Biggest names to have played for Dunfermline Athletic
Date: Sunday, 22nd Sep 2024Although the 2022–23 Scottish League One title win might feel like a while ago now, Dunfermline Athletic could get back to the very top of the Scottish football tree in the future.
It certainly isn’t out of the question, particularly if the current crop of players can be inspired by some of the former greats who managed to shine for the club. For Pars fans of a certain age, there have been some talented professionals they’ve witnessed over the years.
Be it during the early stages of their careers or before they decided to hang up their boots, Dunfermline Athletic has always been an enticing proposition for many players. A club with a rich history, Dunfermline is also a lovely place to live, and it boasts passionate supporters who fully get behind their beloved club. For footballers with a point to prove, the club has, therefore, always been one of the more appealing projects outside of some of the major clubs in Scotland.
Of course, Dunfermline doesn’t always get the coverage it deserves, though. While some of the wealthiest clubs in Scotland are being experienced by tourists and are being backed for silverware when it comes to football betting, smaller clubs like Dunfermline Athletic have generally always had to operate with limited resources.
It perhaps makes the particular focus of this article even more special, with the club having a number of big names play for them throughout its rich history despite not having the riches of other sides. Let’s remember some of them below.
Sir Alex Ferguson played for the club
While most Pars fans will be fully aware of this particular fact, the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed a fruitful spell with the club between 1964 and 1967.
Arguably the best-ever manager British football has seen, as a player, Ferguson was a goal machine. During his time at the club, the Scottish icon scored 66 goals in 89 appearances, becoming the joint-top scorer when the club finished in second place in the 1965–66 season.
Ferguson eventually went on to shine for Rangers, Falkirk, and Ayr, although it’s with Dunfermline where he enjoyed the best spell of his career. An undoubted club legend as a result of his goalscoring exploits, Sir Alex Ferguson will always be welcome at East End Park.
Sol Bamba will never be forgotten
Sol Bamba’s death rocked the entire football world, although Dunfermline fans potentially felt it more than most. Bamba was signed by manager Jim Leishman as somewhat of an unknown quantity having failed to establish himself as a professional at PSG.
The Parisian giants’ loss was most definitely Dunfermline Athletic’s gain, as Bamba stood out on numerous occasions. The likeable personality and consummate professional made his debut on 20 July 2006 and didn’t look back from there, with his gazelle-like speed and his all-round defensive ability being evident from the offset.
While he was also a raw talent given his young age, Bamba’s potential was clear to see, and he played an integral role in the side’s solid defence that season. Bigger clubs from south of the border began to circle before Hibernian managed to secure his signature on a three-year deal in 2008.
Bamba eventually went on to play for huge clubs like Leicester City, Leeds United, Cardiff City, and Middlesbrough, although his career might have gone differently had he not been given a chance to make a name for himself at Dunfermline.
David Moyes
David Moyes was a tough-tackling defender
David Moyes is probably best known for his managerial exploits, particularly at clubs like Preston, Everton, and West Ham, where he enjoyed a successful period in charge. What many modern-day fans don’t realise, though, is that Moyes was also an accomplished player back in the day. Moyes played for the likes of Celtic, Bristol City, and Preston North End, while also plying his trade for Dunfermline Athletic.
Making 105 appearances for the Pars and scoring 13 goals in the process, Moyes was a consummate professional who simply loved to get stuck in. A central defender who adored grinding out results and keeping clean sheets, Moyes rarely let the team down and is fondly remembered by many fans of the club.
Graham Dorrans
Graham Dorrans’ best days were behind him
Following his release from Western Sydney Wanderers, there was certainly a huge buzz around the club when the Pars managed to secure the services of Graham Dorrans. Having played in the Premier League in the past, snapping up Dorrans was seen as a relative coup for the club, although his best days were clearly behind him.
Dorrans did hog the limelight on a few occasions, although his top-level ability probably wasn’t on show enough. Still, for Dunfermline to sign a player with 12 Scotland caps to his name, watching Dorrans during his brief spell at the club was a surreal experience for many Pars lovers. Dorrans did end up leaving the club by mutual consent, but there’s no denying just how much of a surprise it was when he was announced as a Dunfermline Athletic player.
Mark Burchill
Mark Burchill is adored by many fans
Although the aforementioned Graham Dorrans didn’t arrive at the club during the peak of his powers, he could still have brought more to the party. Mark Burchill certainly did, with the former Celtic, Portsmouth, and Rotherham United forward scoring more goals for the Pars than any other club he turned out for.
Burchill got his stop-start career back on track with the club, scoring 16 goals in the 2005-06 season, including a memorable hat-trick in the relegation encounter at home to Livingston. Injuries eventually caught up with Burchill, though, but the club did offer him a new deal in 2008.
Despite the contract offer, Burchill ended up departing Scottish football for pastures new in England with Rotherham United. Overall, though, it’s fair to say that Mark Burchill had the best spell of his career with Dunfermline Athletic.
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