City and midfielder, Gary Mason went to St Mirren. That great stalwart Andy Tod moved to Raith Rovers along with Craig Wilson. Freddie Daquin chose Dundee and Jamie McCunnie, Hartlepool United. On the way in, Tam McManus and Stephen Glass had their loans turned into permanent deals and Kevin Harper arrived.
The first game of the season was the testimonial for Scott Thomson, against no less than the mighty Manchester United. Fergie sent up a strong team with stars such as Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes, Mikael Sivestre and Owen Hargreaves.
United won 4-0 in front of 11,290 fans.
The opening game of the season proper was away to Hamilton Accies and the team came home with a 2-1 defeat, Kevin Harper making his debut. Morton provided the opposition
for the first home game and next it was the home leg in the UEFA Cup against BK Hacken, the first at East End Park since 1970. Jim Hamilton scored in the opening minutes but, instead of building on that, the team spluttered its way through until Sean Murdoch, on as a substitute for the injured Roddy McKenzie, let in an absolute howler and the Swedes were level.
In an embarassing and woeful display, the score remained at 1-1. At last The Pars won a point with a 1-1 draw away to Livingston and went one better with a 2-1 win at home to Stirling Albion. Paul Gallacher, signed from Norwich City, made his debut, whilst Steven Bell played for The Binos. August ended abjectly in Gothenberg as Athletic again disgraced themselves in Europe with a pathetic performance.
The next League match was delayed until the Sunday, to allow the team to recover from their
"efforts" in Sweden. It finished 0-0 at home to St. Johnstone in a game of little quality. A much changed team was put out at home, against Clyde in the CIS Cup and a 4-1 win recorded. Dundee at Dens Park was next and a good 1-1 draw. Unfortunately it was back to defeats, losing 2-1 to Clyde at Broadwood, in the League, then losing 4-1 at home to Hearts in the League Cup.
On 27th September, East End Park was the venue for the Under 21 International between Scotland and Denmark. With their usual aplomb, the SFA set the kick-off time at 5.15 pm, thus ensuring that hardly anyone turned up to watch. The result was 0-0 in front of 1,041 fans. The following evening saw Alex Ferguson, along with Andy Stevenson and Bill Gilby inducted into The Pars Hall of Fame. The month ended with a 1-0 home win against Partick Thistle, thanks to a Mark Burchill goal.
The month of October started well with a 1-0 win over Ayr United in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup and when a Tam McManus goal was enough to beat Queen of the South at Palmerston, Athletic were up to 4th place. The next game took everyone by surprise. It wasn`t just the result, it was the manner of it. Hamilton Accies were the visitors and they were the runaway leaders but they won 5-0 with such ease that there was clearly something wrong amongst the playing staff at East End Park. When lowly Stirling Albion thrashed The Pars 3-0 at Forthbank, growing concerns were being loudly expressed by the fans.
November began amidst a growing crisis, when Livingston cruised to a 4-0 victory at East End Park. One bright spot amidst the gloom was the award of the MBE to Jim Leishman. A grim month continued with a 0-0 draw at McDiarmid Park but after a blank week, The Pars lost the final of the Challenge Cup, 3-2 against St. Johnstone at Dens Park.
December brought no change, as Dundee won 1-0 at East End Park. It was the final straw and the board had to act. Stephen Kenny and his coaching staff were dismissed and senior player Jim McIntyre (who had been badly missed through injury) was given temporary control. His first game in charge produced a 1-1 draw at home to Clyde. Mark Burchill scored to gain a 1-1 draw away to Partick Thistle and at last a win, when Queen of the South were beaten 2-0 at East End Park. Stephen Glass scored the only goal to secure a morale boosting away win at Cappielow and the year ended with a 2-1 win at home to Stirling Albion.
Jim McIntyre had made an excellent start and maintained this into the new year with a 2-0 win at Almondvale. Athletic were back up to 4th and held on to this after a 0-0 draw away to Dundee. Jim`s appointment was confirmed, with the excellent Gerry McCabe as his assistant. St Johnstone escaped with the points after a 1-0 win at East End Park and there followed some transfer activity. Michael McGlinchey`s loan ended and he returned to Celtic, Phil McGuire`s loan to Inverness Caley Thistle was made permanent and Bobby Ryan signed for Derry City.
Dunfermline slipped out of the Scottish Cup, losing 2-1 away to Partick Thistle, but finished the month on a high with a 2-0 home win against Morton.
February kicked off with a debut for Alex Burke, newly signed from St Mirren, but it was not a happy one as Accies won 3-0 at New Douglas Park. Stevie Crawford netted to secure a 1-1 home draw with Partick Thistle. Four more players had left the club, Jim Hamilton signed for St Mirren, Jamie Harris for St Patrick`s and both Aaron Labonte and Roddy McKenzie were released. Next up was a 2-1 win away to Clyde, with Paul Willis coming off the bench for his debut.
March 1st had Livingston visiting East End Park. Only 3,268 fans turned up to see a 1-1 draw,
which featured a superb goal by Alex Burke. It had been announced that Notts County`s Austin McCann and Stirling`s Steven Bell had signed pre-contracts and would join in the summer. Scott Muirhead and youngster Scott McBride had also signed new contracts but Scott Morrison
would be leaving. Owen Morrison already had, signing for Derry City, who were now managed by Stephen Kenny.
The midweek home match with leaders Hamilton Accies attracted only 2,444 to see the 1-1 draw. Dundee escaped from East End with a 1-0 win, thanks to former Par Freddie Daquin. Tam McManus was next to leave, joining Colorado Rapids.
A midweek match at Forthbank hosted only 698 fans but featured a hat trick from Kevin Harper
which secured a 3-2 win. The month was completed by a 1-1 draw at McDiarmid Park, leaving The Pars in 6th position.
April dawned brighter with a 1-0 win, away, to Partick Thistle. With just three games left, Athletic beat Clyde 2-1 at East End Park but followed this by being well beaten 3-0 at Cappielow.The final match brought Queen of the South as visitors. The Doonhamers were doing very well and had the Scottish Cup Final to look forward to. The Pars soundly beat them
4-0.
Jim McIntyre had saved the club from relegation, finishing in 5th position. Mark Burchill was the only scorer in double figures, with 15. Top for appearances were Stephen Glass, Mark Burchill and Stevie Crawford with 38.
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