Following the resignation of Greig McDonald and the subsequent appointment of Dick Campbell as first-team manager, we can confirm that Paul Thomson and Lindsay Hamilton have now left the club.
Paul joined the club in December 2021 as first-team coach under Stevie Crawford before stepping into the Assistant Manager’s role when Greig McDonald took the top job in September the following year. Paul is a young and well respected coach with a bright future in the game
Lindsay returned to the club as Goalkeeping Coach in May 2018 under then Manager Darren Young after a successful playing spell at Bayview between 1995-97. Lindsay continued on the coaching staff under both Stevie Crawford and Greig McDonald. He has been instrumental in the career progressions of our goalkeepers, in particular Jude Smith who was transferred to Newcastle United at the start of last season.
Paul and Lindsay both leave with the thanks of everyone at East Fife and we wish them all the best for the future.
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Elgin City 1-0 East Fife, Saturday 3rd February 2024
Borough Briggs, cinch League Two
Defeat at Borough Briggs spelled our second in succession as we fell 1-0 to Elgin City on Saturday afternoon in a game which marked the end of Greig McDonald’s tenure as East Fife manager.
It was a disappointing display where we struggled with our build up play, and only recorded one shot on target, sadly there was only one team who looked like winning it, and it wasn’t the Methil Milan.
Changes had to be made before the match even started, as Sean Docherty replaced skipper Stuart Murdoch, who suffered an injury in the warmup on Saturday. We wish le capitaine a swift recovery.
Kick off came, and it was a slow start from the Fifers, and they were under the kosh early doors. Conor McManus did expertly well to get in the way of Brian Cameron’s volley, turning the ball out for a corner.
Chances were hard to come by for the Fifers, though they were like London buses. Nathan Austin first flashed a ball across goal, having done remarkably well to keep it in play. Five minutes later, Kieran Millar had a chance, though his 20 yarder was well off target.
A flurry of chances then came in the favour of Elgin, before the end of the first half. Allan Fleming did well to dispose of Mitchell Taylor’s free kick, but sadly City did not stop there. They eventually bagged their goal in the 44th minute, with the aforementioned Brian Cameron being first to react to a loose ball which had just come back off the post.
Much to our dismay, the second half started no differently to how the first half finished, and Elgin were on the attack again after 53 minutes. Fortunately for us Rob Jones’ attempt was fired well over the bar and the score-line remained 1-0.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the 56-minute mark saw changes be made, including the quick Jack Healy, whose job was clearly to break the Elgin back line down. Disappointingly, it was not the local lad’s day, and the Elgin full backs done their job well in nullifying Healy.
Brilliant goalkeeping was required by Fleming soon after the substitutions were made, as Golding had a great chance. Fleming was on top form though, and he tipped the effort over the bar.
Elgin looked incredibly comfortable in the contest, though McHale was eventually called into action, as he stopped a diving header from Nathan Austin that looked destined to find the back of the net. An Allan Fleming save in the 93rd minute was the last piece of action of the 90, with all three points sadly staying in the Highlands.
Luckily for ourselves, we weren’t the only team at the blunt end of the table to drop points as 10th placed Clyde conceded a 95th minute penalty against Peterhead. We remain 10 points clear of the drop zone as a result.
Looking forward to the weekend, we are set to host league leaders Stenhousemuir in what will be a challenging game. The Warriors were able to boast an unbeaten run in the league stretching back to August prior to a fortnight ago, when they were toppled by Peterhead.
Report by Oli Anderson
Elgin City – McHale, Cooper (Cairns 42’) Booth, Dolzanski, Draper, Gallagher, Dingwall, Cameron, Golding, Jones (Bray 90+1’), Taylor (Dangana 82’). Subs not used: Mackenzie, Jamieson, Kelly, MacLemon, Ewan, Duncan
East Fife – Fleming, Newton, Docherty (Page 55’), Easton, Millar, McManus, Hamilton, Walls (Shepherd 69’), Schiavone (Healy 56’), Trouten (Nicol 73’), Austin. Subs not used: Cunningham, Murray, Beveridge.
Referee – Alex Shepherd
Attendance - 605
Tuesday 6th February 2024
Dick Campbell Appointed Manager
East Fife Football Club are delighted to confirm the appointment of Dick Campbell as our new first-team manager.
Dick joins the club alongside his long-time backroom team of brother Ian and John Young and will take charge of his first match for this weekend’s match against Stenhousemuir at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium.
Dick brings a wealth of experience to the club after a managerial career spanning 7 clubs and 4 decades and counts no fewer than 4 league titles and 3 further promotions among his many achievements.
Dick Campbell commented: “I am overjoyed to be named as the new 1st team manager of East Fife Football Club. I have always had a soft spot for the club dating back to my playing days when we had some massive games.
“This is the third opportunity that has arisen for me to take charge but previously the timing wasn't right for various reasons. Unfortunately, as with all managerial appointments, it means that someone has lost their job & I feel for Greig McDonald whom I have known since he was a YTS player under me at Dunfermline.
“However, we must now look forward not back and I am relishing the chance to make East Fife a team to be feared again and to start climbing the leagues. I have been very impressed by the Board of Directors and their ambitions for the club, but we need everyone connected to the club to be 100% behind this project and that includes the fans.
“I am bringing with me my trusted backroom staff of my brother Ian & John Young and we can't wait to get started.”
Chairman Jim Stevenson added: “We as a board felt that this appointment had to be the right one for the club and had to be made quickly. Thankfully, Dick was available, and we were able to thrash out a deal to bring him and his backroom staff to the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. We now look forward to what we hope will exciting times with Dick at the helm.”