East Fife Football Club are delighted to announce a partnership with Fife based charity Seescape, who support blind/partially sighted individuals, providing a season ticket for the use of Seescape service users.
Sandy Allan (pictured below), a Seescape client and EFFC fan, recently went along to the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium to collect the season ticket on behalf of Seescape.
Stephen Mill, East Fife FC Disability Access Officer and audio-descriptive commentator, commented: “Having partnerships with community groups such as Seescape is really important to all of us here at East Fife FC. We are determined to welcome as many fans as possible here to the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium for matches and I really hope this initiative encourages those who may not have the confidence to come to games, to take advantage of this offer and give it a try.
“Football has given many of us some real highs and lows over the years but the one thing that brings us all together is the love of the game. This is a great opportunity to get more people involved and I would encourage people to do so.”
Seescape, formally Fife Society for the Blind, is the leading provider of support services for people with a visual impairment in Fife.
The Spartans 0-1 East Fife, Saturday 28th September 2024, William Hill League 2, Ainslie Park
East Fife climbed to the summit of the William Hill League 2 on Saturday after a brilliant away win at The Spartans.
A slow start from the Fifers saw Allan Fleming (who retained his place in the starting lineup following an excellent performance at home to Peterhead) forced into a strong save from Hamish Ritchie in the opening five minutes.
On top of this, skipper Stewart Murdoch’s afternoon came to a rather abrupt halt as he had to be substituted early doors due to injury. This, however, opened the door for Jess Norey to come back into the fold following his spell out of the team.
Chances then started to flow for the Fifers after we settled back into the game, with Trouten challenging Carswell from the edge of the box. Five minutes later, Nathan Austin stood over a free kick which was just outside of the area. Despite hopes he would match his feats from earlier in the season, this one found the wrong side of the crossbar and the score remained goalless.
The Spartans were not without threat, unfortunately, and just after the half an hour mark, ex-Fifer Brogan Walls set up the chance of the half. He dinked a routine free kick into Ayrton Sonkur, who’s header challenged Fleming. Flem made no mistakes and tipped the ball over the crossbar, with Fleming again called into action to keep out an effort from the resulting corner.
That took the sides in at the break goalless, in what was an incredibly tight game.
During the half time interval, the Fifers made a change which would prove crucial in the contest. Jack Healy came on for Reis Peggie, and he made an instant impact on the game. Jack beat his man on the wing and raced to the by-line. He whipped in a cross for new signing Andrew Tod, though it floated over him, and into the path of Trouten, who launched an effort at Carswell, though the goalkeeper saved with ease.
Healy continued to be a nuisance for The Spartans and created another opportunity bang on the hour mark, this time for Nathan Austin. Jack intercepted a rather sloppy back pass and pinged the ball across to Fash, though The Spartans’ keeper pulled his defence from the gutter with yet another smart stop.
They say things come in threes and that certainly was the case for Healy, and this time it paid dividends! The Fife’s number 11 bombed forward with the ball at his feet before sending a beautiful early cross which looked destined for Trouten. It bounced over Trouts though, and into the path of Fash, who slotted home with a beautiful finish into the bottom corner, securing his tenth goal of the season in all competitions.
Carswell continued to perform for The Spartans, even after East Fife ramped up the pressure. Just minutes after East Fife opened the scoring, we went for two. With Andrew Tod and Alan Trouten both having efforts in quick succession forcing a double save from the goalie.
East Fife continued to push, though we just could not put the game to bed. We had one last chance before the full-time whistle, as Austin found himself through on goal in a one-on-one scenario, though the goalie held firm and denied Fash.
That was the last chance of the game, which saw East Fife walk away with all three points, and due to results elsewhere, saw us go top of the league, somewhere we would like to stay for the foreseeable.
Reporter’s Man of the Match: Jack Healy.
It is not often that we a see a substitute walk away with the man of the match award, though Healy completely changed the game last Saturday. Not only was he pivotal in setting up the only goal of the contest, but his introduction in the match put The Spartans to the sword, as he created numerous chances, and caused all sorts of bother at Ainslie Park. It was a Saturday to remember for Healy.
The Spartans – Carswell, Waugh, Denholm (Hunter 89’), Sonkur, P Watson, Dishington (Whittaker 89’), Ritchie (K Watson 71’), Walls (Stowe 71’), Craigen, Whyte, Henderson. Subs not used: Scott, Wylie, Meek.
East Fife – Fleming, Murdoch (Norey 8’), Newton (Slattery 71’), Munro, Walker (Docherty 80’), Millar, McManus, Trouten, Peggie (Healy 45’), Tod (Shepherd 80’), Austin. Subs not used: Laaref, McFarlane.
Referee – Alastair Grieve
Attendance - 589
Tickets for our William Hill League 2 match against Bonnyrigg Rose at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium on Saturday 5th October are now on sale and can be purchased here.
Admission Prices
Adults - £18
Concessions* - £14
Under 16s* - £5
Parent & Child - £21
Parent & 2 Children - £24
*Proof of age may be requested
Season tickets are valid for this match. Supporters who have still to collect their season ticket card can do so during normal office hours or from the club shop on matchday.
All member of East Fife Community Football Club & East Fife Girls & Womens’ Football Club who are under 16 go free with a paying adult or as part of an organised group for all William Hill League 2 matches at Bayview this season.
There are no cash turnstiles at Bayview and supporters are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets online. Online sales are available right up until kick off. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling 01333 426323 or directly from the club office for those unable to purchase online.
Please note, parent and child tickets must be purchased directly from the club office.
Supporters outside the UK and Ireland can also watch via East Fife TV with a monthly or annual subscription. There is no live stream option for viewers within the UK or Ireland this weekend.
We have been drawn at home to Banks O’Dee in the second round of the Scottish Cup.
The tie is scheduled to be played on Saturday 26th October 2024. Full details will be announced in due course.
Tickets for our William Hill League 2 match against The Spartans at Ainslie Park on Saturday 28th September are now on sale. Pay-at-the-gate is also available.
Admission Prices
Adults - £17
Concessions* - £12
Youths (13-15) - £5
Under 12s - Free
*Over 65s and 16-18-year-olds
Please note, all under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
A live stream is available to viewers outside the UK and Ireland this via East Fife TV with a monthly or annual subscription.
East Fife 2-0 Peterhead, Saturday 21st September 2024
William Hill League 2, MGM Timber Bayview Stadium
Following a challenging Saturday in Stranraer, East Fife returned to the wooden fortress, hosting league leaders Peterhead at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. It looked as though it would be another challenging day at the office before a ball was kicked, with injury and suspension plaguing the Fifers squad, though the team pulled together and more than delivered, cruising past the Blue Toon and closing the gap at the top of the William Hill League Two with a 2-0 victory.
The Methil Milan should have gone ahead in the game inside 90 seconds, when Nathan Austin lobbed a ball into Alan Trouten. Unfortunately, the striker’s connection saw the ball go awry, giving Peterhead a “get out of jail free” card. It was East Fife’s chance to be bailed out just moments later though, as Seb Ross sclaffed his volley from just outside of the six-yard box.
The fast start from both teams gave the fans a glimpse of what was to come, with the Fifers breaking the deadlock after just eight minutes, as Alan Trouten got on the end of another cross, this time from Liam Newton, and East Fife’s number 10 made no mistake with his looping header, which caught the Peterhead goalie off guard.
It could have been two just moments later for East Fife, and for Alan Trouten! Nathan Austin delivered another ball into his strike partner, though it was just too quick for Trouten to contact.
Peterhead looked down, but they were most certainly not out, with Rory McAllister squandering an opportunity to bag the equaliser for the Blue Toon, ten minutes before the half time interval. This led to five minutes of nail biting defending from East Fife, who were forced to dig deep as the visitors ramped up the pressure.
As we have come to expect though from this East Fife side, the Methil Men are still terribly lethal on the break, winning a corner with just moments to go before half time. Newton floated in a ball into the back stick to the skipper Stewart Murdoch, who controlled the ball and unleashed a devastating volley, which cannoned in off the woodwork, doubling the Fifers’ advantage just before the break.
Peterhead had the lion’s share of chances in the second half, though the Fifers defended superbly nullifying the threat.
Credit to Allan Fleming, who came in for his first league appearance of the season, keeping a clean sheet, as well as making some incredible saves, the standout being his intelligent stop on the hour mark, as he was able to tuck the ball round his right-hand post and out for a corner.
Peterhead continued to press, and eventually had the ball in the back of the net, with 15 minutes to go. They levelled out Allan Fleming in the build-up though, leaving the referee no choice but to award an East Fife free kick, and disallow the goal.
The game fizzled out, with the last chance of the game coming to Conor McManus, who lashed a volley well over the bar. Just minutes later, he had to fulfil his defensive duties, and did so fantastically well, covering three quarters of the pick to usher the ball out for a goal kick, denying Peterhead any sniff at goal. Full time came after, with a 2-0 win for the Fifers.
Reporter’s Man of the Match: Liam Newton
Props go to Newton who set up both goals in the game, capping off what was a superb individual performance. His defensive work was second to none, and his attacking play is developing exponentially.
East Fife – Fleming, Murdoch, Newton, Munro, Walker (Docherty 71’), Millar, McManus, Norey (Slattery 70’), Trouten (Laaref 90’), Tod (Shepherd 71’), Austin (Healy 90’). Subs not used: Briggs, Johnston.
Peterhead – McKenzie, D Strachan (Goldie 79’), Jas Brown, Sc Ross, Dunne, Ja Brown (Jo Brown 79’), Se Ross (Armour 67’), Barry, McAllister. Subs not used: Armstrong, Oluyemi, Gibbons, Wilson, Duthie.
Referee – Jordan Curran
Attendance - 628