2003: Dunfermline 3 The Pars 1

Memorable Match #76
Stewart Petrie Testimonial
East End Park
Tuesday 21st January 2003

Bert Paton signed Stewart Petrie from Forfar Athletic on Friday 27th August 1993 for a fee reported to be in the region of £70,000. The 23 year old striker went straight into the team for the next day’s game against Airdrie. Stewart’s ten year spell at Dunfermline Athletic was brought to a conclusion with a match against a team of former Pars players.

Almost 4000 spectators turned out to say their goodbyes to Stewart who would fly out to Australia with his family to continue his career Down Under later in the year.

While Stewart was extremely popular with fans, there was the added bonus of watching old boys such as Andy Rhodes, Jackie McNamara and the one and only Istvan Kozma.

Still playing in the Hungarian Third Division at the age of 38, Kozma, remained a class act and rekindled many memories particularly with one cross field pass with the outside of his foot which nearly brought the house down.

Stewart began the match playing for the Pars, managed for the night by Bert Paton and Dick Campbell, who went in 2-1 down thanks to a couple of Craig BREWSTER strikes to one from McNAMARA.

Half time: Dunfermline 2 The Pars 1

The entertainment continued at half time with a game between another bunch of old favourites before the main feature resumed with Stewart now lining up in the Dunfermline team.

A neat one-two with Brewster nearly resulted in a Petrie goal but the moment all the fans wanted to see duly arrived in the last minute when referee John Rowbotham awarded a somewhat soft penalty - almost a tradition in such matches.

It was the perfect way for Stewart to sign off at East End Park. In his first season at Dunfermline he could not score for love or money before his twentieth appearance in December 1993 of Ayr United.

Leading 4-0 with 20 minutes left, the Pars were awarded a penalty and the fans were in no doubt as to who should take it. PETRIE buried into the bottom corner - the same corner at the same end that he would score his final goal almost ten years later. From that December day of course his career never looked back and in total he made 296 Dunfermline appearances and scored 57 goals.

DUNFERMLINE: Derek Stillie (Marco Ruitenbeek 63); Lee Bullen, Andrius Skerla, Scott Wilson, Chris McGroarty (Stewart Petrie HT); Barry Nicholson, Gary Dempsey, Stevie Crawford (Scott Walker 83), Jason Dair; Steven Hampshire (Sean Kilgannon 56), Craig Brewster (Mark McGarty 83).
SCORERS: Brewster (18, 36), Petrie (87 pen).
STRIP: Away Orange

THE PARS: Ian Westwater (Andy Rhodes HT); Ivo Den Bieman (Greg Shields 56), Andy Tod, John Potter, Scott McCulloch (Davie Irons 74); Istvan Kozma (McNicol 86), Jackie McNamara (Boyle 67), David Bingham (Jack de Gier 74), Stewart Petrie (Justin Skinner HT); Owen Coyle (Chris Templeman 63), Jack de Gier (Andy Smith HT)
SCORER: McNamara (27)
STRIP: Home strip with RED numbers

REFEREE: John Rowbotham
ATTENDANCE: 3739
WEATHER: Dry 7ºC

Immediately after his testimonial match, a delighted Stewart Petrie spoke to the press about his night, and the future.

"I was astounded by the turnout - it was fabulous. It was emotional to see that amount of crowd there. Thankfully it was a great night with no rain or wind. It was pleasant and there was some good football played."

The award of a ‘testimonial’ penalty gave Stewart the opportunity to score, what may turn out to be his last goal for the club.

"I think it was manufactured, but it was nice to score. Big Andy (Rhodes) said to me that the first goal I scored at the club was a penalty, and probably the last goal you’ll score for the club was a penalty."

What now for Stewart Petrie?
"We’re looking at a few things. The transfer window’s until the end of January, so I’ll sit down with the manager over the next couple of days and we’ll see what we’re going to do, whether I move away and look for a regular game. If I don’t move now I’m here until the end of the season."

Australia has been mentioned as a possible destination for Stewart – have there been any further developments?
"There’s still the possibility, but there are other clubs interested in me, I’ll sit down with the manager tomorrow and see what he want to do. I’m sure he’ll be flexible with me. We’ll see what comes up in the next few days."

Should this prove to be Stewart’s final appearance, it’s not bad way to go out?
"It’s absolutely brilliant, a crowd like that at home, and being able to play with players that I’ve played with over the last ten years is special. It’s great for the fans that Istvan came over and played in it, but I can’t praise the crowd highly enough for their turnout tonight."

Stewart did go to Australia scoring 10 goals in 37 appearances for Northern Spitit. He signed for the Central Coast Mariners in the inaugural A-League season, coming in for a coaching role, but an injury crisis meant he became would become a registered player.

Stewart returned to Scotland in 2007, playing for Ross County and has since worked as a coach for several clubs, including Arbroath, Forfar Athletic and Broughty Ferry in the SJFA East Superleague before becoming manager of Montrose in December 2016. He led the Angus side to the Second Division title and promotion to League One in April 2018.

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• 2000: Inverness CT 1 Dunfermline 2
• 2002: Dunfermline 2 Dundee 0
• 1998: Dunfermline 2 Dundee United 1
• 1995: Aberdeen 3 Dunfermline 1
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