East Fife Centenary 2003

East Fife Football Club

1903 - 2003

The Centenary Committee are: BRUCE BLACK (Chairman), DERRICK BROWN (Vice Chairman), JOHN FLEMING (Hon.Vice President), KENNY MACKAY and JIM STEVENSON (Directors' Representatives), HUGH LANDELS and JOHN MCINNES (Shareholders Representatives), ROB SCOTT (Administration/Commercial Representative), JIM BEAVERS and JOHN ROSS (Supporters' Representatives), DAVE MARSHALL (Millennium Club Representative), JIM STEWART (Club Historian), JIM CORSTORPHINE (Editor of 'East Fife Football Historian' Web Site), GRAEME SCOTT (Editor of 'East Fife Mail'), EUGENE CLARKE ('Young Fifers' Representative) and HENRY BLYTH (Local Councillor)

The latest meeting of the Centenary Committee was held at Bayview Stadium on Wednesday 23 January 2002, when the following topics were discussed:

New Centenary Committee Members - Club Vice-Chairman Derrick Brown and Director Jim Stevenson have joined the Centenary Committee. Bob Moreland, who recently resigned as a director of the club, has stood down.

Centenary Dinner - The Centenary Dinner will be held on Sunday 9 March 2003 at a venue to be confirmed. This exact date will be adhered to if at all possible as the club was formed on 9 March 1903. This event will mark the beginning of the Centenary celebrations.

Centenary Match - Chairman Bruce Black reported that Heart of Midlothian have agreed to play a match for the Centenary Trophy on a date to be decided. It is expected that the match will take place in July or August 2003. The Centenary Trophy will be presented by UDV.

Other Clubs Celebrating Centenary in 2003 - It was confirmed that contact would be made with Aberdeen Football Club, which has been confirmed as the only other Scottish football club celebrating its Centenary in 2003.

Primary Schools' Football Competition - The schools' tournament will be held in May 2003. Contact has been made with the SFA Community Coach, who is willing to assist with the football elements of the Centenary celebrations.

Open Days - There will be two open days at Bayview Stadium during the Centenary year. The first will coincide with the schools' tournament in May 2003 and the other will be held at the beginning of the 2003/04 season.

Centenary Logo - A competition to design the logo is to be run by the East Fife Mail commencing in August/September 2002 and completed in December 2002. The competition is to be run at an early date to allow it to be incorporated, if appropriate, into materials being produced in connection with the Centenary year.

Former Players - A draft list has been compiled of well known former players who might be invited to the Centenary match or other events. The list will be discussed further at the next meeting, when further names could be added. In order to ensure that no player worthy of being invited to the Centenary match is missed out, the Committee would welcome further suggestions, which can be forwarded to JimCorstorphine@btinternet.com. It was also agreed that consideration will be given to possible ways in which players no longer living could be remembered.

Publications - Both Jim Stewart and Jim Corstorphine confirmed that their Centenary publications were on schedule for publication in early 2003 and late 2003 respectively.

Civic Reception - Fife Council are reported to be willing to offer a Civic Reception to mark the occasion. It is anticipated that this could be held towards the end of the Centenary season (2003/04) to 'bring the curtain down' on the Centenary celebrations.

Exhibition at Methil Heritage Centre - An approach has been made to the curator of the Heritage Centre. The East Fife Mail will appeal for readers to supply additional artefacts for the exhibition.

Centenary Season Strip - Supporters have almost unanimously expressed their preference for the Centenary strip to be traditional black and gold stripes with white shorts. It was recognised that the 'specially badged' strip would have to be specially produced, and the possibility of having it manufactured locally is to be investigated.

Statue, Sculpture or Other Artwork - Discussions are in hand with possible funding resources.

Commemorative Whisky - There has been an 'encouraging response' to initial enquiries with producers.

Memories Book / Centenary Diary - This has been proposed by supporters and will be given further consideration.

Other Centenary Merchandise - It was agreed that a range of special merchandise would be required. One suggestion which was particularly well received was that a Centenary Calendar be produced, containing old team photographs etc.

Once again, a big thank you to those who have put suggestions forward. The Centenary Committee are keen to encourage a good interaction with the supporters and all suggestions (which can be forwarded via this web site) will be given consideration.