Just outside the top 20 were names such as Jim McArthur, Davie Cairns, Angus Cameron, Dave Shankland, Ian Harley, Willie McGurn, George Dick, Willie McIntosh, Andy Harrow, Ken Allison, Graham Buckley, Gus Malone, Jackie Jones, Jimmy Inglis, Bobby Gilfillan and Mark Yardley.

Thus it's the late, great John Dickson who is regarded as the greatest by the Cowden support. A much deserved accolade for a player of tremendous flair and whose goalscoring feats in 1969/70 brought the crowds flocking back to Central Park. Runner-up was that great club enthusiast Andy Rolland whilst Scottish internationalist and present day Cowden boss Craig Levein took the bronze medal. No less than 7 of the 1969/70 promotion winning side made the top 20 which betrays the age profile of much of the Cowden support. Strangely only 1 of the 1991/92 side makes it albeit Andy Rolland's failed challengers of 1980/81 have 5 representatives in the Roll of Honour. The earlier era of the 1940's and 1950's boasts 2 names in the table, Messrs Menzies and Murphy.

Interestingly, of the top 20 players above no less than 15 were Fifers and 6 hailed from Cowdenbeath and its environs. An illustration perhaps that local lads have traditionally been the mainstay of Cowden sides or at least engendered the most appreciation in the Cowden support.

Following on from this, it would of course be fascinating to extend this to a poll covering Cowden's greatest player since the club's inception. However, old father time makes this a practical impossibility with few fans left who can recall Cowden's heyday. However, I have listed below my own thoughts on a pre-war top 20 (for interest sake I have also noted the other clubs these players played with as well as Cowden and any representative honours – so many of these players were discovered by Cowden then sold on).

Alex Venters (Rangers & Scotland)

Willie Devlin (Liverpool & Huddersfield)

Jim "Hooky" Leonard (Sunderland)

George Wilson (Hearts, Everton, Newcastle & Scotland)

Willie Rankin (Motherwell, Clyde & Scottish League)

John Falconer (Celtic & Scottish League)

John Walker (Swindon, Middlesbrough & Scotland)

George Wall (Manchester United & England)

Bob Birrell (Hearts & Scottish League)

Bob Middleton (Sunderland & Scotland)

Duncan Lindsay (Newcastle)

Jim Paterson (Leicester & Scotland)

Bill Murray (Sunderland)

Willie Pullar

Tommy Frame (Manchester United)

Rab Walls (Hibs)

Willie Paterson (Rangers, Derby & Coventry)

Willie Stewart (Manchester United)

J R Smith (Rangers & Bolton)

Dave Wright (Sunderland & Liverpool)

Thus by my reckoning Alex Venters would be the greatest of the pre-war stars followed by Willie Devlin and Hooky Leonard. 14 of these players turned out for Cowden during their decade in the top flight between 1924 and 1934. Only 4 of the 20 were from Fife (3 from Cowdenbeath and its environs). The 1923/24 promotion winning side has 5 representatives whilst the 1938/39 2nd Division championship side only boasts 1. The 1914/15 2nd Division championship side has 2 players listed in the top 20.

Other candidates who could be considered for the top 20 include John Pollock, Bob Law, "Iron Man" Will Cowan, Davy Hughes, Andy Todd, Willie Curle, Willie Lancaster, Bobby Tait, Willie Philp, Willie Birrell, Jim Hendren, Andy Rankine, Willie Wilson, Tommy Russell, Stewart Renfrew, Jim Turnbull, Willie Reid, George Jordan and no doubt a host of others.

Finally, just who would be the greatest player over the full history of the club? Surely Alex Venters would take the crown with the pre-war players filling most of the top 20 slots given their achievements in that era when Cowden were one of Scotland's leading sides. Hopefully though there will be some new candidates soon forcing their way into the upper echelons of Cowden's greatest.

We're always on the lookout for your comments or questions on Cowden games from the past. Where possible, Dr O' Rak will come up with an answer to your Cowden related trivia. If you have any Cowden trivia that you would like researched, drop an email to webmaster@blue-brazil.co.uk