Jim Macdonald

The funeral cortege will pass East End Park between 12.45 -1pm on Thursday 22nd.

The club is saddened to hear that Pars fan, programme contributor and DAFC Heritage Trust member Jim Macdonald passed away on Sunday 11th October, aged 79.

A proud native of Wick in Caithness, Jim’s family moved to the Midlands and then back to Edinburgh in search of work. Jim attended Trinity Academy and went on to get a degree in accounting which he put to good use working in the woollen mills in the Borders before taking a job as Financial Controller at the Scottish Sports Council. His last job, and the one he admitted that he enjoyed the most, was in charge of Lottery Awards at the Sports Council where he loved the joy of giving awards to local sports groups and individuals.

Although, as he often mentioned in his writings, he had a soft spot for his hometown team Wick Academy, he started serious football supporting watching Hibs. However Dorothy, Jim’s wife of 53 years, was having none of it and converted him to a Pars fan and that’s what Jim has been ever since.

Jim is a ‘weel kent’ face around East End Park and is probably best known for his well-researched, amusing and informative contributions to the Dunfermline Athletic match programme. Jim was one of the founding members of the programme team that took on the match programme in 1987 and somehow Jim found something new and different to write about for over 30 years. Hi writing undoubtedly contributed to the club programme winning so many awards over the years.

More recently he was an active member of the Dunfermline Athletic Heritage Trust, where his knowledge and experience were valued. Jim was a real Pars stalwart in every sense and would have done anything to help the club – he will be greatly missed.

Jim had for a number of years been receiving treatment for leukaemia. He got home from hospital on Saturday and was with his family at home in Inverkeithing when he passed away on Sunday. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Jim’s wife Dorothy, to daughter Hazel and husband Ross, to son Iain who is in USA and wife Sue, and to Jim’s two grandchildren Kirsten and Calum.

Chairman, Ross McArthur commented:-

“Jim is another sad loss to the Pars Family, over these last few months. I know he had battled bravely with illness for a while and our thoughts go to Jim’s family at this difficult time. 

"Jim served the club over many years, by being on the Centenary Club committee for a long period of time and was a regular contributor to the match day programmes. His knowledge of football was second to none, and although he was a quiet and reserved man he could always put you in your place! 

"He will be sadly missed by many people at our Football club. Rest in peace Jim.”

The funeral cortege will pass East End Park between 12.45pm - 1.00pm on Thursday 22nd.

The family have asked that the funeral travels past East End Park so that they can welcome any friends or Dunfermline fans who know Jim to be there to pay their respects.