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The Bayview | Black and Gold and Blue - Ian Gardiner
Signed from Perthshire side Balbeggie Amateurs on 9th October 1948, twenty-year-old Ian Gardiner established himself in the reserves during season 1948/49 and the first half of season 1949/50 before being handed a starting place in the East Fife team that defeated Raith Rovers 3-0 in front of Bayview’s record attendance of 22,515 on 2nd January 1950. The right-winger kept his place in the side for the following day’s trip to Dumfries, where manager Scot Symon’s faith in the player was rewarded when Ian scored a “spectacular” third goal in an emphatic five-nil victory over Queen of the South. Competition for a regular place in the side was fierce during the early 1950’s, however, and Ian was unable to establish himself at his recognised position of outside-right, with East Fife stalwart Bobby Black firmly established in that position.
When the club eventually replaced Black with future legend Jackie Stewart, signed from Dunfermline Athletic, the decision was made to try Ian at centre-forward, and East Fife’s faith in the player was rewarded when, during season 1951/52, he netted twenty-six competitive goals as the Methil men achieved a final top-flight league position of third. When the player repeated his goal-scoring prowess during the following campaign, the international selectors decided to have a look at the Methil “goal-machine”, and Ian Gardiner was duly selected for the newly-formed Scotland ‘B’ side to face France in Toulouse on Tuesday 11th November 1952. The purpose of the ‘B’ international matches was to give promising players who had the potential to eventually turn out for the full international side experience and games in an international set-up in order to fully assess their abilities. Also included in the party selected to travel to France in November 1952 were future Scotland internationalists Tommy Docherty (Preston North End), Willie Ormond (Hibs), Doug Cowie (Dundee), Jimmy Davidson (Partick Thistle), Ian McMillan (Airdrieonians) and Tom Gemmell (St. Mirren). Please note that the last named player is NOT the former Celtic, Notts Forest and Dundee player of the same name!
With the match being played in almost incessant drizzle, both sides started nervously, but Ian Gardiner nearly broke the deadlock during the opening exchanges when he almost beat French ‘keeper Remetter in a race for the ball. Scotland eventually gained control of the game, and the home ‘keeper was called into action on two further occasions to deny Gardiner. Unfortunately, Ian failed to find the net in what ended up a no-scoring draw, during which Hibs’ Willie Ormond sent a penalty high over the cross-bar during the second half much to the vociferous delight of the 25,000 home crowd! Ian failed to keep his place in the ‘B’ international side for their following fixture against England at Easter Road four months later, but continued to impress in the East Fife side and, on 24th October 1953, scored the opening goal in the League Cup Final victory over Partick Thistle at Hampden as the Methil men won that trophy for a record third time.
Ian Gardiner pulled on the dark blue of Scotland for the second time as an East Fife player when he was selected to play for the Scottish League side to face the Irish League on Wednesday 15th September 1954 at Windsor Park in Belfast. Although the match report which appeared in the following edition of the Dundee Courier claimed that Gardiner “had an unfortunate night”, the East Fife man played a huge part in the build up to the first two goals before heading home the third! Just over a year later, Ian Gardiner signed for Motherwell, and during his time with the Fir Park side the player was finally selected to play for the full Scotland international side; a 1-1 draw with Wales at Hampden in November 1957. As a Motherwell player, he had earlier won a second ‘B’ international cap against England in February 1957. After his Motherwell days were over, Ian returned to Bayview for a second spell following a very brief period with Raith Rovers, but remained at Bayview for less than a season before moving on to St Johnstone and eventually Montrose.
Jim Corstorphine
East Fife Pick Up Much Needed Win Against Alloa
Ladbrokes League 1
Saturday 13th January 2018
Bayview Stadium
East Fife 2 (Lamont 42’, Docherty 75’)
Alloa Athletic 1 (Martin 68’)
East Fife XI: Goodfellow, Dunsmore, Kane, Page, Linton, Docherty, Lamont, Slattery. Wilkie (Smith 77’), Millar, Duggan
Subs: G Hurst, Wilson, M Hurst, Willis
Booked: Duggan
Alloa Athletic XI: Parry, Taggart, Crane (Martin 36’), Graham, Robertson, Fleming (Malcolm 77’), Stewart, Hetherington, Cawley, Flannigan, Renton
Subs: McKeown, Hoggan, Cunningham, Goodwin, Wilson
Booked: Fleming
Referee: Scott Millar
Attendance: 492
East Fife recorded their first win since November with a thoroughly deserved win against in-firm Alloa Athletic at Bayview. Manager Darren Young made one change to the side that drew with Airdrieonians last time out with fit-again Pat Slattery returning to the starting line-up at the expense of Nathan Flanagan who had returned to St. Mirren following the completion of his loan spell.
Alloa were first to threaten when a well worked corner fell to Scott Taggert making a late run into the box, but his header was cleared by Chris Duggan inside the opening couple of minutes. The home sides first opening came on 6 minutes when a quickly taken free kick made its way to Mark Lamont down the left-hand side and his inviting cross was sliced over his own bar by Garry Fleming.
The visitors were the stronger side in the first period of the game and were looking dangerous on the break and East Fife had a lucky escape on 10 minutes when Ross Stewart chased down a short back-pass but fortunately for the home side ‘keeper Ryan Goodfellow just did enough to put him off. East Fife had Goodfellow to thank again on 16 minutes when he pulled off a finger-tip save to keep out a close-range effort from Kevin Cawley. Another quick break by the visitors saw Stewart find himself in space inside the area but was denied by a goal-line clearance from Kieran Millar on 18 minutes.
The hosts were slowly working their way into the game; Kyle Wilkie winning the ball in minefield and playing in Duggan down the left who cut inside but couldn’t keep his shot down. Duggan had another half-chance just before the half-hour mark when he fired in a shot from 20-yards but his effort was straight at Alloa ‘keeper Neil Parry. Lamont found space on the right to send in a cross that picked out Scott Linton at the back post but his header was deflected behind for a corner on 31 minutes as the hosts started to dominate. Wilkie tried a long-range effort that was held by Parry before East Fife took the lead on 41 minutes. Lamont picked up the ball on the right-hand side, surrounded by Alloa defenders, and worked enough room for himself to whip in a cross that completely deceived Parry and found the back of the net – Lamont would later claim that he meant it!
After the break, Cawley fired in a long-range effort that failed to trouble Goodfellow and Andy Graham headed wide of target from a free kick as the visitors looked for a way back into the game. Dunsmore took advantage of a few ricochets to hit the by-line and fires in a shot that flashed across the face of goal on 58 minutes before Lamont narrowly missed the target with a left-footed strike as the home side searched for second but it was the visitors who grabbed an equaliser on 67 minutes when East Fife failed to deal with a free kick into the box by Iain Flannigan. The ball was blocked on the line twice before substitute Adam Martin bundled the ball over the line.
East Fife didn’t let their heads go down and scored what turned out to be the winner with 15 minutes to play. Lamont fired in a cross from the right that was cleared as far as Dunsmore 30-yards out who lifted the ball back in, Slattery managed to flick the ball on into the path of Docherty who curled his right-footed effort past Parry into the far corner. Flannigan had an opportunity to draw the visitors level again on 81 minutes with a free kick just outside the box but sent his effort over the bar before substitute Kevin Smith had the chance to seal the points for the home side with 5 minutes left when he broke down the left but Parry was out quickly to block.
In the end a third goal wasn’t required but East Fife emerged as thoroughly deserved winners and picked up a much needed three points.
Admission Prices versus Brora Rangers on Saturday 20th January
Admission prices for the Scottish Cup game against Brora Rangers on Saturday, 20th January are as normal.
Adult = £15
Concession (age 60 and over) = £12
Child (under 16) = £5
Parent and Child = £18 (tickets available at reception)
Parent and 2 children = £21 (tickets available at reception)
Parent and 3 children = £24 (tickets available at reception)
Please note that season tickets are not valid for this match.
Scott Linton Pens New Deal
We are delighted to announce that Scott Linton has put pen to paper on a new 18 month contract extending his stay at Bayview until the summer of 2019.
Scott joined East Fife on an initial 6-month contract in August and has featured 17 times so far this season after making his debut against in a 1-0 win v Alloa Athletic that month. The left-back has netted twice this season; the 4th goal in the fantastic comeback win v Albion Rovers in October and the 2nd in the New Year Fife derby earlier this month – both sublime free kicks!
Ben Reilly Departs Bayview
We can confirm that Ben Reilly has left the club to join Cowdenbeath.
Ben joined East Fife in February 2017 & made his debut in a 3-2 win v Brechin City that month before going on to make 19 appearances.
Ben leaves with our best wishes for the rest of the season & beyond
Greg Hurst and Jordan Piggot Depart Bayview
Today marked the end of Greg Hurst and Jordan Piggott’s time with East Fife as they return to St. Johnstone and Dundee respectively following the completion of their loan spells.
Jordan joined East Fife on an emergency loan Dundee in October and went on to make 10 appearances for the club following his debut against Alloa Athletic at Recreation Park after which manager Darren Young described his performance as “outstanding” and “composed”, adding that “he’s probably got a big future in the game”.
Greg joined the club in August, making his debut against Stranraer that month before going on to make 19 appearances for the club. Greg scored 5 goals for the club including the winner against Alloa Athletic but will be remember most for his double in the dramatic comeback win against Albion Rovers in October.
Both Greg and Jordan leave with our best wishes for the remainder of the season and beyond.
