Latest News
Chairman's New Year Message
Well, it’s near the end of a very difficult year for everyone. We, as a club, have lost too many friends who were lifelong supporters, and our thoughts go out to all who have lost family and friends during this most trying of years.
On the football front we have managed to navigate through these months with a great deal of help from you, our wonderful fans who bought season tickets and donated in all the various ways available to help the club.
I must also thank all our sponsors who were able to support us at this time.
Added to them has been the James Anderson grant, SFA and SPFL grants also grants from the Government. They all very much help.
A special mention must go out to our volunteers who have consistently made themselves available to help the club every week. Without them it would have been impossible to carry out all the work required during the pandemic.
Thanks also to Fifers for the Community for all their work with the installation of the new floodlights and working hard to keep our local youngsters training and using Bayview.
The Management team & the playing squad have also been supportive since the start of the pandemic in March. We, as a Club, have done everything possible to look after our employees and their understanding & appreciation has helped ease our financial burden.
Our EFTV media team has soldiered on in very difficult circumstances and I thank them so much as their efforts mean that fans everywhere can still watch our games on matchday. On that, I would ask as many of our fans as possible to use the EFTV live streaming facility for our home games. This has been our only regular income since the start of the season, as it will likely be for the remainder of the season.
Finally, I would like to thank the Directors & staff for all the support and help I have had throughout this past year.
May the New Year see an end to the virus and that we are able to get back to some form of normality in the not-too-distant future.
Happy New Year
Jim Stevenson
Chairman.
Watch East Fife v Falkirk Live on EFTV
On Saturday, we welcome Falkirk to the Locality Hub Bayview Stadium.
Due to ongoing government and Scottish Football restrictions, this match is being played behind closed doors with strictly no spectators permitted.
You can, however, watch the match live on East Fife TV from the comfort of your own home. The match is included in the Virtual Element of your season ticket & Gold Subscriptions with pay-per-view is available for £12.50.
East Fife TV’s coverage will begin at 2.30pm where we will be joined "in the studio" and on co-commentary by former player Kenny Deuchar.
Sign up here
Tranent Juniors to Visit Bayview in Scottish Cup
We have been drawn at home against Tranent Juniors in the 2nd round of this year’s Scottish Cup.
Tranent are scheduled to visit the Locality Hub Bayview Stadium on Saturday 9th January 2021. Due to ongoing coronavirus restrictions, this match is likely to be played behind closed doors. Details on how to follow the game will be announced in due course.
Christmas Bonus for East Fife Community Football Club
The East Fife Community Football Club has received an early Christmas present in the form of a donation from the East Fife Football Club first team players.
The players operate a fines system between themselves for misdemeanours such as picking up unnecessary bookings, turning up late for training or on matchdays, leaving personal belongings behind after games & training and even not wearing flip flops in the showers. The money collected usually goes towards their Christmas and end of season nights out but this year with festivities curtailed, they decided they would like to donate the money to a local charity.
Club captain Kevin Smith explains; “When it became apparent that we would not be able to have our usual Christmas night out, it was unanimously agreed between the players that we would like to do something with the money collected for a local charity. We asked around and as soon as the EFCFC was mentioned we decided that is where we wanted the cash to go. The EFCFC is pathway for local youngsters to progress from age group football to the East Fife FC first team and their work is already bearing fruit with the likes of Liam Newton and Josh McConville joining the squad from the Under 20s this season. I am proud to be captain of a great club that is the heart of the local community and although £350 isn’t a huge sum, we all hope it helps in these testing times.”
Dave Heddle, the Director of Football for EFCFC was delighted with the generosity of the first team squad and reflected that “this shows the community spirit that exists around the Locality Hub Bayview Stadium and the links we have established between the CFC & EFFC. Like all charities at the present time, every penny is a prisoner, and we thank the East Fife players for acknowledging the work we do.”
Loan Deals for Allan & Cosgrove
With the continued postponement of the Lowland Development League, East Fife can announce that a further two members of our Under 20s squad had gone on loan.
Jamie Allan has joined East of Scotland Premier Division side Dundonald Bluebell. Midfielder Jamie made his first team debut against Montrose in September 2019 and was captain of the Under 20s side last season where he also picked up the East Fife Supporters Club Under 20s Player of the Year Award. Dundonald were scheduled to play Penicuick Athletic yesterday but the match was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Dundonald’s next match is against Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup on the 28th of December. The match is scheduled to be played at New Central Park, Kelty and will be shown live on BBC Scotland.
Forward Rory Cosgrove has joined East of Scotland Premier Division side Broxburn Athletic. Rory made his first team debut as a 16-year-old when he started in our challenge Cup match against Stirling Albion in August 2019. Broxburn were scheduled to face Musselburgh Athletic in the league yesterday but this match was also postponed. Next up for Broxburn Athletic is an away trip to face Nairn County in the Scottish Cup on Boxing Day.
Darren Young: “The main objective was to get the guys game time. It’s good for these guys to get them playing. The ones that have been around the first team haven’t looked out of place and have done well. A youth set-up is something that hasn’t been here for a few years at the club, but it gives you that opportunity to have a step-up from the Community Football Club as well. It’s a pathway that we wanted to create and hopefully it’s starting to beat fruits already”.
Liam Newton Signs Contract Extension
We are delighted to announce that Liam Newton has penned a contract extension until the summer of 2022.
18-year-old Liam was promoted to the first team in the summer after impressing for the Under 20s side last season. He made his debut against Cowdenbeath in the Betfred Cup in October before scoring his first goal against Raith Rovers in the same competition a few days later.
Speaking ahead of yesterday’s match against Peterhead, Manager Darren Young said: “Liam has come in and done very well so this is a testament to how he’s played. We spoke to him during the week to get everything agreed and signed so it’s great for the club and Liam himself.”
