Classic Match #1: Dunfermline Athletic V Airdrieonians, 4th May 1996.
The first classic match is not one that would be considered as such from a football purist's perspective, but will live forever in the memory of all Pars fans who were there to witness it.
This was it, the final frontier. A stunning 1-0 win at Tannadice the previous week had enabled Bert Paton's team to reclaim top spot in the First Division and now were just 90 minutes away from the title and a return to the Premier Division. The Pars simply couldn't throw it away now- they'd missed out by a point to Falkirk in 93/94 and the previous season lost to Aberdeen in the inaugrual Premier/ First Division play off. And of course, everyone was desperate to claim the title in honour of tragic captain Norrie McCathie.
But, standing in the way were Alex McDonald's Airdrie, who had always enjoyed a rivalry with the Athletic. This was especially enhanced from Airdrie's viewpoint when a refereeing decision helped Dunfermline defeat them to reach the Skol Cup final of 1991. Indeed, the Diamonds had helped cost the Fifers promotion in 1994 with a 1-0 win at Broomfield.
So this was to be a big test for the team, and this was not lost on the fans. A huge crowd of 13,123 packed into East End hoping, and expecting, that Paton's Pars would finally secure promotion.
Dunfermline went into this match missing the suspended Stewart Petrie and began the match in an extremely nervous fashion. Although Airdrie had nothing except pride to play for, this seemed to suit them as they were much more relaxed. They revelled in keeping the ball with good passing movements and the Pars simply couldn't get to grips with it. A warning sign came early on when Paul Harvey picked the ball up and, spotting Ian Westwater slightly off his line, chipped a shot from 25 yards which bounced off the crossbar.
The atmosphere around the ground had changed, with it rather quiet as the Athletic struggled to make inroads. The Pars did howl for a penalty after Derek Fleming played the ball through for Andy Smith and appeared to be barged over by Jimmy Sandison, but the visiting skipper touched the ball out before Smith went over.
But it wasn't long before East End was to erupt with noise. On the half hour mark, the home side were awarded a free-kick on the right hand side, midway inside the Airdrie half. Full back Marc Millar sent a whipping ball into the area and there was Smith to bullet a fine header past former Athletic keeper Andy Rhodes. The fans went wild; the vital breakthrough had arrived. Only 60 minutes to stay in front and secure the title!
The Athletic began to look more composed, but the Diamonds still offered a threat going forward. Paddy Connolly worked his way down the right hand side and cut the ball back for Kenny Black, but Ivo den Bieman was there to get in the way and block the shot. But the Pars were able to hold on and commanded a 1-0 lead at the interval.
The atmosphere at the start of the second period was remarkably more calm that it had been than during the first, with the Athletic faithful knowing that holding on to the 1-0 score was all it needed to secure Premier League football, regardless of events at Cappielow between Morton and Dundee United.
Things were going well until the 56th minute of the match. A long ball from Jimmy Boyle sent Connolly scampering down the left hand side, who turned inside Den Bieman. The onrushing Westwater went down to grab the ball, but Connolly squared it for Peter Heatherston, who sent a shot crashing in off the underside of the bar. The sheer glee on his face at possibly spoiling the Pars party was enough to make you vomit.
So as usual, Dunfermline had to do it the hard way. The mood around the ground was one of tension and gloom, and the home side struggled to create any clear cut chances. Andy Tod sent a header wide from a Brian Rice corner, while Allan Moore headed over and was also denied by the feet of Rhodes.
But as ears were being glued to events in Greenock, Smith superbly released Moore to beat the Airdrie offside trap, only for Rhodes to send him crashing to the ground. Penalty! And one which I've always maintained Rhodes meant to give away as he was quoted as saying "I hope the Athletic go on to win the championship" after Norrie McCathie died.
So it was up to popular hard as nails full back Marc Millar to take the vital kick, and he made no mistake, firing high into the top right corner giving Rhodes no chance. The relief around East End was massive, and Dunfermline were back on course to win the First Division.
Airdrie attempted to get back into the game but with 10 minutes left, and as heroes Moore and Smith were substituted, the roar from the crowd indicated that the game at Cappielow was over. Our game had kicked off 10 minutes late due to the crowd and the word was that Morton and United had drawn 2-2- the Pars were champions!
As a result, the last minutes of an unbelievable season petered out and Dunfermline won the championship by 4 points from Dundee United. It was a moment to savour- for three seasons running, the club had narrowly missed out on a return to the Premier Division, but the ecstatic crowd acclaimed "Paton's Premier Pars".
The trophy didn't arrive at the ground until 5.30, but it did not matter a jot- the Pars were up, the celebrations lasted long into the night but most importantly- We did it for Norrie.
A dramatic end to what had been a dramatic season.
Dunfermline Athletic: Westwater; Miller, Tod, Den Bieman, Millar; Moore, Robertson, French, Fleming; Rice, Smith.
