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A
popular past-time for any follower of football is
to ponder over glory games of the past and to think
of that 35 yard volley that ended up in the goal
or that time that you beat your local rivals when
they were confident of gaining promotion. In the
past few issues of WTSS, we have received a multitude
of articles which have quoted matches or individuals
from the past. We have gone through the local newspaper
archives to select some of these "GLORY GAMES",
but firstly to set the scene here is an article
written by our very own Lachie Fitness which appeared
in issue number 45 of 'The Absolute Game' in August/September
1995.
For 110 years, Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline Athletic
have vied for soccer supremacy in West Fife. Memories
are short and to hear people talk nowadays, you
would think that Dunfermline had always been top
dogs. The reality is much different and Cowden were
very much in the ascendancy until the late 1950's.
Indeed, even today Cowden's record over the years
in these derby clashes is vastly superior. Blue
Brazilians refer to Dunfermline and their fans as
'The Townies' (interestingly, 'the Pars' nickname
dated back to 1913 and stems from a court case involving
Cowdenbeath when the ludicrous notion that the Dunfermline
club was on a par with Cowdenbeath was dismissed
by the Cowdenbeath manager). The Townies has it's
roots back in the last century when Cowdenbeath
was just a small village before the boom years of
the mining industry.
Despite having a population of around 1/5th of Dunfermline,
the Blue Brazil still retain the capacity to put
the mockers on the Townies' aspirations at the appropriate
moment. Just look at the 10 examples recalled below
when the Blue Brazil revelled in their role of 'Towniebusters'.
1885 - Fife champions Cowdenbeath travelled to East
End Park to play new club Dunfermline Athletic for
the first time. Cowden won 3-0 in a canter and for
weeks after, Townie whingers wrote to the local
press accusing Cowdenbeath of being a side made
up of "battering rams and steam engines".
1949 - Post-war Dunfermline fans believed that the
time had come for 'the Pars' to at least establish
their ascendancy. A Ne-erday visit to Central Park
found Dunfermline at the top of 'B' Division looking
down at Cowden anchored in the bottom spot. The
Cowden players, however, had enjoyed a good Hogmanay.
They danced a reel to the pre-match music played
over the tannoy when they came onto the pitch and
danced rings round their opponents. 90 minutes later
and Dunfermline had a 4-0 hangover to contend with.
Sadly, this defeat was enough to deny the Townies
promotion.
1970 - The first Division 1 derby between the 2
teams in donkey's years. The geriatric Pars defence
was run ragged by Cowden's midget wingmen Billy
Laing and Davy Ross as Cowden won 2-1. The game
heralded the end of Dunfermline's golden age. Dunfermline
manager George Farm's jacket was on a shaky peg.
(Farm is fondly remembered at Central Park for an
incident when he was Raith manager. Cowden were
losing 1-0 to Raith when the floodlights failed
and the match was abandoned. The replay brought
a 1-0 win for Cowden and rendered George apoplectic.
Such was the effect of this incident on Farm he
later quit football to become a lighthouse keeper).
1971 - Cowden return to Prefab park for the 2nd
leg of the Fife Cup final having won the first leg
1-0 thanks to a Billy Bostock goal. Unlikely winger
Dave Cairns put Cowden 2-0 ahead, Andy Kinnell missed
a penalty and Billy Mullen was sent-off for GBH
on the entire Townie defence. Cowden won the Cup
for the first time since 1935 and the Townies were
broken men after our 4th win of the season over
them.
1972 - The Pars return to their traditional habitat
in the 2nd Division. They confidently expect to
cruise to the championship. On a glorious sunny
day, they are humiliated by the 'total football'
of the 'Blue Brazil'. John Dickson crashed home
a 20-yarder and Billy Bostock made it 2-0 to put
Cowden on easy street.
1976 - A minute to go at East End Park on a dreich
day. Cowden are trailing 1-0. Billy Simpson advances
over the halfway line with the ball at his feet.
'Cross it', we roar but to the general dismay Billy
winds up for a shot. The crowd behind the goal brace
themselves to receive the ball but for once, wonder
of wonders, Billy's aim is true. The ball flies
into the postage stamp corner to provoke mass celebrations
which culminate with Cowden boss Frank Connor racing
to the touchline in jubilation, slipping and sliding
around 10 yards in the mud in his natty new trench
coat.
1977 - The Pars, still in with a chance of promotion,
visit Central Park for a midweek game. The match
is played in a swirling gale. Geordie Hunter gathers
the ball on the left wing and hits the ball into
the middle - what is euphemistically known as a
cross-cum-shot. The ball meanders on its merry way
before deciding to dip into the far corner of the
Dunfermline net. Sadly, this defeat was enough to
deny the Townies promotion.
1978 - The Townies again come a-calling to the Mecca
of Fifeshire football. Dunfermline take the lead
after Alan Dyce is red-carded after a marvellously
crude tackle on Mullen of Dunfermline. With 2 minutes
to go the Dunfermline fans are folding up their
travel rugs and heading home to watch 'the Dukes
of Hazzard' when Ian Harley flashes up the left
wing to squeeze an equaliser home from the narrowest
of angles.
1985 - Cowden were 1-down when Kenny Ward decided
to turn on the style to leave Leishman's Lions floundering.
He roasted the Dunfermline full-backs and made an
equaliser for Paul Hackett. He then produced a mazy
dribble through the entire Dunfermline defence before
firing home the winner. Sadly, this defeat was enough
to deny the Townies promotion.
1993 - Cowden journey to East End Park with Dunfermline
on the verge of promotion and Cowden rooted at the
bottom of the 1st Division after 33 League games
without a win. The inevitable transpires as class
tells and Cowden win 2-0 thanks to 2 goals by ex-Townie
Willie Callaghan. Oh what bliss to be a Blue Brazilian
on that day. A legendary win, non-stop singing and
winding up of Neale Cooper, rounded off by Townies
baying for the head of the manager, board and anyone
else they could think of. Sadly, this defeat was
enough to deny the Townies promotion. (a year later,
and a goal by Nicky Henderson for Falkirk sadly
was enough to deny the Townies promotion. This year,
we can't claim any credit for the Pars bottling
it once again). However, whenever the Townies look
like getting above themselves again, remember -
If there's something strange in your neighbourhood,
Who you gonna call - Towniebusters!
If there's something weird and it don't look good,
Who you gonna call - Towniebusters!
We ain't afraid of no Townies.
PS I forgot to mention our 11-1 win in 1891.
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