Burntisland Shipyard. 3 Celtic. 8
Undoubtedly the biggest match the Shipyard has ever played in took place on Saturday 21st January 1939 when the club hosted Celtic in the 1st round of the Scottish Cup. An estimated crowd of 3000 attended the match with adults paying 1s (the stand was extra) and boys 6d. The stand was a temporary construction built by the men in the yard. The papers on the Monday after the match were full of praise for the Shipyard, who put up a gallant effort and matched Celtic for an hour before finally losing by 8 goals to 3.
It was reported that Celtic stripped in the George Hotel rather than use the club’s facilities and arrived at the ground a minute before the start. Celtic started well and had all the early pressure which finally paid off after 19 minutes. Delaney beat 3 men before crossing to Crum who gave McNiven no chance. 2 minutes later the Shipyard were level when the unmarked Clark crashed the ball against the crossbar, but Aitken was lying handy and promptly put the ball in the net. Celtic again took the lead. Delaney emerged from a ruck of players and practically walked the ball into the net. What the Shipyard lacked in ability they made up for in sheer enthusiasm. The Shipyard equalised again when from a corner, Birrell beat keeper Kennaway with a grounder. More was seen of the Yard after this goal and the Parkhead defenders were called on to stop Bisset and Aitken. 5 minutes before the interval Celtic scored again when Murphy passed to the unmarked McDonald who had no difficulty in netting. Both teams created chances but the score remained 3-2 in Celtic’s favour at half time.
At the start of the second half Delaney had a chance, but, after beating the backs his shot was smothered by McNiven before it reached the line. This was followed by a sensation when a cross from Clark was snapped up by Aitken and, as Lyon was out of position, the centre coolly placed the ball out of Kennaway’s reach. With the scores level again Celtic pressed and were awarded a penalty when Delaney was unceremoniously stopped by a defender and Murphy made no mistake from the spot. 2 minutes later it was 5-3 when McDonald turned in a cross from Murphy. After 75 minutes Delaney centred for McDonald to bring the Celtic total to six. It was all Celtic by this stage and they added another two goals through Watters and Crum.
Burntisland Shipyard. – A. McNiven; G. Sprott; A. Murdoch; J. Neish; J. Brown(captain); A. McDonald; M. Clark; W. Johnstone; G.Aitken; W.Bisset; A. Birrell.
Celtic. -Kennaway; Hogg; Morrison; Lynch; Lyon; Geatons; Delaney; McDonald; Crum; Watters; Murphy.
Referee. – J.L. Provan, Chapelhall
Some of the quotes and praise the team received in the Press included “Celtic master heroic rivals”, “a bunch of heroes, they just didn’t have the stamina, that’s all”, “amateurs held up Celts for sixty minutes”
Burntisland Shipyard. 2 Coldstream. 0
This match played on 18th December 1971 was of great significance due to the fact that it was the first time the club had ever won a match in the Scottish Cup. A crowd of 500 turned up to see the Shipyard win thanks to two second half goals.
The Shipyard went close after 5 minutes when a first time shot from Page scraped the crossbar. Coldstream should have taken the lead but Graham missed an open goal. Gibson and Gillespie both brought out good saves from Chappell in the Coldstream goal, but it remained goalless at half time. The Shipyard took the lead in the 59th minute when Campbell ran down the right wing and crossed for Page who first timed the ball into the net. The match was settled 5 minutes from time when after a Page corner Murdoch scrambled the ball over the line. Man of the match in the local press was given to Norman Brand. The Shipyard was rewarded with a home tie against Elgin City in the 2nd round that unfortunately ended in a 4-1 defeat.
Teams: Burntisland Shipyard – Cameron; Thomson; Coull; McIntosh; Murdoch; Brand; Campbell; Gillespie; Tulloch; Gibson; Page. Sub: Morris.
Coldstream – Chappell; Davidson; A. Curie; I. Curie; Douglas; Hope; Leifer; Graham; Martin; Waugh; Craig. Sub: Black.
Such was the achievement that the team made, they were awarded a civic reception in the town chambers where they were met by Provost Stanley Bolam.
Burntisland Shipyard. 6 St Cuthbert Wanderers. 2
There is more than one reason why this match comes into the famous games category. Firstly, it was and still is the Shipyards biggest win in the Scottish Cup. Secondly, this match was televised by the BBC Sportscene programme. The first time a Shipyard match had been on television.
The media build up to the match had been massive with all the daily and Sunday newspapers seeking stories about the club and players to publish. There was even an article on Calum Lawrie’s dog Fritz. Unfortunately for regular spectator Fritz he was banned from the game just in case he got over excited and bit someone. Also, all the television companies wanted to speak to someone be it chairman Jimmy Swan, manager Jim Thomson or any of the players. On the day of the match it was well known presenter Hazel Irvine who turned up to do the commentary and the interviews.
The match took place on 7th January 1995 with a 2.15pm kick off to make sure there was enough light to finish the game. The locals turned out in force to watch the match with even local rivals Burntisland United bringing their kick off forward so they could take in the game. A crowd of over 650 watched the match and they didn’t have long to wait on the first goal arriving.
Rab Matthew put the Shipyard ahead after 5 minutes with a powerful header from a Bray free kick and after another 5 minutes it was 2-0 when Paul Taylor headed home a corner. In 19 minutes it was 3-0 when Matthew latched onto a though ball from Drummond. Brian Paton then got his name on the score sheet after 23
minutes when the Wanderers keeper dropped his effort over the line. In 37 minutes it was surely game over when Matthew completed his hat trick with a fine finish to make it 5-0. In the second half St Cuthberts fought back and made the scoreline more respectable with goals from Tweedie and Baker. However, it was fitting that the Shipyard had the last word and Peter Drummond turned in a Lewis cross to make the final score 6-2.
Rab Matthew won the sponsors man of the match award for his fist half hat trick and after all the post match interviews had been done, everyone headed to the Crown Tavern to watch the eagerly awaited 3rd round draw on television. The next stop on this fairytale road would be Keith or Huntly!!!
Teams: Burntisland Shipyard: Shanahan; Parnell; Taylor; Lawrie, Bray; McIlvean, Matthew, Horsburgh, Campbell, Paton; Drummond. Subs: Kelly; Lewis; Murray.
St Cuthberts Wanderers: McHenry; Glen; Murray; Kirkpatrick; Christie; McCulloch; Maxwell; Niven; Crosbie; Tweedie; Baker. Subs: Simpson; Tuchewicz; Johnston.
Referee: A. Huett (Edinburgh).
Huntly.7 Burntisland Shipyard. 0
This could have been the biggest fixture in the club’s history if the draw been kinder. For the first time the club had made it to the 3rd round of the Scottish Cup, having received a bye and then seen off St Cuthbert Wanderers in the 2nd round. The Shipyard were in the last 32 of the national cup competition, in the hat with all the big guns from the Scottish Premier League. When the draw was made everyone was dreaming about being drawn against their favourites, be it Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Aberdeen and so on. When out of the hat came Keith or Huntly away, the initial disappointment was replaced with “We might get through another round”. Wishful thinking as it turned out.
This was still a massive task for the Shipyard as Huntly from the Highland League, were an excellent team, managed by Steve Paterson, who later went on to manage Inverness C.T. and Aberdeen. They had experienced players throughout the side with several having played for league clubs.
On the day of the game Scotland was in the middle of a cold weather snap with a lot of the country covered in snow. However, the game was on and the Shipyard set off first thing that morning for Aberdeenshire. When the coach eventually arrived at Christie Park it was plain to see the effort that the locals had put in to ensure the match went ahead, snow was piled high around the ground, though the pitch still looked treacherous to say the least.
Manager Jim Thomson felt that the conditions would be a leveller but, that proved not to be the case, as Huntly won at a canter. In front of a 2300 crowd Huntly scored their first goal after 20 minutes when Stewart looped the ball over Shanahan. 6 minutes later it was 2-0 this time Whyte was the scorer, Drummond came close with a rare chance for the Shipyard and then had a goal chalked off for offside. In 34 minutes the tie was effectively over when Lawrie unfortunately headed into his own net. Thomson then scored a 4th goal after 39 minutes. In the second half De Barros added a fifth after 49 minutes and it was soon six when Thomson scored his second. He then went on to complete his hat trick on the hour mark to make it 7-0. The Shipyard had chances to grab a consolation goal but, it was not to be. Even after such a heavy defeat it was credit to Damien Bray that he was Shipyard man of the match, after an excellent defensive display.
Teams: Huntly – Gardiner; Yeats; Dunsire; Mone; Grant; De Barros; Gray; Stewart; Thomson; Whyte; Lennox. Subs: Copland; Robertson; Inverarity (GK)
Burntisland Shipyard – Shanahan; Parnell; Taylor; Lawrie; Bray; McIlvean; Matthew; Horsburgh; Campbell; Paton; Drummond. Subs: Lewis; Murray; Kelly (GK)
Referee; G. Simpson (Peterhead)
Dunfermline Athletic. 2 Burntisland Shipyard.2
(Shipyard won 5-3 on penalties)
SHIPYARD SHOCKER FOR PREMIER LEAGUE PARS
This was one of the headlines following an incredible result at East End Park on 23rd October 1989.
This Fife Cup Semi Final was expected to be a stroll for a very experienced Pars side that contained no fewer than seven first team members. However, this was not to be the case as the Shipyard matched their Premier League opponents, then held their nerve to win the penalty shoot-out.
Andrew Paterson made a great save from an Irons free-kick after 32 minutes. He was beaten a minute later when Ian Black shot home from the edge of the box. The Shipyard shocked Dunfermline in the 53rd minute when David Costello scored with a penalty after Peter Drummond had been fouled by Hugh Burns. Three minutes later the Shipyard were ahead when Derek McAndrew intercepted a poor pass back and rounded keeper Westwater to score. Dunfermline equalised with seven minutes remaining when Willie Callaghan headed home a Burns cross.
In the shoot-out the Shipyard scored their first four kicks before Paterson touched Callaghan’s shot onto the bar. It was left to Stephen Lowe who stepped up and scored to send the Shipyard through. Manager Jim Thomson hailed the victory as “the highlight of his career”. He also said that “The effort and endurance of the players was magnificent”.
Dunfermline: Westwater; Burns; Cunnington; Bonnyman; Tierney; Williamson; Smith; Gallacher; Callaghan; Irons; Black(O’Boyle).
Burntisland Shipyard: Paterson; Campbell; Reekie; Mackie; Lawrie; McIlvean; McAndrew; Costello; Patterson(Young); Montague(Lowe); Drummond.
Burntisland Shipyard. 4 Abbotshall. 1
This was the inaugural year of the Fife Amateur Cup and it was the Shipyard who were first to get their name on the trophy after a fine 4 goals to 1 victory over Abbotshall at Dunnikier park, Kirkcaldy in May 1932. The goals were scored by Bissett, who got a hat-trick and Goodall. Details of how the match unfolded are unavailable, only the scorers and the line ups could be found.
Teams:
Burntisland Shipyard: Birrell; McLean; J. McDonald; A. McDonald; P. McDonald; Taylor; Bissett; Neish; McTavish; Dair; Goodall.
Abbotshall: Morris; Evans; Foy; Lumsden; Nicol; Lawrie; Hogg; Hutchison; Mitchell; Todd; Taylor.
Referee: H. Sword (Leslie)