East Fife F.C.

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East Fife

Full name

East Fife Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Fifers

Founded

1903

Ground

Bayview Stadium
Methil, Scotland
(Capacity 2,000)

Chairman

William Gray

Manager

David Baikie

League

Scottish Second Division

2007-08

Scottish Third Division, 1st





Home colours





Away colours

East Fife Football Club (known informally as The Fife or The Fifers) is a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil. They are longstanding members of the Scottish Football League and currently compete in the Scottish Third Division.

The club, established in 1903, boasts a distinguished and unique history, being the first club to win the Scottish League Cup three times and the only club to win the prestigious Scottish Cup that were not a Premier League Team, which at that time was the second tier of the Scottish league structure (it is now the third tier).

East Fife are one of four senior clubs based in the Fife region but are the only one to bear the name of the area. The three other clubs are Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline Athletic and the Kirkcaldy based Raith Rovers, all of whom have historically shared rivalries with East Fife.

1 History
2 Players
- 2.1 Current squad
- 2.2 Notable players
3 Managers
4 Stadium
5 Achievements
6 Records
7 References
8 External links

[edit] History

Local demand for the establishment of a senior football team led to a public meeting being held in January 1903 and resulted in the formation East Fife Football Club. After spending its first season competing in the Fife League and the Scottish Qualifying Cup, as well as playing in a number of challenge matches, the club joined the Eastern League for season 1904–05. The following season East Fife joined the Northern League, which included clubs such as Dunfermline Athletic and St Johnstone. The club remained in the Northern League until season 1908–09. In 1909, East Fife joined the Central League, which consisted of many of the teams who had played in the Northern League, with the addition of Alloa Athletic, Stenhousemuir and King's Park from Stirling.

The earliest known picture of East Fife Football Club

East Fife remained in the Central League until 1921, apart from a period during the First World War when the Eastern League was reformed. In the period following the war, the clubs competing for the Central League were mainly from the coal and shale mining communities of Fife and West Lothian. As the mining towns thrived with the growth of the mining industry and its associated influx of miners and their families, so did the local football clubs. The result of this was that by the end of the decade, the Central League clubs could afford to pay their players higher wages than they would receive in the Scottish Football League. In an effort to stop the migration of its players to the Central League, the Scottish League decided to admit the Central League clubs, including East Fife, to its membership. The Central League therefore became the Scottish Second Division at the start of season 1921–22.

Only six years after becoming members of the Scottish League, East Fife appeared in the 1927 Scottish Cup final, which it lost 3–1 to Celtic at Hampden Park. This remarkable feat would surpassed just over a decade later when "The Fifers" won the 1938 Scottish Cup. The prestigious cup was secured with a 4–2 triumph over Kilmarnock in the final. The game was watched by a crowd of almost 92,000 spectators, who witnessed the club become the first (and so far only) Non-Premier League side to win the Scottish Cup.

East Fife's best years were undoubtedly in the decade following the Second World War. During this "Golden Period", the club won the Scottish League Cup on no fewer than three separate occasions, as well as adding a third Scottish Cup final appearance to its achievements. The club’s league record is also impressive. In the five seasons between 1948 and 1953, East Fife finished its Scottish First Division (then the pinnacle of Scottish football) campaign in third place twice and in fourth place twice. In one of these seasons, 1952–53, East Fife were still in the running for the league title with only a few games remaining, eventually finishing only four points behind eventual champions Rangers.

In recent decades, the Methil outfit has struggled to match its historic success. This is emphasised by the fact that aside from three seasons during the early 1970s, the club has played all of its football outside the top league since the 1950s. In November 1998, East Fife moved to a purpose built stadium near Methil power station. This ground was officially renamed Bayview Stadium in 2007.

2006–07 saw East Fife begin that seasons Scottish Third Division campaign impressively, at one point amassing a commanding nine point lead over their nearest rivals. The Fifer's form declined markedly but recovered to qualify for the newly implemented promotion play-offs. East Fife beat Scottish Second Division outfit Stranraer 4–2 on aggregate before losing 7–2 to Queen's Park on aggregate in the final. 2007–08 commenced with high expectations for The Fifers amidst a flurry of preseason signings.^[1]^[2] The new acquisitions proved successful as the Methil team thoroughly dominated the early stages, culminating in a twelve point lead at the top of the division by Christmas. East Fife also revived their historic tradition in the Scottish League Cup by reaching the third round, beating Queen of the South and Scottish Premier League side St. Mirren,^[3] before losing out to Old Firm heavyweights Rangers.^[4]

East Fife secured the 2007/08 Third division title after beating East Stirling at Firs Park, Falkirk by 3 goals to nil on 15th March 2008. This gave them a points total of 74, 26 points ahead of Stranraer who could post the next best total in the league of 69 points if they were to win their remaining fixtures. This was East Fife's first league title for 60 years and their first piece of silverware since 1954. They are now run by Kirkcaldy based scrap merchant Wullie Gray. Fans have raised concerns about the club paying high and unsustainable wages leaving it with unrealistic wage bills which may see them going the same way as Gretna FC.

[edit] Players

[edit] Current squad

No.		Position	Player
		GK	Willie McCulloch
		GK	Michael Brown
		DF	Dougie Cameron
		DF	Goran Stanić
		DF	Steven Tweed
		DF	Kevin Fotheringham
		DF	Sam Linton
		DF	Jonathan Smart
		DF	Jamie McGowan
		DF	Greig McDonald
		DF	Graham Guy
		DF	Paul Nugent
		DF	Jason Dair
		MF	Gary Greenhill

No.		Position	Player
		MF	Ryan Blackadder
		MF	Paul Stewart
		MF	Lloyd Young
		MF	David Muir
		MF	Stephen Fortune
		MF	Paul Walker
		FW	Robert Campbell
		FW	Stevie Nicholas
		FW	Craig O'Reilly
		FW	Kevin Gordon
		FW	Paul McManus
		FW	Bobby Linn
		FW	Chris Templeman

[edit] Notable players

[edit] Managers

David McLean
Scot Symon 1947–1953
Jerry Dawson 1953–1958
Jimmy Bonthrone
Dave Clarke 1978–1987
Gavin Murray 1987–1992
Alex Totten 1992–1993
Steve Archibald 1994–1996
Jimmy Bone 1996–1998
Steve Kirk 1998–1999
Rab Shannon 1999–2001
Dave Clarke 2001–2002
Jim Moffat 2002–2006
David Baikie 2006–Present

[edit] Stadium

Main article: Bayview Stadium

East Fife's home matches are played at Bayview Stadium, capacity 2,000 (all seated). The ground has one stand and is open at the three remaining sides. The far side is overshadowed by the derelict Methil power station. The club also offer a range of hospitality packages.

[edit] Achievements

Scottish Cup:
- Winners (1): 1938
- Runners-up (2): 1927, 1950
Scottish League Cup:
- Winners (3): 1948, 1950, 1954
Scottish Second Division:
- Winners (1): 1948
Scottish Third Division:
- Winners (1): 2008
Supplementary Cup:
- Winners (2): 1947, 1948
Fife Cup:
- Winners (13): 1908, 1932, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1946, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1979, 1985, 2005, 2006
Scottish Qualifying Cup:
- Winners (1): 1921
Wemyss Cup:
- Winners (6): 1912, 1913, 1918, 1935, 1936, 1937
Penman Cup:
- Winners (4): 1910, 1917, 1939, 1962