Nathan Austin Returns

We’re delighted to welcome Nathan Austin back to the club on a 2-year deal from Kelty Hearts.

Fash originally joined the club in summer of 2013 from Leven United and went on to score 43 goals in 107 appearances over 3 seasons. He was voted PFA League 2 Player of the Year during our 2015/16 Championship winning season before spending a year and a half in the Championship with Falkirk, then moving on to Inverness before joining Kelty Hearts in May 2019.

A brief loan spell back at Bayview during the covid interrupted 2020/21 season saw him take his East Fife tally to 44 goals in 100 appearances before returning to Kelty to help them win back-to-back promotions in 2020/21 & 2021/22, finishing the season as top goal scorer in League 2 last season and being named in the team of the season.

Manager Greig McDonald: “We’re delighted to bring Fash back to the club. He’s a quality striker who will bring experience and a track record of scoring goals. I’m looking forward to working with him, he’s a local lad who knows the club well and I’m sure he will complement our existing attacking players.”

Welcome home Fash!

First-Team Squad Update

Now that the dust has settled on the season, the Management team would like to take the opportunity to thank our supporters for their fantastic support during the season and also provide and update on the playing and coaching staff for 2023/24.

Staff Update

Greig McDonald will continue to be assisted next season by Paul Thomson (Assistant Manager), Lindsay Hamilton (Goalkeeping Coach) and Jeb Spink (Physio) while Ryan Kane, who joined the club towards the end of the season, will continue on as our Opposition Scout.

Player Update

The club are delighted to announce 1 year contract extensions for nine members of our first team squad:

Reece Beveridge
Stewart Murdoch
Liam Newton
Jonathan Page
Alan Trouten
Connor McManus
Kieran Millar
Pat Slattery
Scott Shepherd

Rabin Omar has been invited back for pre-season as he continues his recovery from long-term injury.

The club are also pleased to announce that Matty Rollo and Charlie Murray have been promoted from the U20s to the first team squad for the forthcoming season. 

Goalkeeper Matty has progressed through the Community Football Club & was a key member of the Under 20s side this season, with a number of impressive performances during their Lowland League campaign. 

Defender Charlie joined the club last summer and has spent the season on loan at both East Stirlingshire and Dundonald Bluebell, gaining valuable first-team experience. 

This continues to highlight the club’s ethos by developing and promoting young, local players and giving them opportunities in the pro game.

The above players will report back for training next month alongside Allan Fleming, Jack Healy, Brogan Walls, Ryan Schiavone and Mikey Cunningham who are all under contract.

The club can also confirm the current status of other members of the first-team squad:

Sam Denham - The injury sustained by Sam during the second leg of our playoff match against Clyde is still being assessed and we'll provide more details when available.

Aaron Steele - Training compensation has been agreed with another club which means the defender will be moving on with more details to follow in due course.

Lucas Williamson - Loan move to Sauchie Juniors has now been made permanent.

Adam Mansouri - Will leave the club at the end of his current contract.

The following players will now also return to their parent clubs:

Alex Ferguson - St. Johnstone
Taylor Steven - St. Johnstone
Aidan Quinn - Montrose
Aidan Denholm - Heart of Midlothian
Connor Young - Rangers

All the players leaving go with our sincere thanks and best wishes for the future.

Greig and his team are already well underway with preparations for next season and fans can expect new signings to be announced from next week.

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Match Report - Clyde

Clyde v East Fife, cinch League 1 Play-off Semi-Final 2^nd Leg, New Douglas Park, Friday 12^th May 2023

East Fife travelled to New Douglas Park to take on Clyde in the biggest match of the Fifers’ season. On the Tuesday evening, East Fife suffered a 1-0 loss to Clyde in the first leg of the semi-final despite the Fifers being, at times, the better of the two sides. The Fife faithful travelled in numbers to potentially witness a major win and progress to the playoff final.

Manager Greig McDonald made one change to the team that lost out in the first leg as Jonathan Page came in for Stewart Murdoch, with Alan Trouten handed the captain’s armband.

East Fife needed an early goal to get themselves back in the tie and duly got it after only 10 minutes. Brogan Walls received the ball in the middle of the pitch who strode forward before playing in Shepherd in behind the defence who sent a first-time effort over Mullen to level the tie at 1-1. 

Not long after, the Fifers had the chance to extend their lead when Newton played a 1-2 with Ferguson to find himself some space to drive to the by-line and fired the ball across goal which was well saved by Mullen in the Clyde goal.

In the 24th minute, East Fife had another opportunity when McManus picked up the ball on the right wing and picked out Page at the back post, but his header was comfortably saved by Mullen.

Clyde had their first real chance in the additional minutes at the end of the first half through Roberts who dragged an effort wide from the edge of the box.

HALF TIME: Clyde 0-1 East Fife (Agg 1-1)

7 minutes into the second half Healy picked up the ball 20-yards out and fired in an effort that was held by Mullen. 

Clyde were growing into the game and, at around the 68th minute mark, had a long-range strike go close when Doherty curled a beautiful shot towards goal, but Fleming was able to collect comfortably to keep the scoreline at 1-0.

With about 20 minutes left of the game, Clyde has another long shot go close, this time through substitute Rennie who laid the ball off to Cuddihy who blasted a powerful shot towards goal and forced Fleming into a superb save to tip the ball over the bar.

With only 7 minutes left of the 90, Shepherd picked up a second yellow card for an elbow on Clyde defender Craig.

Despite being down to ten men East Fife still created chances and went close to grabbing a winner late on when Denholm cut inside and fired an effort towards goal, but Mullen pulled off another very good save to tip the ball past the post to take the tie into extra time. 

FULL TIME: Clyde 0-1 East Fife (Agg 1-1)

Shortly after the restart, Ferguson who curled a cross into the box that was cleared only as far as McManus inside the area who worked some space for himself for a shot at goal, but his effort didn’t trouble the keeper.

Nearing the end of the first half of extra time, Salkeld found a small gap behind the East Fife defence and played a pass through to Craig who tried to cut the ball across goal, but Fleming was able to collect. 

HALF TIME (ET): Clyde 0-1 East Fife (Agg 1-1)

Just 2 minutes into the second half of extra time Clyde grabbed what proved to be the winner when Rennie tapped home the loose ball after Craig’s shot came back off the inside of the post.

FULL TIME (AET): Clyde 1-1 East Fife (Agg 2-1)

The draw on the night and the loss earlier on in the week saw East Fife bow out of the playoffs with Clyde progressing to the final against Annan Athletic. A valiant effort from the Methil men in the second half of the season put a lot of belief in the Fife faithful that promotion may be possible, however it wasn’t to be.

Clyde: Mullen, Lyon (Cameron 94’), McLean, Sula, Craig, Scullion (Cuddihy 45’), Roberts, Hynes (Kennedy 104’), Duthie (Rennie 45’), Salkeld, Doherty (McDonald 71’)

East Fife: Fleming, Steele, Page, Denham (Quinn 5’ (Steven 112’)), Newton, Ferguson, McManus (Millar 105’), Trouten, Walls (Denholm 74’), Healy (Schiavone 105’), Shepherd

Referee: Craig Napier

Attendance: 1012

Report by Andrew Laing

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