Season 2 (1984/85) - Awakening

At the end of the previous season however, no-one would have given them any chance. The worst league performance ever; the lowest attendances ever; the down-grading of the manager's post to part-time status. And to cap it all, a manager who had barely turned thirty, with no experience, just a burning belief in himself and his team. That belief, however, was to prove crucial. Season 1984/85 was Jim Leishman's first full season in charge, the first time he had been able to fully prepare his men and make plans for the new term. The sleeping giant was about to awake.

Barely a thousand fans turned up for the first game. The loss of striker Rab Stewart, to Motherwell in the close season, didn't give rise to much confidence. Where were goals going to come from? His replacement, John Watson, had hardly set the heather alight up to now. He had been languishing in Hong Kong, until Leishman had stepped in and brought him to East End Park. On the 11th of August 1984, John Watson was to begin a mutual love-affair with Dunfermline that lasts to this day. He scored four of the five goals to sink Stranraer, and launch Dunfermline on a path which would eventually lead to the Premier League. The Pars' "goal-machine" swung into action again in midweek, with a 4-0 demoltion of Arbroath, in the League Cup (Norrie McCathie and Grant Jenkins doing the damage this time). Pars were to concede their first goal of the season, to Raith the following Saturday. But two goals from McCathie and one from Jenkins gave them a comfortable win. Next up was Celtic, in the second round of the League Cup.

On a warm summer's evening, Dunfermline would once again post their big time aspirations, in a closely fought tussle with one of the top sides in the country. John Watson put the Pars in front in the first half. But two goals after half-time put Celtic ahead. Almost immediatley Watson leveled the scores. Just as Dunfermline thought they would hold out for extra-time, Brian McClair put Celtic in front, and into the next round. As against Rangers the previous season, Dunfermline had come so close, but came away with nothing. But again it did give the team encouragement that they were on the right track.

On the last Saturday of August, Dunfermline went north to Montrose. Two goals apiece by Watson and Jenkins put Pars 4-0 up at half-time. It seemed as if the "goal-machine" was invincable. Saldy, it wasn't. As the teams trouped off at half-time, Dunfermline's indian summer of goals was about to end. Montrose pulled back two in the second half, and although the Pars won with ease, goals were to prove harder to come by for the rest of the season.

Maybe it was something to do with all these goals; or the feeling of expectation and hope that had suddenly sprung up; or maybe it was just the summer weather, but August 1984 will always have a special place in the heart of many Dunfermline fans.

Then, along came September, and spoiled it all.

In truth September wasn't really too bad either. Three wins on the trot, albeit by the narrowest of margins kept Dunfermline's 100% record and their place at the top of the league. But a trip to Stenhousemuir on the 22nd September was to end it all. Referees are never the most popular of people among the fans. But the performance of Louie Thow, at Ochilview that day, still stands out, even fifteen years later. Maybe we had simply slipped into the "Old Firm mentality" of expecting a devine right to sweep all before us, including all refereeing decisions. Whatever the truth is, nothing went right for Dunfermline that day. Throughout the first half every decision seemed to go against us. The team simply could not get into a flow. In the second half Steve Morrison was sent off and Stenhousemuir were awarded a penalty, which they missed. Finally, when it looked as if we were going to hold out and at least keep our unbeaten (if not our 100%) record, Stenhousmuir scored. Defeat was something we had become unaccustomed to. When the final whistle blew some fans invaded the pitch and gave Thow a rough trip back to the dressing room, earning a rebuke in the following week's match-programme.

After dropping a point against Queen of the South, the Pars then had three straight wins and the goals started to flow again. The match everyone was looking forward to, was the clash with Alloa Athletic, who were now providing Dunfermline's biggest challenge. This match, at East End Park on the 27th October, was to be watched by almost 4,500 fans, an incredible amount for the Second Division. The result was to be inconclusive, a 2-2 draw. Pars had gone in front, then behind, before salvaging a point with a Watson equaliser near the end.

The following match should have been easy enough - against East Stirling, the only team in Britain still to win a match. That is, until the league leaders came visiting. A 2-0 defeat was to mark the start a barren period for Dunfermline. A scrappy 1-0 win at Central Park, was to be the only win for the next four months. It was during this period, that the League Championship, and promotion, was effectively lost, and serious doubts began to surface as to Leishman's abilities as a manager. This was and always would be, a bit of an achilles heel. He was the master motivator. When things were going well he could inspire players to undreamed-off heights. But as with so many managers, when things took a down turn, he seemed powerless to effect change. It would not be the only time in his career that such problems were to occur.

On December 8th, East Stirling came visiting on Scottish Cup business and promtly dumped Pars 3-1. It was a win they thoroughly deserved, and it was only the second time in 25 years that Dunfermline's name would not go into the hat with the "big boys".

A 1-1 draw with Montrose just before Christmas demonstrated that the Links Park side were posting their credentials as League contenders. Dunfermline were slipping down the table. By the time they visited Hampden on the 2nd February, their challenge seemed to have evaporated. A 4-1 defeat was the heaviest of the season. They were now 8 points adrift, and teams such as Cowdenbeath, Stranraer and Stenhousmuir were breathing down their necks.

Eventually, however, the clouds lifted. A long-awaited win against Stranraer on the 23rd February, was only a curtain-raiser for the visit to Recreation Park three days later. Dunfermline were to put their Championship challenge back on track, with a fine 3-1 win over Alloa, including a "Brazilian" type free-kick from Steve Morrison, which was to earn him the nickname of Zico.

Still, though, the Pars could not achieve any consistancy. Wins, draws and defeats were to come in almost equal number. A 0-0 draw with Montrose four games from the end, effectively ended the challenge for the championship. But a fine 4-0 win against Queen of the South, set up a classic return to Alloa on the second-last day of the season, to decide the second promotion place. The Pars were one point behind. A win, would put us ahead, but any other result would favour the Recreation Park side. In a tight game, the deadlock remained unbroken until Pars were awarded a penalty, midway through the second half. As Steve Morrison stepped up to take it, 4,000 hearts stopped. The shot was weak, and the keeper saved. The chance was lost. Alloa held on and went into the last match a point ahead. Dunfermline fans would be left hanging on for radio reports to see whether Alloa would slip up. It was just such a report, which caused one of the most incredible scenes ever witnessed at East End Park.

The match itself, against Berwick Rangers, was unremarkable. Ironically Dunfermline won it with two penalty goals, this week taken by Trevor Smith. With Alloa leading 1-0 at half-time it looked as if we were going to miss out. Then suddenly, halfway through the second-half, fans at the west end of the ground began cheering for no apparent reason. Alloa had obviously lost a goal and although those with radios shook their heads, wondering if they had missed something, the cheering spread round the ground like a (yet to be invented) "Mexican-Wave". Second Division reports were then, as now, sketchy, and no-one bothered to listen too closely. As the final whistle blew, the pitch was engulfed by fans, thinking that Dunfermline had pipped their rivals with their superior goal-difference. As the players celebrated, no-one knew (or wanted to know) the truth, until finally, Jim Leishman appeared from the dressing room. His face said it all. His words were simple - "Alloa won 1-0". He could say no more. He disappeared back to the dressing room and the fans trooped sadly home.

If anything could put the disappointment in perspective, it was the scenes that, even as the pitch was clearing, were appearing on television screens across the country. At a match in Bradford, the wooden stand had caught fire and, in the mayhem that followed, 56 spectators lost their lives. To merely lose a football match, no matter how crucial, seemed unimportant.

There was much to be pleased about in Season 1984/85, especially when compared to the previous years. But in the end we would have to suffer another long year amongst the minnows. Thankfully, the following season would be the last time that the Pars would ever play in Scotland's lowest league. Lessons had been learned and the Pars were to emerge a stronger side. This time it would end in success.