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The Bayview | League Cup Winners 1947 Part 1
This year marks the 70th anniversary of East Fife’s first League cup triumph in the 1947-48 final. The competition had come into existence in 1946-47 as successor to the wartime Southern League Cup played throughout the hostilities only by teams in the Southern League.
When the war finished the two leagues were resurrected but as Divisions A and B. given the popularity of the Southern League Cup it was decided to retain it but open it up to all clubs in the two divisions of the league. Season 1946-47 began with league games on 14th August and the first matches in the League Cup on 21st September. East Fifer entered the record books in that first season as the first team to go through their section without conceding a goal in any of their six games.
Double-legged quarter-finals followed with East Fife meeting Hearts at Tynecastle where they won 1+0 on 1st March only to lose 5-2 at Bayview four days later. The semi-finals were played on 22nmd March with the final, in which Rangers defeated Aberdeen 4-0, on 5th April.
Season 1947-48 opened with matches in the league cup sections on 9th August. Midweek league games were played with the cup clashes on the Saturdsys, Knockout matches were held on the Saturdays with the final on the last Saturday of the month.
East Fife were drawn in Section D of the Division B clubs along with Ayr united, Kilmarnock and Stirling Albion. On 9th August, the Fifers opened the new season entertaining Stirling Albion at Bayview and beating them 3-2 with two goals from Henry Morris and one from Davie Duncan. The team was; Niven, Laird, Stewart, Philp, Finlay, Gilmour, D Davidson, Morris, Bain, Duncan. Twelfth-man W Fleming.
During the next midweek East Fife went through to Edinburgh to play Leith Athletic in a league match. A goal from Davie Duncan was enough to produce a 1-0 win. The second League Cup tie was against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on 16th August. Manager Scot Symon made only one change from the team that played the week before introducing jimmy Canavan at the left-half for George Gilmour who was the twelfth-man. It ended 0-0.
The third match of the campaign was against Ayr United at Somerset Park on 23rd August. That venue, which has never been regarded as one of East Fife’s favourites, saw the visitors secure a 5-2 victory. Again, the manager made only one change from the previous week with William Fleming replacing Ian Bain ay inside left. The incomer started the Fifers on the road to success with their opening which equaliser the home side’s first. Both Henry Morris and David Duncan score in the first-half to give a 3-1 interval lead. Both scored again in the second-half to ensure the comprehensive win. Again, George Gilmour was the twelfth-man.
In midweek the league visitors to Bayview were St Johnstone whom the host beat 2-0 with goals from Dougie Davidson and William Fleming. The return league cup fixtures began on 30th August with Fife travelling to meet Stirling Albion at Annfield. There were no changes from the team that had beaten Ayr United but Ronnie Mitchell was twelfth-man this time. The Fifers recorded another 5-2 victory with two goals each from Henry Morris and Tommy Adams and one from Davie Duncan.
Kilmarnock visited Bayview on 6th September and put a pole in the Fifers wheel with a decisive 3-1 win, Henry Morris netting the consolation goal. For that game the manager brought in Danny McLennan at left-half and moved Jimmy Canavan to inside left to the exclusion William Fleming who was twelfth-man.
The final match of the section at Bayview on 13th September against Ayr United was crucial for both teams as each had seven points and so the winner would win the section. Given that the manager’s changes to his side had been at left half and inside left, it was no surprise that he had gone into the transfer market to sign Jack Davidson from Dundee United. He was to join brother Dougie at inside left in the forward line. To accommodate him, Jimmy Canavan was restored to left half with Danny McLennan twelfth-man.
The Fifers were in devastating form winning 5-0 with Henry Morris notching a hattrick and both Tommy Adams and Dougie Davidson also finding the net. East Fife were section winners.
Part 2 will feature in this weekend's (25th November) edition of The Bayview (Issue No. 9) for Saturday's game v Airdrieonians
Fifers Up for Cup Challenge
For the third Saturday in succession East Fife are on their travels, this time in the Scottish Cup, where they take on Clyde at Broadwood Stadium.
The home side have had a challenging start to the campaign but will be rejuvenated following the appointment of Danny Lennon earlier in the week. The former Cowdenbeath and St Mirren boss has a wealth of experience both as a player and manager and will be keen to get his time in Cumbernauld off to a good start.
Bayview manager Darren Young was left frustrated last Saturday, as his side failed to capitalise on controlling large periods of the game and returned pointless from this to Forfar Athletic. Tomorrow’s game does however provide the Fifers with an opportunity to enjoy a run in the cup, with the possibility of earning a money-spinning draw should they progress.
Broadwood was the scene of a title party on the Methil men’s last visit in April 2016 following a 0-0 draw, but you have to go back a further seven years to find the last time that a win was recorded there. Paul McManus with a double and Bobby Linn were the men on target in a 3-1 success on that occasion.
The sides have been paired three times before in the Scottish Cup with Clyde progressing in 1935 following a 2-1 victory at Bayview Park. In 1967 the Bully Wee once again came out on top, winning 4-1 at Shawfield, while ten years later it was the Fifers turn to triumph courtesy of a 2-1 win in Methil.
There was some better news on the injury front last week with the return of Chris Kane to the squad after several weeks’ absence, while midfielder Kyle Wilkie will be available for selection tomorrow after serving a two game suspension.
Clyde Matchday Information
Kindly provided by Clyde FC.
Clyde v East Fife
Kick-off: 3pm
Match Sponsor: WILLIAM HILL
Admission: Season tickets are not valid. Entry prices are; adults £13, concessions £8, Under-12s from both clubs go FREE (when accompanied by an adult). Free un-der-12 tickets should be collected from the Clyde Matchday Office, situated in the Pod to the south end of the Main Stand, before entering via the turnstiles.
Visiting Supporters: Fans of East Fife should enter by;
Turnstile A for Adults
Turnstile B for concessions
Both turnstiles are located at the south end of the Main Stand
Refreshment facilities for East Fife fans fans will be situated in Kiosk 2 on entry to the stadium through turnstiles A and B
Car Parking: Access to the Main Stand car park will be restricted to those with ac-creditation; players, staff and officials, visiting directors, Executive Club members, hospitality guests and those with disability parking badges.
Home Fans
As usual, home fans will be directed to the parking spaces behind the south stand
Visiting Fans
Car parking provision for East Fife fans will be provided at the nearby St Maurice’s school.
Car parking in and around the Broadwood campus is free of charge, including St Maurice’s School
The Clyde View: No programme will be published for this match
Teamsheets: Available from the Clyde Matchday Office approximately 30 minutes before kick-off and charged at 20p per copy.
Bar 58: Open for both sets of fans, both pre-match from 1pm to 2.45pm and post match 5pm to 5.45pm. Entrance is via the turnstiles from 2pm onwards, and via the main reception door of the Main Stand until 2pm.
For Post match entry to Bar 58, fans should leave the ground and enter via the main reception door. Please note, Bar 58 is not available at half-time.
Smoking Areas: Open at half-time only, in the designated area at the North end of the Main Stand for Clyde fans, and at the South End of the Main Stand for East Fife fans.
On-Form Fifers Face Hampden Test
East Fife head to Glasgow on Saturday to face Queen’s Park hoping to continue where they left off after last week’s impressive 6-1 victory against Airdrieonians.
Although the Methil men will be approaching this game with confidence, they will be aware that the Spiders inflicted a defeat in the earlier encounter this season at Bayview Stadium back in September. Hampden has also not been the happiest of hunting grounds in recent years for the Fifers, with just one win since 2004 in their favour.
Manager Darren Young was understandably delighted with his side’s last outing with some terrific build up play on display, coupled with clinical finishing in another entertaining game for the home support. The Bayview gaffer was also heartened at being able to list a full squad for the first time in several weeks, with only Scott Linton and Pat Slattery likely to miss out tomorrow through injury.
It would be fair to say that Queen’s Park have not enjoyed the best of starts to the campaign but Gus McPherson will be determined to steer his team clear of the relegation zone and start climbing the table. Last Saturday saw them give a good account of themselves at Stark’s Park against promotion challengers Raith Rovers before going down to two second-half goals.
Travelling fans should be aware that the new Queensferry Crossing will be closed to southbound traffic, with the possibility of delays for vehicles using the alternative route via the Forth Road Bridge.
