2001 05

Monthly Digest - May 2001

Jimmy Calderwood echoes John Yorkson's disappointment at East End Park attendances. Meanwhile, it was revealed that the manager was set to go on a summer spending spree which could see four new faces at East End Park by the time the team returns from their summer holidays.


Date:	6th May 2001	Opposition:	Dundee United	Score (H/T):	0-1 (0-1)
Competition:	Sc Premier League	Venue:	Tannadice	Attendance:	6,679
Scorers:	*[0-1]* Thomson (21)
Cards (Yellow):	Easton (Dundee United)
Pars Team:	Ruitenbeek; Tod, Skinner (Matthaei 59), Rossi (Doesburg 56); Dair, Nicholson, Ferguson, McGroarty; Bullen (Mendes 66), Crawford, Petrie. Subs not used: SY Thomson, Fotheringham.
Dundee United:	Gallacher, McCunnie (Buchan 77), De Vos, Lauchlan, Partridge: Easton, Griffin, Miller, Hannah: Lilley (Hamilton 67), Thompson (Winters 80). Subs not used: Combe, Venetis.
Referee:	W Young
Another poor away display for the Pars and that's four defeats in a row. There was little to enthuse about from this game, with United winning thanks to a Thomson header, which appeared to deceive Ruitenbeek as it entered the net by the far post.

Pos		Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
7	Aberdeen	36	11	12	13	43	48	45
8	Dunfermline Ath	36	11	8	17	33	56	41
9	Motherwell	36	11	6	19	37	50	39

The possibility of Dunfermline qualifying for the UEFA Cup as Scotland's Fair Play representatives is a distinct possibility. Up to the league split the Pars were leading the Fair Play league, with Celtic in second place. Should they qualify, then Dunfermline will have to take their chances in the hat with twelve other teams.

Over the next few weeks, Jimmy Calderwood will be speaking to all his squad to outline their future with the club.


Date:	12th May 2001	Opposition:	Motherwell	Score (H/T):	1-2 (1-2)
Competition:	Sc Premier League	Venue:	East End Park	Attendance:	2,610
Scorers:	[0-1] Elliott (8), *[0-2]* Elliot (16), [1-2] Crawford (34 pen)
Cards (Yellow):	None
Cards (Red):	Doesburg (DAFC)
Pars Team:	Ruitenbeek: Doesburg, Skerla, McGroarty: Fotheringham (Tod 75), Nicholson, Ferguson (Skinner 73), Matthaei (Mason 63), Petrie; Bullen, Crawford. Subs Not Used: SY Thomson, Potter.
Motherwell:	Woods; Corrigan, Kemble, Townsley, Hammell; Nicholas Harvey (Ramsey 59), Pearson; Chiba (Lasley HT); Twaddle (Wood 75), Elliott. Subs Not Used: Connolly, McFadden.
Referee:	J Underhill
Five defeats in a row - will this season never end? For the second time during 00/01 the Pars are beaten 2-1 at home by Motherwell, this time in front of the lowest crowd of the season. Elliott did the damage with two well taken goals, the3 first when he wrong footed Skerla, and the second from a corner. Crawford pulled one back from the penalty spot after Fotheringham was fouled in the box by Chiba. Doesburg was red carded two minutes from time, for bringing down Elliott as last man. Highlight (if there could be such a thing) was Fotheringham's form on his first team debut.

Pos		Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
8	Motherwell	37	12	6	19	39	53	42
9	Dunfermline Ath	37	11	8	18	34	54	41
10	St Johnstone	37	9	12	16	40	56	39

It was revealed that season ticket prices will be slashed next season for youngsters. Under 12s will pay £20, whilst under16s pay £40.

Jack de Gier signs for an undisclosed fee (believed to be somewhere between £150 and £250k). This will be the fourth time he has played under Jimmy Calderwood. Meanwhile, George Fotheringham who had an excellent first team debut against Motherwell, has agreed a new two year deal.

Five players, Lee Bullen, Junior Mendes, David Moss, Rob Matthaei and Andy Tod, are all placed on the open to transfer list. David Moss does his future chances no good by walking out of East End Park before the Motherwell game, after a heated debate with manager Calderwood.


Date:	20th May 2001	Opposition:	St Johnstone	Score (H/T):	0-0 (0-0)
Competition:	Sc Premier League	Venue:	East End Park	Attendance:	4,607
Scorers:	None
Cards (Yellow):	Skinner, Tod, Ferguson (DAFC), Dods (St Johnstone)
Pars Team:	SY Thomson, Mason, Tod, Skinner, Thomson, McGroarty, Nicholson, Ferguson, Fotheringham, (Matthaei 71), Crawford, Petrie (Bullen 57) Subs not used: Ruitenbeek, Potter, McLeish
St Johnstone:	Main; McClune, Dods, McLuskey, Bollan; Crozier (Connolly 60), Dasovic, McBride, McCulloch, Forsyth (Fotheringham 73); Lovenkrands, McBride. Subs not used: Cuthbert, Weir, Ferry.
Referee:	H Dallas
If ever there was a game that had 0-0 written all over it, this was it. Stevie Crawford had a golden opportunity to end the season on a winning note, as he stepped up to take a penalty kick, awarded following a foul on McGroarty at the edge of the box. However, Stevie's kick went wide of the post, and so the season ended as it began, with a goalless draw. The game saw the first appearance of club's new home strip.

Pos		Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
8	Motherwell	38	12	7	19	42	56	43
9	Dunfermline Ath	38	11	9	18	34	54	42
10	St Johnstone	38	9	13	16	40	56	40

With the goalless draw against St Johnstone, the Pars ended up finishing the season without a win in the final seven games. The last victory was against Hibernian on 17th March 2001. Meanwhile the SPL are to investigate why a minutes silence in memory of Lisbon Lion ,Bobby Murdoch was not observed before the St Johnstone game.

Andrius Skerla wins the Dunfermline Press Player of the Year award. Skerla won five Man of the Match awards, to Barry Nicholson and Marco Ruitenbeek's four.

The draw to decide which two clubs will enter the UEFA Cup through the Fair Play League will be made in Nyon, Switzerland on 7th June. Dunfermline qualified as Scotland's representative, finishing second to Celtic, who qualified for the Champion's League as SPL winners.