We welcome Stirling Albion to the Locality Hub Bayview Stadium this afternoon for our final league match of the 1st quarter.
Squad News
Aaron Steele returns to the squad this week after missing last week’s cup tie, along with Taylor Steven and Liam Parker who were cup-ties, but Kieran Millar misses out, serving the second of his 2-match suspension following he red card against Stenhousemuir.
Brogan Walls, Connor McManus and Scott Gallacher all continue to be absent with long-term injuries
Team Colours
East Fife will be in our away colours of pink strips, black shorts and pink stockings with the goalkeeper in all-yellow.
Stirling Albion will also be in their away colours of all-navy with the goalkeeper in all-turquoise.
Previous Encounter
The last meeting between the sides took place at Bayview in the opening round of the Challenge Cup at the start of the 2019 season with the visitors progressing to the next round with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Darryl Duffy and Josh Peters.
East Fife Team: Hart, Higgins, Dunlop, Watson, Slattery, Denholm, (Dunsmore 74’), Hunter, Watt, McConville, Smith (Wallace 57’), Cosgrove (Dowds 57’)
Stirling Albion Team: Binnie, Truesdale, Lowdon, Banner, McLean, Nicoll, Jardine, Docherty, Willis (Scott 89’), Duffy (Wright 79’), Peters (Hawke 84’)
Match Tickets
Tickets for today’s match are available to buy online here ahead of the game. Please note, there will be no cash turnstiles and tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets can be presented digitally or printed at home. Those unable to purchase tickets online can buy theirs over the phone (01333 426323) or directly from the club office. Parent and child tickets cannot be purchased online.
Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults - £18
Concessions* - £14
Under 16s** - £5
Parent & Child - £21
Parent & 2 Children - £24
*Over 65s and full-time students. Proof of eligibility may be requested
**Proof of age may be requested
All child members of EFCFC & EFG&WFC will be admitted free with a paying adult or as part of an organised group for all of our home league matches this season. Tickets for this are being organised through EFCFC.
Season tickets are valid for this match. Those who have still to collect their season ticket card can do so up until kick off this afternoon.
Turnstiles will open at 2pm.
Match Officials
Match Referee: Daniel Graves
AR1: David Dunne
AR2: Stephen Gill
Car Parking
Car parking is available at both ends of the stadium for both home and away supporters free of charge.
Live Streaming
No live stream is available to viewers with the UK & Ireland.
Viewers outside the UK & Ireland can watch the match via East Fife TV with a monthly or season pass.
Matchday Catering
The stadium bars will be open to both sets of supporters from 12.15 pm this afternoon for pre- and post-match refreshments.
Pie stalls will be open at both ends of the stadium from 2pm. Please note, our pie stalls are cash only.
Matchday Programme
Issue 8 of our new-look matchday programme is available to purchase for £2.50. Please look out for our programme sellers around the stadium before the game.
Following the departure of manager Stevie Crawford to Dundee United, Assistant Manager Greig McDonald has been appointed caretaker manager. This has allowed the board of directors to consider the selection process for a new manager.
Several notes of interest have already been received and the club is now formally inviting application for the position of First-Team Manager. This is a part-time position and applicants must hold a minimum of a UEFA A Licence.
CVs should be submitted in confidence to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
East Fife made the journey north to take on Angus club Arbroath in the SPFL Trust Trophy 3rd round. The Methil men were off the back of a midweek 2-1 loss to Stenhousemuir. The team were keen to put in a quality performance to give the travelling supporters something to cheer about.
Three changes were made to the starting squad that lost to Stenny. Kieran Millar was serving the first of a 2-match ban following the red card he gained midweek with Taylor Steven and Liam Parker missing out due to being cup tied along with Aaron Steele who picked up a knock during the week. Pat Slattery, Joao Balde and Liam Newton were added to starting line-up.
The game got underway, and it was the Championship side who were earliest out of the blocks, winning a penalty after only 9 minutes. The ball was fired into the box from the left and Sam Denham, misjudging the movement of Hilson, tripped the Lichties forward inside the area, with the referee awarding a penalty. Michael McKenna as the designated penalty taker stepped up and sent Fleming the wrong way, putting Arbroath 1-0 up.
A few minutes after, Arbroath kept up the pressure and scored another. McKenna played a lofted ball over the top which Fleming came well out of his box to clear however the clearance only went as far as Scott Allan who laid the ball off to Hilson who had an empty net to aim at, doubling Arbroath advantage inside twelve minutes.
After a fairly uneventful 30 minutes, East Fife began to ramp up the pressure before half time as the Fifers had a few good chances to get a goal back before the break. The first being in the 41st minute when Trouten took the ball past his man and laid it off to Balde on the edge of the area however his shot was cannoned over the bar and out for a goal kick.
East Fife had an even better chance 2 minutes later as Scott Shepherd wins the ball off Scott Allan and found himself in space down the right with to cuts the ball back to Trouten who’s shot bounces back off the post and is cleared out for a corner. Seconds later the half time whistle goes.
Half-Time: Arbroath 2-0 East Fife
East Fife got the first chance of the second half shortly after the restart when Balde flicked the ball on to Healy cutting through the middle of the defence, however his lobbed effort was narrowly over the bar and onto the roof of the net. 3 minutes later, Arbroath had a good chance to add a third when Hilson broke froward however as Hilson pulled the trigger, Denham was on hand to execute an incredible last-ditch tackle to stop the ball rippling the net.
In the 77th minute, the management team made the first East Fife change of the game as Ryan Schiavone came on for Liam Newton. Instantly after the substitution, Arbroath had a corner which was very close to becoming a wonder goal, as Isiaka’s acrobatic effort is saved well by Fleming.
East Fife scored a lifeline with a minute of the 90 remaining. With Balde and Healy breaking forward, Balde returned the ball to Healy on the edge of the box who unleashed an effort that leave the Arbroath goalkeeper flatfooted to pull a goal back. However this turned out to be only be a consolation moments after the referee blows his full time whistle ending a game.
A significantly improved performance for East Fife in the second half however its Arbroath who qualify for the fourth round of the SPFL Trust Trophy. The fifers can now focus on their league campaign now with the next fixture is a home game against 2nd place Stirling Albion at Bayview.
Full-Time: Arbroath 2-1 East Fife
Report by Andrew Laing
Arbroath Team: Gill, Oakley, Hamilton, Stewart, Hancock, Gold, McKenna (Isiaka 45'), Jacobs, Fosu, Hilton (Corfe 78'), Allan (Linn 78')
East Fife Team: Fleming, Murdoch, Mercer, Slattery (Cunningham 88'), Denham, HEaly, Newton (Schiavone 77'), Balde, Ferguson, Shepherd, Trouten
Referee: Graham Grainger
Attendance: 1123
Tickets for our cinch League Two match against Stirling Albion on Saturday 1st October at the Locality Hub Bayview Stadium 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
*Over 65s/Full-Time Students/Disabled – proof of age/eligibility may be requested
**Proof of age may be requested.
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 cinch League Two matches at Bayview this season.
Tickets for this are arranged through EFCFC.
Season tickets are valid for this match. Supporters who have not yet collected their season ticket card can do so up until kick off.
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.
Please note, parent and child tickets cannot be purchased online and should be purchased directly from the club office.
Highlights from yesterday's SPFL Trust Trophy match v Arbroath and post-match reaction from Greig McDoanld and Jack Healy
We travel to Gayfield this afternoon to face Arbroath in the 3rd round of the SPFL Trust Trophy.
Squad News
Kieran Millar misses out this afternoon serving the first of his two match suspension following his red card midweek.
Taylor Steven and Liam Parker also miss out after featuring for parent club St. Johnstone in the first round.
Brogan Walls has now been confirmed as having broken a bone in his foot so will now miss out for several weeks joining long-term absentees Scott Gallacher and Connor McManus on the side lines.
Team Colours
East Fife will be in our away colours of pink strips, black shorts and pink stockings with the goalkeeper in all-blue.
Arbroath will be in their traditional colours of all-maroon with the goalkeeper in all-yellow.
Match Tickets
Admission for today’s match is via ticket only, there will be no cash gates. Tickets can be purchase here.
Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults - £10
Concessions - £5*
Adult + 1 Child - £12**
Adult + 2 Children - £13**
Disabled + Carer - £5
*Under 18, Over 65, Student, Disabled
**Child under 12
East Fife fans will be situated at the Pleasure Land side of the ground.
Match Officials
Match Referee: Graham Grainger
AR1: Scott Anderson
AR2: Scott Bunting
Previous Encounter
The last meeting between the sides took place at Gayfield in July last year during the group stages of the League Cup. The home side claimed a 2-0 victory with goals from Dale Hilson and Luke Donnelly.
Arbroath Team: Antell, Hamilton, Little, O’Brien (Linn 25’), Henderson, Low, Gold, Stewart (Hilson 59’), Clark (Craigen 58’), Swankie (McKenna 58’), Nouble
East Fife Team: Gallacher, Dunsmore (Brown 64’), Higgins, Murdoch, Dunlop, Mercer, McManus, Watt (Slattery 83’), Davidson, Wallace, Smith
Matchday Catering
The small Pavilion Bar under the stand to the north of the ground is now open on matchdays for both sets of supporters. Stranraer FC also own the “Fitba Bar” in North Strand Street about 1000 yards from the ground which can cater for larger numbers.
Live Streaming
A live stream is available worldwide via Arbroath TV for £10.
Viewers outside the UK & Ireland can watch the match via East Fife TV with a monthly or season pass.