Season 4 (1986/87) - Premier Bound

Though the heart of the side was to be essentially unchanged, Leishman knew he had to strengthen his squad for the challenges that were to lie ahead. While the football world were enthralled by the World Cup Finals in Mexico, three players (Eric Ferguson, Grant Reid and, our very own Diego Maradona, Ian McCall) signed for the club, for bargain basement fees. Ferguson signed as a free transfer from Rangers, McCall as an amateur with Queens Park, also cost nothing, and Ried cost £10,000 from Stenhousemuir. These players were to prove crucial in the season ahead.

For the second year running, Pars entertained Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen, in a pre-season friendly. Two goals from Trevor Smith and John Watson, took pars into a commanding lead. A vastly improved second-half by the Dons, saw them pull it back to 2-2 by the final-whistle. Although it was a bit disappointing to lose a good lead, it was another highly encouraging performance by Dunfermline.

The season got under way properly, against Forfar on the 9th August. After raising the Division 2 championship flag, Pars set about their task with a relish. A 1-0 win was to get the league challenge off to the best possible start. Even better were the two away wins which followed, against Dumbarton and Morton. By the time they face Premier League St Mirren, in the League Cup, Dunfermline were sitting proudly on top of the league, a point ahead of Airdrie.

Expectations were high, that Dunfermline may finally land a Premier "scalp" in St Mirren. Sadly, the optimism was to be mis-placed. In a tight match, two defensive errors were to cost them dearly. Dunfermline bowed out to a 2-0 defeat.

Dunfermline's first League defeat was to come against neighbours East Fife. With promotion hopes of their own, the Methil side were to demolish Dunfermline, storming into a 4-0 lead. Two late goals by Morrison and Watson, restored some credibility to the scoreline, but could not stop Dunfermline slipping into second place, behind Airdrie on goal difference. Dunfermline's nerve was now to be put to the test. Much of what was to follow in the season would depend on their reaction to this defeat. The following match, away to Kilmarnock, was to be a critical indicator of Dunfermline's approach to this season.

All was going well for the Pars, when Grant Jenkins put them ahead after 15 minutes. However, they were to suffer a double-blow before half-time, being reduced to 10 men with the sending off of John Waddell, and then losing a goal in 45 mins. The second half of this match was to epitomise Dunfermline's league challenge that year. Consider their position. They were a newly promoted side, away from home, down to 10 men and looking at a valuable draw. Many sides would have settled for this. But not Dunfermline. Their reward, was to come 3 minutes from time, with a winner by Bobby Forrest. This for me, was one of the critical games of the season and the manner of the win was a crucial indicator of the seriousness of Dunfermline's challenge. It was clear now that Jim Leishman's men were not out to settle for a nice, safe position in the First Division. Dunfermline were out to win and would accept nothing less. It was an attitude which was to take them a long way towards acheiving their ultimate aim of promotion to the Premier League.

Dunfermline were now to embark on a seven match unbeaten run. Included in this sequence for was a home draw with their main challengers (at that point of the season), Airdrie. However, as was to happen so often during the seasom, just as it looked as if they were to run off with things, they were to be pegged back. Consecutive defeats by Dumbarton and Clyde, were to see the Boghead side put their noses ahead, and post their own title aspirations. A draw with Morton was to see the Pars go a point behind for the first time in the season.

Off the field, significant changes were now taking place. In mid october, Leishman was to sign a 2-year full-time contract, relinquishing his part-time role as commercial manager to devote himself fully to the role of Team Manager. In tandem with this, it was announced that the players would also be offered full-time contracts, and any new players would be signed on a full-time basis. Dunfermline were gearing up for an serious assault on top flight of the Scottish game.

On the field Dunfermline were quickly to reclaim their Number 1 position in the league, with three excellent wins against Brechin, Partick and Kilmarnock. The run was brought to an end by another defeat to neighbours, East Fife. A heavy defeat at Broomfield 2 weeks later, saw Dunfermline give up the top spot once more. But this was the last time the Pars were to taste defeat in the league for the next 3 months.

Now, the media was waking up to the what was happening at East End Park. When the Scottish Cup Third Round draw threw up Dunfermline, top of the First Division, with a Hibs side struggling at the bottom of the Premier League, the press and TV descended on the town to see for themsleves the revolution that was happening along Halbeath Road. Leishman was in his element. At a Burns Supper, a few days before the match he was asked to say grace. His words were to become national headlines:-

Out of the Cup, Dunfermline now at least had the chance to give their full attention to the main job in hand, promotion to the Premier League. The TV cameras were to come visiting again, this time STV getting in on the act, for the home match with Dumbarton on 7th March. A Steve Morrison effort early in the game was to take both points, despite some fine play from a young Dumbarton player called Owen Coyle, in one of his first visits to East End Park. Dunfermline were now seven points clear of Morton and eight clear of Dumbarton and East Fife, the only teams now able to deprive them of promotion.

Media recognition of another form was to come, with Jim Leishamn being asked to commentate for BBC Sportsound, on the midweek match between Morton and Kilmarnock. Morton were to win this match to keep the pressure on Dunfermline. Their visit to East End Park on 21st March was to close the gap even more. For the second home match in a row, Dunfermline were to be featured on TV (surely unique for the First Division). Sadly, before a rowd of nearly 6,000, Dunfermline were to go down 2-1.

Now the pressure was on. With only seven games left, Dunfermline were still seven points ahead of the third placed team. Promotion could only be thrown away now. With the full glare of the media now on them, nerves were to take over, and the Pars challenge began to stutter. Only 3 points were to be gained from the next four games, a great chance to wrap up promotion being thrown away at home to relegated Brechin.

With 3 games left, Morton had all but closed the gap in the race for the Championship. But a surprise defeat for third placed Dumbarton meant that victory at home to Queen of the South would turn Leishman's "crazy" dream of promotion to the Premier League into reality.

On Saturday, 25th April 1987, Dunfermline Athletic played what was arguably their biggest match in 15 years. The prize, a place in an expanded 12 team Premier League. For ten consecutive years in the 1960's Dunfermline had finished in the top 12 places in the League. Apart from this, only one other season had seen them achieve such a feat (10th place in 1935/36). As fans, players and officials began to gather at the ground, the enormity of what they were about to acheive was only just sinking in. As ever, Jim Leishman was to capture the feelings in his Match-Programme Column.

With so much at stake, the match was never going to be a classic. After 12 minutes, Willie Irvine scored for Dunfermline, sending the crowd wild. Any thoughts that this would calm the nerves and lead to more goals evaporated as the half went on. The second half was to be another tense 45 minutes, both sides missing good chances to score. With both Morton and Dumbarton leading in their matches, Pars knew they had to hold on. After what seemed like an eternity, the final whistle blew. Dunfermline had won. What had seemed totally impossible three years before, was now a reality. Dunfermline were back among the elite of Scottish football.

For the second year running, the park was engulfed by some 5,000 supporters and the players paraded in a somewhat crowded Directors' Box. The celebrations were to continue late into the night, many players and fans congregating in the East Port Bar.

With two matches remaining, Dunfermline were still on course to make history by winning the Second and First Division Championships in successive seasons. Everything seemed on course, when McCall hammered home a late penalty against Airdrie. Then, in the dying minutes everything went wrong. Airdrie struck twice to win, and Morton's victory against Forfar saw them take over the league leadership. After so many weeks at the top, it seemed as if it was all going to fall away for the Pars right at the end.

Still, they had the chance to put things right again on the last day of the season. It was Morton's turn to visit Broomfield, while Dunfermline had an seemingly easy tie at Links Park against relegated Montrose. Dunfermline fans were in carnival mood as they headed north. All they could do now was to win and hope that Airdrie, only 8 points off the pace themselves, could do them a favour. Morton were indeed to lose, but the Pars were to fall at the final hurdle, freezing, when a relaxed, confident performance would have taken the title. Montrose won 1-0 and Dunfermline missed the league title by 1 point.

Interestingly, a few years later Jim Leishman was to say that his biggest regret was not winning the First Divsion title in 1986/87. "In the end nerves got us," he was to say. "Nerves got me especially and I couldn't handle the players nerves. I was really sick when we got beaten at Montrose."

Though the season was to end on a slight low, the main objective had been reached. Dunfermline would play in the Premier League in season 1987/88. As fans gathered at East End Park for an Open Day, on May 10th, the feeling of achievement was being replaced by an sense of excitement and anticipation for the season which was to follow. Dunfermline were to be a massive breath of fresh air for the Premier League. Their positive, adventurous style was to win them many friends among neutrals and rival fans alike. Though it was to end in relegation, most fans would agree that it was the most enjoyable Premier campaign ever.