The biggest Fife derby in 16 years takes place on Saturday when First Division table toppers Dunfermline Athletic entertain second top Raith Rovers at what will be a packed East End Park.
The clubs are separated by a single point, and by less than 15 miles, with a victory at the weekend allowing the winners to call themselves the Kings in the Kingdom of Fife.
The game is not a title decider however, picking up three points puts the victors in the driving seat for promotion to the SPL and just to keep both sides on their toes, Falkirk will move into serious contention if they defeat Stirling Albion on Saturday and the East End Park contest ends in a draw especially as the Bairns go to Dunfermline on the last Saturday of the season.
Saturday’s game is not unique in terms of the Fife rivals battling things out at the top of the table as back in season 1994/95, the roles were reversed as second placed Dunfermline Athletic travelled to Stark’s Park to take on First Division leaders Raith Rovers. The difference between those sides before kick-off that day was three points and that is how things remained after a goalless draw.
Rovers took the title the following week when they played out another goalless draw against Hamilton Academical, ironically at a Firhill ground in Glasgow where they play the final game of this season. Dunfermline did what they could back in season 1994/95 by defeating Clydebank 2-1 in their final League game however, they finished one point behind the winners.
What often gets overlooked in the talk of a bright new dawn in Scottish football is that there were Play-Offs in place at that time between the side finishing second top in the First Division and second bottom in the Premier Division, when it was, of course, all organised under the auspices of The Scottish Football League.
Unfortunately for the Pars, they were unable to gain promotion via that route either as Aberdeen defeated them by a 3-1 scoreline in both home and away legs to retain their Premier Division status with a 6-2 aggregate.
Cowdenbeath striker Stephen Crawford was an emerging talent in the 1994/95 Rovers side and he played in the goalless encounter with Dunfermline. Having been born in Fife and played for all four clubs in the region, he seemed one of the most ideal people to talk about this weekend’s encounter.
The 37-year-old said: “I was on the fringes of the team that won the First Division Championship in season 1992/93 and after a year in the Premier Division, I really began to get involved in the Raith first team in season 1994/95.
"We got off to a pretty slow start in the League and that might have had something to do with our run to The Coca-Cola Cup Final but once we had won that competition, we went on a great run.”
Eight wins on the trot as the old year closed and the New Year opened moved Raith from fourth to second and talk of adding the First Division title to their success over Celtic at Ibrox began to emerge.
They were still top when they faced the Pars with Crawford advising: “I do not remember too much about the game but I do remember it was a really nervous occasion. It was one of those games where the result was all important.”
The goalless scoreline meant that Raith needed to avoid defeat the following Saturday against Hamilton Academical to win the Championship and automatic promotion to the Premier Division.
Crawford thought the Dunfermline game was nervy but the Hamilton game was even worse as he explained: “I missed out at Firhill with an ankle injury and that made it an even more frustrating experience. We got the point we needed and it was great to win the League.”
Crawford was part of the Kirkcaldy side that retained their place in the Premier Division before moving on to join Manager Jimmy Nicholl for a short period at Millwall before returning back to Scotland to join Hibernian.
A move back to Fife happened in season 1999/2000 as Crawford joined Dunfermline Athletic, initially on loan from the Easter Road club, to bolster their chances of promotion from the First Division. The move worked as the Pars finished the season strongly to secure promotion in second place behind Champions St. Mirren.
“It was a different type of experience at Dunfermline as I was still a Hibs player at that time and joined them as I was not getting a regular game there. Dick Campbell brought me in and then Jimmy Nicholl took over before Jimmy Calderwood took charge and Jimmy Nicholl stayed as his assistant.
“It was a bit unsettling at first but being promoted was still a great experience. Winning a medal with Raith Rovers was great but I also felt I had played a big part in Dunfermline being promoted and of course, I went on to have some great years there after promotion.”
As for who will be promoted this term, Crawford advised: “Even if you give me a free bet, I would not take it. It is that close and Falkirk can still do it as well and there could be another huge game at East End Park on the last day of the season when Steven Pressley’s side goes there so it is not just about this game.”
Crawford joked: “Coming from Fife and having played for all four clubs, I am in the perfect position to sit on the fence!
“Both Dunfermline and Raith have different styles of play but they both have a great spirit and that is down to the work Jim McIntyre and Gerry McCabe have put in with their players and John McGlynn and Paul Smith have similarly done with the Raith players.
“Dunfermline have come back from relegation from the SPL and a lack of the resources they used to have and improved year on year. The Chairman, Mr Yorkston, and Macca have done a great job. They play a really attacking game and if you allow them to play football the way they want to play it they will hurt you.”
Crawford added: “I know Raith Rovers better as I played against most of the players when I was in the Second Division and I have played them three times since I came to Cowdenbeath. Both the Chairman there, Mr Somerville, and the Manager deserve great credit for building their team up on a limited budget.
“They won promotion from the Second Division a couple of years ago and kept faith with most of the players and added some quality here and there and they can score goals as well.
“It is great for Fife to have two teams battling it out for promotion.”
Crawford is pleased that the Kingdom has the chance to end a difficult week on a high.
Crawford said: “It was pretty heartbreaking to hear about Ronnie Coyle losing his battle for life and then attend his funeral on Tuesday. I played in his benefit match only a few weeks ago and for everything to happen so suddenly left me numb.
“Dunfermline lost Norrie McCathie at a young age as well, so both sets of fans know what it is like to lose a hero to them. No matter the outcome in their game, I am sure both sets of fans will spare a thought for the families.”
The Cowdenbeath front man added: “It would be great if one of the Fife teams gets promoted but over the past week, I am sure everyone has realised that life is not just about football.”
Raith Rovers had also secured promotion to the Premier Division of The Scottish Football League in season 1992/93 and another striker that would have East End Park connections later in his career was Craig Brewster and he was also delighted to talk about Rovers’ success that season.
“That season opened in incredible style as we defeated St. Mirren 7-0 in the opening game. They had just been relegated from the Premier Division and I scored two that day.”
In the week that former team-mate Coyle was laid to rest, Brewster said: “Ronnie scored a great goal that day to make it 3-0 when he basically ran the length of the park, beat a couple of defenders, played a one-two with me and then slotted home.
"I would always tease him that I made the goal with my pass but in reality, it was a great effort from Ronnie.”
Brewster added: “It was an honour to play in his benefit game recently and it was an amazing day. Raith were losing 3-2 and when Peter Hetherson scored to make it 3-3, the roar from the stands was incredible.
“For Ronnie to pass on so quickly afterwards has made it a very emotional week. I had booked us to play the Old Course at St. Andrews as he had never played golf there before so life has been put into perspective a wee bit this week.”
Despite being a goal-maker for his great pal, Brewster was not short of goals that season as he added: “I scored 22 goals and Gordon Dalziel scored 33 but most of his were rebounds after my efforts had been saved.
"Jimmy Nicholl had signed me from Forfar the season before and he built a great team there. It was a fantastic time to be in Kirkcaldy.
“We won the League by 11 points and when you consider it was only two points for a win in those days, it shows how good a team we were."
Brewster moved on to to his boyhood heroes of Dundee United, scoring the only goal of the 1994 Scottish Cup Final as the Tannadice club won the cup for the first time in its history, before having a five year spell in Greece before returning to Scotland with Hibernian and then moving on to become a Dunfermline Athletic player.
“By the time I returned to Fife, Dunfermline were in the SPL and Raith were not.
"I played in Fife derbies for Raith and we won three out of the four in the season we were promoted but never the other way round although I did play for Dunfermline in a Fife Cup tie against Raith and they won that one as well.”
Brewster, who played for Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup Final against Celtic in 2004, reckons that tomorrow’s clash is too close to call saying: “The sides are very different but both are really good. With Raith, it is all about the team ethic. John McGlynn has done really well in building a squad of players into a really strong outfit.
“They have a number of really good professional players as opposed to star individuals and of course, in John they have an excellent Manager.”
As for the Pars, the former Ross County assistant boss said: “They have a number of matchwinners in their ranks and that was seen in the 6-1 win over Queen of the South last weekend. Joe Cardle turned it on in that game, David Graham grabbed a couple of goals and Martin Hardie’s influence has grown as his fitness has improved week on week.
"They look the better team when it comes to goalscoring but Raith have been dogged all season.”
Brewster added: “I cannot pick a winner but I wish I was playing in it as every player will relish playing in this one at a packed East End Park. It will be a fantastic game and the result will be crucial as there is so little time left to recover should they lose it.
"The ultimate prize is a great one to win as going back to the SPL is huge both in terms of finance and prestige.”
The 44-year-old left County last autumn when Willie McStay was chosen ahead of him for the Manager’s position and despite this disappointment, Brewster is keen to get back into the game.
“I want to be involved in football again,” said Brewster before adding, “When you are out of football, it is difficult to get back in. You have to be proactive so I have kept myself busy doing a few bits and pieces but it would be great to be starting the new season at a club."
Brewster the player was often tipped to play for Scotland in his playing days and he will finally fulfil that ambition next month when he will pull on a dark blue jersey for Scotland in the Senior World Cup.
The tournament, open to players aged 38 and over, is being held in Thailand and Brewster will join Scott Nisbet, Ray Stephen, Alan Mahood and David Irons as members of the squad that will battle to bring the trophy home.
Brewster said: “It is the first year Scotland have been represented so it will be great if we make an instant impact.”
Closer to home, the former star player at both clubs will not be in attendance at East End Park this weekend as he explained: “I am actually down in London but I know it is the main game on the radio this Saturday in Scotland so I will be listening in to hear what is going on.”
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