Elgin City host Dunfermline Athletic for the first ever time at Borough Briggs this weekend and their William Hill Scottish Cup tie cannot come quick enough for Moray boss Ross Jack who was once a £15,000 signing for the Pars.
It would be fair to say that it was money well spent as the then former Everton, Norwich City and Dundee striker grabbed more than his fair share of goals in black and white colours.
He is now hoping that it is the black and white scarves of Elgin that are being raised highest after full time on Saturday although he admits that the East End Park side’s black and white colours are very special to him.
Jack said: “I got off to a great start with Dunfermline as I scored on my debut in an away game with Motherwell back in October 1987. That was a terrific opening to my career there and things just grew from there. I was the club’s top goalscorer in my 3 full seasons there.”
“Mind you scoring on my debut was nothing new as I did that in my first ever senior game when I scored for Everton. It was my first and last game for them so I had a 100% per cent record there.”
That goal had a touch of tartan with Jack explaining: “My Everton goal was against Middlesbrough and big Jim Stewart was in goal for them. It was great seeing him up here working with Rangers last season and reminding him of that although it was nearly 40 years ago.”
Turning to his goalscoring times at East End Park Jack said: “I joined Dunfermline from Dundee just after they had been promoted to the Premier League. It was Jim Leishman who signed me and Jim could have signed anyone for Dunfermline. He had a terrific rapport with everyone and really sold Dunfermline to players.”
“I played with 3 main strikers there with my first partner being John Watson followed by George O’Boyle and Istvan Kozma. It was great to play alongside 3 players willing to do a whole lot of work and let me score all the goals.”
“They were all different types of players but all great team-mates to play alongside. We always liked to play down our capabilities and then surprise teams.”
Jack also admitted that the Pars had surprised him as he explained: “They are a big, big club and I have to admit I did not know how big a club they were until I signed for them. You go there and see the pictures of their Scottish Cup wins and see Jock Stein as their manager and realise the potential that they have.”
“We were relegated after that first season but as a squad we worked our backsides to get back up the next season.”
A high profile Scottish cup success was earned with Jack saying: “That season we were in the Premier Division we had a Scottish Cup shock as we defeated Rangers 2-0 at East End Park. It was the Graeme Souness era at Ibrox and we beat them with a goal from Mark Smith who claims it was a shot that beat Chris Woods although I am sure that it started out as a cross starting things off.”
“We were in the same league but it was still a shock as Rangers had a very strong squad at that time and we were in the middle of a disappointing run.”
There was nearly a shock the next season as well with Jack saying: “We were a First Division side playing against Aberdeen at our place. We played out a goalless draw and it only remained goalless as their goalkeeper Theo Snelders produced a great save to keep out an effort from myself.”
Jack summed his career in Fife by saying: “Overall I think I scored more than 60 goals for Dunfermline and I would sum it up as a great time in my career with great players. It was great to play a part in winning the First Division with Dunfermline in 1990. Also to be voted as the Scottish Players Player of the Year for that season was a terrific honour.”
“To be chosen by my peers as the best player in the First Division was very special indeed. It was an honour given to me but the rest of the Dunfermline squad helped me to win it.”
Jack’s connections with Dunfermline also brought lows as he said: “Norrie McCathie was a legend, a great man and it was a tragedy how his life ended a few years after I left. There was other heart-break as well as we lost big Gary Riddell or ‘Cash’ as we called him as in ‘Cash & Carry’. He was a really nice kid and was doing a half-marathon for charity when he died. Gary was another player from that time that was taken far too early.”
“We stayed in the Premier League in my final season but I moved onto Kilmarnock. After I picked up an injury I played for a spell in Ireland with Sligo Rovers where my former Rugby Park team-mate Willie McStay was the manager.”
“He took me there to help him and help me get game time before I ended my playing career with spells at Montrose and Ayr United.”
This weekend’s Cup game will be a first with Jack saying: “I have not faced Dunfermline directly as a manager. I went against them when I was the assistant to Derek Adams at Ross County. It fact Elgin have not faced Dunfermline since they joined the Scottish Football League in 2000. The clubs played each other in a Scottish cup tie back in 1983 and that ended in a 5-0 win for Dunfermline and we will look to do better this time out.”
“I have been looking forward to this game ever since the draw was made. In fact my anticipation has grown ever since. I can’t wait for Dunfermline to be here and they will get a warm welcome but we want to beat them.”
Jack will seek out one Dunfermline legend in particular as he advised: “I am looking forward to seeing Jim Leishman again. He is a massive figure for them, a real Mr Dunfermline. I have been down to support a few charity events that he has ran and it is always great to see him.”
“As well as Jim I would like to think I have a great affinity with the club and its supporters but that will be pushed to the side for this game.”
“I want Elgin to knock Dunfermline out but I recognise that we are the underdogs. We are up against a good side and a manager in Jim Jefferies who has guided a team to winning the Scottish Cup. We are up against things a wee bit as we are missing a few players through injury.”
One thing Jack will not see is Dunfermline in their black and white striped shirts as he explained: “That is Elgin’s home colours as well and we will be wearing the black and white strips when we meet.”
“Apart from that it will be a warm highland welcome followed by hopefully a tough afternoon.”
.png){kind=logo}
