YOU DECIDE: Who are the best 30 Pars players of all time?
Published 9 Feb 2012 09:00
18 Comments
PRESS Sport is launching a new feature to find the Pars 30 best-ever players as voted for by YOU, the fans.
We want you to tell us about the legends in black and white who represented the club with skill, passion, dedication and bravery.
Your favourite could be the no-nonsense midfielder who crunched into tackles they never should have won, the tricky winger who left their opponent sprawling on the deck with their trickery or the striker who brought the fans to their feet with their goal-scoring finesse.
There are those who excelled when the pressure was really on, stood out in must-win relegation battles or decided derbies when more than points were at stake.
And players who rose to the highest of occasions and turned the match Pars way, grabbing the goals and glory on floodlit European evenings and sun-splashed Hampden triumphs.
All you have to do is nominate the Pars player - past or present - you reckon should be in the all-time top 30 and explain why he deserves top billing.
Leave a comment at the bottom of this article and nominations via web comments will count towards the final 30.
Happily there are many who have graced East End Park and, to really get the pub arguments going, here are a few suggestions.
There's club royalty in the shape of Ron Mailer and Roy Barry, the only Dunfermline skippers to lift the Scottish Cup aloft, and outstanding servants such as Norrie McCathie (pictured), Dr Hugh Whyte, Jim Leishman, Kenny Thomson, Stewart Petrie, Scott Thomson, Hamish French and Bobby Robertson.
There's the club's all-time leading marksman Charlie Dickson and others who regularly made the net bulge such as Alex Ferguson, John Watson, Ross Jack and the double act of Stevie Crawford and Craig Brewster.
Great goalscorers all but what about the scorers of great goals?
Remember Istvan Kozma's hat-trick against St Mirren, Barry Nicholson's 'Archie Gemmill-style' slalom through the Inverness defence and Andy Rolland's penalty to secure promotion against the Bairns?
How about Craig Robertson's emotional match-winner against Clydebank, Mark Smith's effort to k.o. Rangers, Harry Melrose sending Everton out of Europe and John Watson's premier strike against Meadowbank to secure promotion?
You may want to wax lyrical about Davie Thomson for his goal as Pars beat Celtic to lift the Scottish Cup final, Pat Gardner for his double to repeat the triumph in 1968 while Jackie Sinclair's double against Valencia is hard to beat.
But does one flash of the boot count over years of consistent performances?
You decide.
The club had its share of top goalkeepers, including Eddie 'The Cat' Connachan, Jim Herriot, Dr Hugh Whyte, Ian Westwater and Andy Rhodes.
Those players skilled in the dark arts also have a special place in the fans' hearts, tough as teak tacklers who would sooner support Raith than let a winger past the half-way line.
Those with a 'thou shall not pass' attitude to any visitor included Roy Barry, John Salton, Jim Scott, John Cushley, Allan Evans, Jackie McNamara, Davie Moyes, Andrius Skerla and Greg Shields.
And how about players who could beat a man with a shake of the hips, skip past tackles with their pace or unlock the tightest of opposing defences with a deft flick - step forward Bert Paton, John Lunn, Alex Smith, Ian McCall, Mike Leonard and Alex Edwards.
And who can forget the cult heroes, those much-loved mavericks who inspired terrace ditties such as Grant 'Shaggy' Jenkins, Jim 'Ziggy' Bowie and Gary Thompson, oft seen with socks at his ankles and an opponent's kneecap in his pocket?
There have been foreign favourites too, Ivo Den Bieman and '68 goalkeeping hero Bent Martin, Hagar the Horrible look-a-like Vetle Anderson, Jack de Gier and Geir Karlsen.
It's going to be tough picking a top 30 - thankfully it's now up to you.
Here's some names to get the debate going but, of course, by all means vote for a player not on the list. Get voting!
Norrie McCathie
Jim Leishman
Ron Mailer
Roy Barry
Charlie Dickson
Eddie Connachan
Harry Melrose
Bert Paton
Istvan Kozma
Stevie Crawford
Craig Brewster
Scott Thomson
Greg Shields
Lee Bullen
Stevie Morrison
Kenny Thomson
Alex Ferguson
John Watson
Iain Westwater
Grant Jenkins
Sandy McNaughton
Paul Donnelly
Jim Scott
Hugh Whyte
Davie Young
Ross Jack
Ian McCall
Jackie Sinclair
Hamish French
Andy Rhodes
Andrius Skerla
John Cushley
George Miller
George Peebles
Hugh Robertson
Jacki McNamara
Bobby Robertson
Jim Bowie
Gary Thomson
Jim Thomson
Tom Callaghan
Willie Callaghan
Alex Smith
Alex Edwards
John Salton
Stewart Petrie
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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jock386
1 post
Feb 10, 11:30
Report commentI nominate Alex Smith, not the fastest player 'The Pars' ever had, where there was work to be done he was in the thick of it. You mentioned players who had the attitude of 'they shall not pass me' I say that Harry Colville should be mentioned in that category. not only mentioned top of the list in that category.
Recommend?
Yes 3
No 0
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tottihunter
1 post
Feb 10, 20:45
Report commentI nominate istvan kozma, who could forget that hat-trick against St Mirren !!
Recommend? Yes 3
No 0
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jm59rb
2 posts
Feb 10, 21:16
Report comment -
porty81
1 post
Feb 11, 07:46
Report commentIt's got to be Stewart Petrie for me, his direct style of play and never say die attitude won me over not to mention his goals. Theres only one Stewart Petrie!! Gaun the Pars!
Recommend? Yes 0
No 0
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UncleShuggy
1 post
Feb 11, 12:54
Report commentMy uncle shuggy. Hugh Whyte.Hugh made 364 first team appearances in league and cup games, the all-time record for a Dunfermline goalkeeper. He also made 11 6 shut-outs, again an all-time club record.
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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jacks18rodger
1 post
Feb 11, 17:11
Report commentHugh Whyte, who dedicated his life on and off the pitch to the Pars. A great family man as well.
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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boom
1 post
Feb 13, 17:32
Report commentThe man who changed us from being B Division regulars with little ambition into challengers at the top of the Scottish game and beyond was Harry Colville. Harry was supposedly over the hill when he arrived but he brought a toughness, a determination we had lacked and he laid the foundation for the magical years that followed. My man for top of the list. Alex Smith next and then Charlie Dickson.
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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paravon
1 post
Feb 14, 10:36
Report commentDifficult decision..My head says Roy Barry. Opponents must have thought they were up against a brick wall. My heart says Norrie McCathie who always played for the jersey, always in touch with pars fans, a great servant to the club.
Recommend? Yes 6
No 0
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heather1986
1 post
Feb 15, 15:22
Report commentMy vote, without doubt, goes to my dad, Hugh Whyte. I have many fond memories of his time as the club Dr as i spent many afternoons with him watching matches. Although i never got to see him play his loyalty went passed just playing for The Pars as he went on to become club Dr and he then Chairman of the Former Players Committee, a role which gave him so much pleasure. I know he would be honored to be a part of this list :)
Recommend? Yes 3
No 0
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Rona1984
1 post
Feb 15, 16:26
Report commentHugh Whyte. Can only reiterate what has already been said about him by others. Great player, great uncle, great man!
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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alanhay
1 post
Feb 16, 00:01
Report commentHugh Whyte, a great friend and a great sportsman! I met him in 1966, what a guy and father and husband and Dr and......
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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pele22
1 post
Feb 17, 12:17
Report commentRoss Jack was a legend thanks to his goal scoring and all round engery and wore the black and white shirt with pride and passion. Ross Jack is the best as he my dad.
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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pele09
1 post
Feb 17, 13:26
Report commentWithout a doubt, my vote also has to be for my Dad. Ross Jack , I spent all my saturdays growing up watching in awe of his ability to score goals. He gave me inspiration and detrmination to be involved in football and i have countless happy memories of his great times at the pars! His passion and pride to pull on the jersey, his pace and workrate, his guile and heading ability and above all his ability to score goals was immense and epitomises everything that Dunfermline athletic sadly are missing today. It was a great Era for the Club and a great team who feared no one and belived in themselves. He will always hold a special place for the Pars and be honoured to be part of the all time top 30 players list.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 0
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Veryoldpar
1 post
Feb 20, 23:18
Report commentSupported the Pars since 1946. Apart from the wonderful group of players in the Pars' jersey in the 60s we had real heroes in the earlier years. Gerry Mays whose 2 goals against the then mighty Hibernian in the League Cup semi-final 1949 put the humble "B Division" Pars on the way to Hampden. Geordie Henderson who scored goals for fun and numerous others. Ronnie Mailer started with us then and defenders like Bobby Kirk (later Hearts) and big Jimmy Clarkson (centre half) like the great Harry Colville were real stalwarts. They're legendary Pars !
Veryoldpar
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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ozjock
1 post
Feb 23, 04:31
Report commentSo many that deserve to be the list but I'll go for Geordie Peebles. Such a great wee ball player and very consistant. He scored a few but laid on a lot more, should have received a knighthood.
Ozjock (Aust.)
Recommend? Yes 2
No 0
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mm15stirling
1 post
Feb 26, 14:52
Report commentMy vote goes to my uncle, George Peebles, who loves the club and the game! I must agree with Ozjock, he was a fantastic wee player scored many goals, they could do with someone like him today.
Recommend? Yes 0
No 0
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jollymolly
45 posts
Feb 27, 12:03
Report comment -
rumpleton
1 post
Feb 28, 16:58
Report commentSome very worthy players - but my choice wold have to be Roy Barry for the win or die attitude, leadership qualities and of course that cup...
Recommend? Yes 3
No 0
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