Dunfermline Athletic F.C. facts for kids
 |
|||
| Full name | Dunfermline Athletic Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Pars | ||
| Founded | 2 June 1885 | ||
| Ground | East End Park | ||
| Capacity | 11,480 | ||
| Owner | Park Bench SFC LLC | ||
| Chairman | David Cook | ||
| Manager | Neil Lennon | ||
| League | Scottish Championship | ||
| 2015–16 | Scottish League One, 1st (promoted) | ||
|
|
|||
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club is a professional football team from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. The club was started in 1885. They are known as The Pars and play their home games at East End Park. Currently, the team competes in the Scottish Championship after winning the 2022–23 Scottish League One title. The current manager is Neil Lennon, a famous former player for Celtic and Northern Ireland.
The 1960s were a very successful time for The Pars. They won the Scottish Cup twice, in 1961 and 1968. During this period, they also played in European competitions. They even reached the semi-finals of the 1968–69 European Cup Winners' Cup, which is their best achievement in Europe.
The club has played at East End Park since it began in 1885. However, the first pitch they used was a little different from the one today. In the 2000s, Dunfermline reached three major finals but lost them all to Celtic. After facing money problems, the club was taken over by a fan group called Pars United in 2013.
Contents
Club History
How Dunfermline Athletic Started (1885–1959)
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club was formed on June 2, 1885. It was created by some members of the Dunfermline Cricket Club who wanted to play football in winter. The club quickly became the main football team in the city. For its first 25 years, it was an amateur team. Then, in 1899, it became a professional club.
In 1912, Dunfermline Athletic joined the Scottish Football League. For the next 50 years, the team mostly played in the second division. They only made it to the top league sometimes.
The Golden Years with Stein and Farm (1960–1970)
The 1960s were the best years for Dunfermline. Jock Stein became manager in March 1960. He helped the club avoid being relegated. Just 13 months later, he led The Pars to win their first major trophy, the Scottish Cup, in 1961.
After Stein, George Farm became manager. Under him, Dunfermline continued to play in European competitions. They reached the semi-finals of the 1968–69 European Cup Winners' Cup in 1969. This was a huge achievement, even though they lost by one goal. Farm also led the team to win their second Scottish Cup in 1968.
Challenges and Changes (1971–2012)
After the successful 1960s, the club faced some tough times in the 1970s and 1980s. They moved between the top league and lower divisions. In 1987, under club legend Jim Leishman, they returned to the top league but were relegated again after one season.
A sad event happened in 1996 when the club captain, Norrie McCathie, passed away suddenly. He had played for Dunfermline Athletic for 15 years and was a true club hero.
In 1999, with new leadership, the club saw a comeback. They reached two Scottish Cup finals in 2004 and 2007. They also played in a Scottish League Cup final in 2006. The club also had two short trips into the UEFA Cup in 2004 and 2007. However, by 2012, the club had serious financial problems. In April 2013, they went into administration and were moved down to the third division.
Fan Ownership and New Investors (2013–Present)
After being relegated, Jim Jefferies stayed on as manager. The club was officially taken over by a fan group called Pars United in October 2013. This group also took full ownership of East End Park.
After some changes in management, Allan Johnston led The Pars to win the League One title in 2015. They won by a large margin of 18 points. This period saw popular players like Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Andy Geggan join the team.
In September 2020, a group of German investors bought a small share in the club. They planned to become the main owners. They brought in David Cook as CEO and later Chairman. The club also started working on a new youth academy and training facilities. However, the German investors did not fully commit to their plans. In August 2024, they decided to sell their shares.
James McPake became manager after the club was relegated to League One again. He brought immediate success, winning the league by 14 points in 2023. However, he was dismissed in December 2024.
In January 2025, an American group called Park Bench SFC LLC bought 99.84% of the club. The new owners, James Bord and Evan Sofer, want to use data and artificial intelligence to help the club grow. They also own parts of other football clubs.
Their first manager choice, Michael Tidser, was sacked after only two months. On March 21, 2025, Neil Lennon was appointed manager. He is a well-known former player and manager for Celtic. Lennon signed Victor Wanyama, a famous Kenyan international player, until the end of the season. After securing the club's place in the Scottish Championship, Lennon signed a two-year deal to stay as manager.
Team Colours and Badge
For most of its history, Dunfermline's home kit has been black and white striped shirts, with black shorts and socks. Sometimes they have worn white shorts and socks. When the club first started in 1885, their home colours were plain maroon shirts. Between 1901 and 1909, their kits were blue. The famous black-and-white stripes first appeared in 1909 and have been used almost every year since.
The away kits have changed a lot over the years. Since the year 2000, red kits have been common, but they have also had purple, blue, yellow, and black away kits.
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Front of Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1977–1980 |  Bukta |
none |
| 1980–1983 | Braisby Roofing | |
| 1983–1986 | Rennie | |
| 1986–1988 | Umbro |
Aluglaze |
| 1988–1989 | Thomson's World of Furniture | |
| 1989–1992 | Landmark | |
| 1992–1994 |  Hummel |
|
| 1994–1996 | Matchwinner |
|
| 1996–1997 |  Le Coq Sportif |
|
| 1997–1999 | Avec |
|
| 1999–2000 | Auto Windscreens | |
| 2000–2001 | TFG |
|
| 2001–2005 | RAC Auto Windscreens | |
| 2005–2007 | The Purvis Group | |
| 2007–2008 |  Adidas |
|
| 2008–2012 | Puma |
|
| 2012–2015 |  Joma |
|
| 2015–2023 | SRJ Windows | |
| 2023-2025 |  Erreà |
|
| 2025- | Gamdom.News |
The current Dunfermline Athletic club badge was designed in 1957 by Colin Dymock. The "DAFC" stands for Dunfermline Athletic Football Club. The tower on the badge represents Malcolm Canmore's Tower. Malcolm Canmore was a King of Scotland who lived in Dunfermline. The stormy blue and black background shows Pittencrieff Park, where the tower was located. The green area at the bottom represents East End Park, the club's stadium. The badge has been updated a few times, with the most recent changes in 2011.
Club Nickname: The Pars
The club's nickname, The Pars, has a few possible origins. One idea is that it came from the team's striped shirts, which looked "parallel." Another theory suggests it came from the word "paralytic," referring to the players' drinking habits in the early days.
Some people believe the name came from English sailors who visited Rosyth. They might have called the team "The Dumps," short for Dunfermline, in the early 1900s. After World War I, the name "Pars" became common. Another idea is that English workers who came to work in the area supported Plymouth Argyle. Banners for that club might have influenced the nickname.
An older theory suggests the name comes from "Parr," which is a young salmon with dark vertical markings. This could relate to the team's striped kit.
Club Culture
Songs and Anthems
Like many football clubs, Dunfermline Athletic has special songs. When the team runs onto the pitch, they play "Into The Valley" by the local band the Skids. After Dunfermline scores a goal at East End Park, the chorus of "Glad All Over" by the Dave Clark Five is played. When fans leave the stadium after a game, they hear "The Bluebell Polka" by Jimmy Shand.
Rivalries
Dunfermline Athletic has traditional rivalries with nearby teams. These include Cowdenbeath and Raith Rovers. They also have a rivalry with Falkirk, known as the Kincardine Derby. Dunfermline has often played in the Fife Cup since 1885, winning it over 30 times. Their most recent win was in the 2018–19 season.
Hall of Fame
The club started its Hall of Fame in 2004. It began with nine members. By 2019, it included 50 individuals, such as players, managers, and even the club historian. Two team groups, the Scottish Cup winners from the 1960s, are also in the Hall of Fame.
Famous Managers and Players
Famous Managers
- George Farm: He was a goalkeeper for Scotland. He led Dunfermline to their greatest European achievement, reaching the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1969.
- Jim Leishman: A former player and manager for the club. He is now the Provost of Fife.
- Jock Stein: A very famous manager who led Dunfermline to their first Scottish Cup win. He later managed Celtic and the Scotland national team.
Famous Players
- Owen Coyle: A former player who went on to manage several clubs, including Bolton Wanderers.
- Alex Ferguson: Played for Dunfermline before becoming one of the most successful managers ever, especially with Manchester United.
- Norrie McCathie: A club captain who played for Dunfermline for 15 years. A stand at East End Park is named after him.
- David Moyes: Another former player who became a well-known manager for teams like Everton and Manchester United.
- Sol Bamba: An international player for Ivory Coast who played for Dunfermline.
Players
First-team Squad
|
|
Club Captains Since 1985
| Period | Captain | Vice-captain |
|---|---|---|
| 1985–1988 |  Bobby Robertson |
|
| 1988–1996 | Norrie McCathie |
|
| 1996–1998 | Craig Robertson |
|
| 1998–1999 | Andy Smith |
|
| 1999–2000 | Andy Tod |
|
| 2000–2002 | Ian Ferguson |
Scott M. Thomson |
| 2002–2007 | Scott M. Thomson |
|
| 2007–2009 | Scott Wilson |
Stephen Glass |
| 2009–2010 | Stephen Glass |
|
| 2010–2012 | Austin McCann |
|
| 2012–2013 | Jordan McMillan |
Josh Falkingham |
| 2013–2014 | Josh Falkingham Andy Geggan |
Josh Falkingham |
| 2014–2015 | Josh Falkingham |
Gregor Buchanan |
| 2015–2017 | Callum Fordyce & Andy Geggan |
|
| 2017–2018 |  Callum Morris |
Sean Murdoch |
| 2018–2019 | Lee Ashcroft |
|
| 2019–2020 |  Paul Paton |
Lee Ashcroft |
| 2020–2021 | Euan Murray |
Ryan Dow |
| 2021–2022 | Graham Dorrans |
|
| 2022–present | Kyle Benedictus |
Chris Hamilton |
- For the 2015–16 season, Callum Fordyce was the captain. However, he got a serious leg injury. So, Andy Geggan took over as captain for the rest of the season. They are both seen as co-captains for that year.
Club Management
Club Officials
Backroom Staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Neil Lennon |
| Assistant managers | Iain Brunskill Kevin McDonald |
| Goalkeeping coach | Andrew Collier |
| Football operations manager | Gary Montignani |
| Head of professional development | John McLaughlan |
| Club doctor | Dr Paul Grealis |
| Head of performance | Craig Reynolds |
| Senior sports scientist | Euan Donaldson |
| Sports therapist | Euan Heeps |
| Sports therapist | Alan Richmond |
| Match analyst | Davie Honeyman |
| Kitman | Mo Hutton |
| Kit coordinator | Sammi Connell |
Board of Directors
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman Chief executive officer |
David Cook |
| Director | James Bord |
| Director | Scott Gordon |
| Director | Ian Laing |
| Director | Drew Main |
| Club ambassador | Jim Leishman |
Managers
Club Achievements
Major Trophies
- Scottish Cup :
- Winners (2): 1960–61, 1967–68
- Runners-up (3): 1964–65, 2003–04, 2006–07
- Scottish League Cup:
- Runners-up (3): 1949–50, 1991–92, 2005–06
Other Honours
- Scottish Championship (Second Tier):
- Champions (4): 1925–26, 1988–89, 1995–96, 2010–11
- Runners-up (9): 1912–13, 1933–34, 1954–55, 1957–58, 1972–73, 1986–87, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1999–2000
- Scottish League One (Third Tier):
- Champions (3): 1985–86, 2015–16, 2022–23
- Runners-up (2): 1978–79, 2013–14
- Scottish Challenge Cup:
- Runners-up (1): 2007–08
Club Records
- Highest Home Attendance: 27,816 fans against Celtic on April 30, 1968.
- Highest Home European Attendance: 26,000 fans against West Bromwich Albion in the European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals on January 15, 1969.
- Biggest League Win: 11–2 against Stenhousemuir in 1930.
- Biggest League Defeat: 10–0 against Dundee on March 22, 1947.
- Biggest All-Time Defeat: 17–2 against Clackmannan in the Midland League in 1891.
- Most Capped Player: Andrius Skerla, who played 84 times for Lithuania between 2000 and 2005.
- Most Appearances: Norrie McCathie, with 576 games (497 league games) from 1981 to 1996.
- Most Career Goals: Charlie Dickson, with 212 goals (154 league goals) from 1955 to 1964.
- Record Transfer Fee Paid: £540,000 to Bordeaux for Istvan Kozma on August 9, 1989.
- Record Transfer Fee Received: £650,000 from Celtic for Jackie McNamara on October 4, 1995.
European Record
See also
In Spanish: Dunfermline Athletic Football Club para niños
