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Dunfermline Athletic were formed in 1885, the result of a breakaway from the original Dunfermline club, whose main activity was cricket. The first match was a 2-1 win against Edinburgh University on June 13th 1885.
For the first two decades or so, they were to compete in friendlies, and in the many local cups and leagues. In Season 1911/12, Dunfermline were to achieve national success, by winning the Qualifying Cup, thereby gaining entry to the Scottish Cup for the first time. The following year they were to be rewarded by being admitted to the Scottish League. It was at this time that they became known as The Pars by local papers, an acknowledgement that the were now on par with the best teams in the land.
In their first season Pars were to finish runners-up in the Second Division, but were passed over for promotion to Division 1, by Ayr and Dumbarton. Dunfermline's frustration at not being accorded their due reward, was to be tempered by the outbreak of the First World War. For four years football was to take a very low profile. After the war, however, Dunfermline, along with several other clubs were to form their own rebel organisation, the highly successful Central League. Finally, in 1921, the Scottish League acceded to their demands for automatic promotion, and Dunfermline came back into the fold.
In 1925/26, Dunfermline finally, achieved their goal of a place in the top division, by winning the Second Division championship, scoring 109 goals in the process.
Two years later, however, relegation was to befall the side, this time only scoring 41 goals, and conceding 126 in the season. The club's record league win was to be recorded in 1930, 11-2 against Stenhousemuir, and in 1934, they were back in the First Division, going up as runners-up.
The following season, Dunfermline were to achieve their highest league place up to then, ending up in tenth place. However, a year on, they finished second bottom and were relegated. Nineteen long years were to elapse before the Pars were again to compete at the highest level, during which time the World was once more to go to war.
However, there were some highlights during this time. In 1949, Dunfermline reached the final of the League Cup, a new tournament, introduced after the war. They were to meet East Fife, in the only ever all-Fife national final, sadly losing 3-0. In the previous season Pars had been pipped by 1 point to promotion, losing a dramatic final match to Raith.
The first few years of the fifties were to see Dunfermline languish halfway down the Second Division. But by the middle of the decade things were beginning to improve. Promotion, as runners-up to Airdrie, was achieved in 1955. They were hold onto their top league status for two seasons. Relegation in 1957 saw normality, it seemed, renewed. However, it was to be but a temporary blip. Dunfermline were to bounce back immediately, and were to spend the next 14 seasons in the top division. This period has become affectionately known as "The Golden Years".
There was little sign of any gold in the first couple of season's however. In 1958/59 they were to avoid the drop by a single point, defeating Partick Thistle by an incredible 10-1 on the last day of the season.
The following year they fared little better, and towards the end of the season, manager Andy Dickson decided to call it a day and resigned. His replacement, Jock Stein, was to transform Dunfermline into one of the best sides in Scotland, and a major force, even in Europe.
Six consecutive victories assured Pars of a place in Division One for another year. The next season, 1960/61 was to see Dunfermline win their first major honour lifting the Scottish Cup, by defeating Celtic 2-0 in a replay. This gave them entry into the European Cup-Winners' Cup. For the next nine years Dunfermline were to compete in seven European campaigns, the most successful of which being the Cup-Winners' Cup in 1968/69, when they reached the semi-final. In 1964/65, Dunfermline were to narrowly miss out on a League and Cup double (losing the League by a single point, and the Cup Final by the odd goal in 5, against Celtic). In 1967/68 they were once again to win the Scottish Cup, defeating Hearts 3-1 in the final.
This period of success was to end, quite suddenly, at the start of the seventies. In 1970/71 they were to avoid relegation only on goal difference. Within weeks of the season ending, the club almost went out of business. A public appeal only just kept the club solvent. However, the terms under which the team would now operate were to radically change. Relegation could only be postponed for one year. The following season they finished bottom of the 18 team league and dropped to Division 2. Though promotion was to be gained immediately, the Pars were now a shadow of their former selves. Goal difference again saved them in 1973/74, and at least gave them the chance to compete for inclusion in the new 10 team Premier Division. In reality, Dunfermline had little chance of reaching such an elite band. More than a decade was to pass before Dunfermline, would achieve that goal.
Life for the Pars was now to revolve around the lower two divisions. Relegation in 1975/76 saw them playing in the new Second Division (effectively the third division). They would spend 3 years there, before returning to the First Division for a further 3 years. Relegation in 1982/83, coupled with a poor start to the following season, was to see another manager, Tom Forsyth, step down disillusioned. His replacement, Jim Leishman, was only 29 years old, and was given the post on a part-time basis.
This season was to be the worst ever for Dunfermline, 9th in Division 2, with no less than 32 teams above them in the 3 leagues. However, Dunfermline were to rise from this with amazing speed, winning the Second Division championship in 1985/86 and finally gaining promotion to the Premier League the following year.
Once in the top league, Dunfermline found it tough. Despite notable victories against both of the Old Firm (knocking Rangers out of the Cup), they were to be relegated at the end of this first season. Promotion was to be gained again the following year. This time Dunfermline were to survive at the top level, briefly topping the league at one point. However, during the close season of 1990, manager Leishman was controversially forced to resign by the board. League reconstruction, at the end of season 1990/91 assured Pars of another year in the top division. The following season, however, was to see Dunfermline, relegated again, though surprisingly they were to reach the League Cup Final, where they were to lose to Hibs.
Dunfermline were to spend the next 4 years in the lower division. Three times they were to miss out on promotion by a whisker. Finally, now managed by Bert Paton, Pars were to achieve promotion in a dramatic and tragic season 1995/96. Celebration of the championship was tempered by the death, during the season, of team captain Norrie McCathie.
For the past 3 years Dunfermline have remained in the Premier League. Season 1996/97 was their most successful for 18 years, finishing 5th.
Scottish Cup
Scottish League, Divison 1
(post-1975)
Scottish League, Divison 2
(pre-1975)
Scottish League, Divison 2
(post-1975)
Scottish League Cup
European Cup-Winners CupWinners
Runners-Up
Winners
Winners
Winners
Runners-Up
Semi-Final1961, 1968
1965
1988/89, 1995/96
1925/26
1985/86
1949, 1991
1968/69
Record Wins
Record Defeats
Record Crowds
Early Days
League
Europe
Early Days
League
Europe
East End Park
Anywhere
15-1 v Dunfermline 1886
11-2 v Stenhousemuir, 1931
10-1 v Apoel, 1968
2-17 v Clackmannan, 1891
0-10 v Dundee, 1947
0-4 v Valencia, 1962
27,816 v Celtic, 1968
113,228 v Celtic, 1961 (Scottish Cup Final, Hampden Park)