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Monthly Digest - August 2002

Dunfermline, in common with the other nine Old Firm clubs, carried out its threat, and hands in its resignation to the SPL
After their week at EEP the two Brazilian trialists, Michel Alex da Silva and Vladimir Pessoa Bajsic, are told that they won't be offered a contract. And despite press reports to the contrary, former Crystal Palace midfielder David Hopkins, did not spend a week on trial at EEP. 
           
Date: 3rd August '02 Opposition: Celtic Score (H/T): 1-2 (0-1)
Competition: Sc Premier League Venue Parkhead Attendance: 57,415
Scorer: [0-1] Larsson (41), [0-2] Larsson (66), [1-2] Dempsey (74)
Cards: Hampshire, Nicholson, Dair (DAFC), Sylla (Celtic)
Pars Team: Ruitenbeek; Dair, Skerla, Thomson, Bullen; Hampshire (Walker 72), Nicholson, Mason, Kilgannon (Dempsey 72); Crawford; Brewster. Subs not used: Stillie, Nicholls, McLeish
Celtic: Douglas; Valgaeren, Balde, Mjalby, Sylla; Lambert, Petrov, Lennon; Petta (Crainey 89), Larsson (Fernandez 83), Sutton. Sub not used: Hedman, Hartsn, Maloney
Referee: H Dallas
Unlike previous trips to Parkhead, Dunfermline came out of this encounter with their heads held high. With Celtic unveiling the championship flag before the game started, the omens did not look good for DA. The first half, reinforced that opinion with Henrik Larsson heading home the opening goal from a corner just before half time. Larsson scored his second in 66 minutes, and things were looking ominous. Manager Calderwood made a double substitution in 72 minutes, and his team was transformed. With his first touch of the ball in Scottish league football, Gary Dempsey scores a peach of a goal, lofting the ball over Rab Douglas and into the net. With only seconds left, a Barry Nicholson shot produced a brilliant save from the Celtic goalie, denying the visitor's a share of the points.
Pos   Pld W D L F A Pts
10 Motherwell 1 0 0 1 2 3 0
11 Dunfermline Ath 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
12 Hibernian 1 0 0 1 1 2 0
A young Dunfermline side draws 2-2 with Stirling Albion in a 30 minutes each way game played in Fallin to mark the opening of new sports pitches. Nish (pen) and Dempsey are the goalscorers.
Chairman John Yorkston believes that the proposed North Atlantic Cup Tournament is flawed.
Former Rangers defender, Scott Wilson signs for the Pars on a two year deal. Wilson, a free agent, had spent the tail end of last season at Portsmouth.
Chairman John Yorkston revealed that season ticket sales were well on track to beat last season's total Over 2,700 had been sold so far, and Mr Yorkston was confident that eventually over 3,500 tickets will have been bought.
After being withdrawn from the Scotland Under 21 squad's training camp next following an injury scare, Chris McGroarty is reinstated after making a speedy recovery.
           
Date: 10th August 2002 Opposition: Livingston Score (H/T): 2-1 (1-0)
Competition: Sc Premier League Venue: East End Park Attendance: 4,751
Scorer: [1-0] Crawford (28), [2-0] Brewster (50), [1-2] Xausa (93)
Cards: None
Pars Team: Ruitenbeek; Skerla, Bullen Thomson, Hampshire, Nicholson, Dempsey (Walker 67), Dair; Crawford, Brewster (Petrie 92), Kilgannon (McGroarty 77). Subs not used: Stillie, Fotheringham.
Livingston: Broto; Brinquin, Andrews, Rubio, Bollan; Quino, Makel (Bingham 67), Cherif (Wilson 74); Dadi (Zausa 39), Camacho; Zarate. Subs not used: McEwan, Snowdon.
Referee: W Young
A brilliant performance by the Pars, who were streets ahead of their West Lothian counterparts. Crawford opened the scoring with a superb shot from outside the box, after being set up by Brewster. Crawford returned the complement  early in the second half, giving Brewster an easy chance to put DA two up. Many more opportunities came Dunfermline's way, and although the woodwork was hit twice, by Crawford and Dair, no more goals were forthcoming. Davide Xausa pulled one back right at the end, but the end result was never in doubt.  
Pos   Pld W D L F A Pts
5 Livingston 2 1 0 1 4 4 3
6 Dunfermline Ath 2 1 0 1 3 3 3
7 Aberdeen 2 1 0 1 2 5 3
The performance against Livingston is hailed as one of the best for years, with the 2-1 scoreline scarcely doing credit to the advantage that the Pars had over their opponents. The only disappointment was the poor crowd.
There is no place in Bertie Vogts squad for the games against Denmark and the Faeroes, for either Stevie Crawford or Barry Nicholson. Having been re-instated in the Under 21 squad, Chris McGroarty picks up a thigh strain during his ten minute appearance against Livingston.
Justin Skinner signs a two year deal with Dick Campbell's Brechin City. He joins other former Pars, Chris Templeman, David Hay, Marc Millar, and Roddy Grant.
In a bounce game against Rangers at Murray Park, the Pars lose 3-1. Playing for Dunfermline were, new signing Scott Wilson, MacPherson, Petrie, Walker and Stillie  Comeback man Stephen Boyle plays for 45 minutes.  
Dunfermline and Raith are two of the Scottish teams participating in an exchange scheme which will see young players join clubs in the Republic of Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany and Greece for periods of six weeks. 50 players a year will go abroad.
Chairman John Yorkston bemoans the poor level of support that turned out to watch the game against Livingston, admitting that the Board was out of ideas on how to attract more fans to the games. Boss Jimmy Calderwood and skipper Scott Thomson also join in the call for more supporters to turn up.
On international duty next week is Andrius Skerla, who flies to Lithuania after the Dundee game, for his country's game against Israel.
The Pars tie up a sponsorship deal with Intelligent Finance, which will benefit the club's youth development programme.
In the squad for the game against Dundee is Scott Wilson. Injury victims Gus MacPherson, Chris McGroarty and Davie Nicholls also return. Gary Mason and Andre Karnebeek remain sidelined. 
Date: 17th August 2002 Opposition: Dundee Score (H/T): 4-2 (1-1)
Competition: Sc Premier League Venue: East End Park Attendance: 5,901
Scorer: [0-1] Novo, [1-1] Crawford, [1-2] Novo, [2-2] Brewster, [3-2] Crawford, [4-2] Crawford 
Yellow Cards: Skerla (DAFC), Smith (31), Sara (38), Nemsadze (58), Novo (82)
Red Card: Novo (Dundee)
Pars Team: Ruitenbeek; Skerla, Bullen Thomson, Hampshire, Nicholson, Dempsey, Dair (Wilson 62); Crawford, Brewster, Kilgannon (McGroarty 78). Subs: Stillie, McPherson, Nicholls.
Dundee: Speroni, Smith, Mackay, Wilkie, Hernandez, Nemsadze, Caballlero (Milne 89), Rae, Sara, Novo, Mair (Forbes 68). Subs: Langfield, Marrocco, Beith.
Referee: I Brines
Another brilliant game at EEP with DA showing a lot of grit and determination to twice come from behind to win. Dundee took the lead after Novo found himself in the clear to shoot past Ruitenbeek. Crawford equalised with a superb angled header from a Dempsey cross to make the score level at half-tine. Dundee took the lead, after a free kick to the Pars was cleared finding Novo all on his own to run past the keeper and slip the ball into the empty net. Brewster equalised 10 minutes later with a header from a Kilgannon cross. Crawford put the Pars into the lead for the first time on the game after he latched onto a through ball. With 5 minutes remaining Crawford completed his hat-trick with a shot that went in off the post and Speroni's back. An excellent victory, that sent the home support away in raptures.
 
Pos   Pld W D L F A Pts
2 Rangers 3 2 1 0 8 3 7
3 Dunfermline Ath 3 2 0 1 7 5 6
4 Hearts 3 1 2 1 8 3 5

Stevie Crawford's three goals against Livingston was the first Pars league hat-trick since Hamish French's trio against Ayr United in December 1994. The last Athletic Premier League hat-trick was Istvan Kozma's memorable strikes against St Mirren way back in October '89.

Jimmy Calderwood warns again that crowds will have to increase if the team is to continue to improve.
A freak accident in training means a trip to hospital for Sean Kilgannon, after Craig Brewster catches the youngster in the eye with his finger. Fortunately the injury cleared in time for the youngster to be included in the squad for Tynecastle.
The third Scotland Under 21 game to be played at East End Park, sees the home team draw 1-1 with their Danish counterparts. Peter Canero of Kilmarnock scored the Scots goal. A poor crowd of 2,914 attended the game which was covered live by Sky Sports.
Andrius Skerla comes on as a 76th minute substitute for Lithuania in their home 4-2 defeat against Israel
With the transfer window about to shut at the end of the month, Jimmy Calderwood has confirmed that Youssef Rossi will remain a Pars player until January at least. The player remained in Morocco after the summer break.
Scott Wilson misses out on the trip to Hearts as a result of an injury sustained towards the end of his debut against Dundee.
Date: 24th August 2002 Opposition: Heart of Midlothian Score (H/T): 0-2 (0-0)
Competition: Sc Premier League Venue: Tynecastle Attendance: 11,367
Scorer: [0-1] Wier (53), [0-2] De Vries (57)
Cards: Brewster, Mason, McGroarty (DAFC), Twaddle (Hearts)
Pars Team: Ruitenbeek; Skerla, Bullen, Thomson; MacPherson (McGroarty 32), Nicholson, Dempsey (Kilgannon HT), Mason, Dair (Hampshire 58); Crawford, Brewster. Subs not used: Stillie, Walker.
Hearts: McKenzie; Maybury, Pressley, McKenna, McMullan, Boyack, Simmons (Twaddle HT), Severin, Valois, Weir, De Vries. Subs not used: Gordon, Janczyk, Wales, Webster.
Referee: K Toner
After the superb performances in the past couple of games, a large Dunfermline support crossed the bridge hoping that the Pars would record their first victory at Tynecastle since 1990. Unfortunately the hoodoo struck again, and after a fairly even first half, two headers within five minutes were enough to sink the Pars. In a rousing finale, The post was hit and Kilgannon brought out a superb save from Roddy McKenzie. 
Pos   Pld W D L F A Pts
4 Kilmarnock 4 2 1 1 4 5 7
5 Dunfermline Ath 4 2 0 2 7 7 6
6 Livingston 4 1 2 1 7 5 5
No luck for the Pars U21 team, as they lose the opening game of their season, 2-1 at home to Motherwell. George Fotheringham scored the Pars goal.
As a result of injuries, Stevie Crawford earns a call-up to the Scotland squad for the game against the Faero Isles on 7th September. Andrius Sekrla is in his country's squad to face Germany.
Youngster Greig McDonald, released by the Pars at the end of last season,  joins Brechin City. He's in good company there, as fellow ex-Pars Marc MIllar, Justin Skinner, Chris Templeman, David Hay and Roddy Grant, are all on the Glebe Park books.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Pars could be heading off to the Middle East for their winter break. Dubai or Oman are possibilities being seriously studied apparently.
Young striker Colin Nish joins former Par John Potter, as he goes on loan to Clyde until January.

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