Tom Gibson (1947-2020)

Everyone at East End Park was saddened to hear of the passing of Tom Gibson late on Friday evening at the age of 73.
Updated - Funeral cortege to pass East End Park on Monday 11.10/15am

Our sincere condolences go to Tom’s loving wife, Nancy and his brother in law Andrew, who idolised Tom.

Tom followed our club through thick and thin and his proudest moment as a Pars fan was undoubtedly when he was at the Hawthorns in March 1969 to see the team beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 and qualify for the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners Cup.

Very much a sports enthusiast Tom was best known locally for his massive involvement with Dunfermline Cricket Club where he was president for over 20 years and more recently he was chairman of the Dunfermline Cricket Park Trustees. However Tom was also a keen golfer, playing off a single figures handicap at Pitfirrane for many years and he was captain and the driving force behind Dunfermline Carnegie Hockey Club for ten years throughout the 1970`s, leading the club into the newly-formed national league set-up.

In his professional life, Tom was as a highly respected solicitor in Dunfermline, retiring as the senior partner of local law firm Malcolm, Jack & Matheson in 1997 at the tender age of 50. He had other local business interests too, being co-founder and chairman of the building firm Leonard Homes and he was a director of Taggarts (Fife) Ltd for several years after Taggarts bought the Gibson family business of the Fife Motor Company in the mid 1970`s.

This involvement with Taggarts was particularly helpful for Tom when a hockey match at Pitreavie co-incided with a Pars match at East End Park. Tom would do whatever he could to get the hockey started early, park his car beside the hockey pitch, leave the hockey immediately on the final whistle, rush up to Taggarts, abandon his car on the the forecourt, and take his place on the terracing, still in his hockey gear, by about 3.30pm. !

Club Chairman, Ross McArthur stated “sadly our club has lost yet another loyal supporter, during these difficult and challenging times. I have already conveyed my personal condolences to Nancy. Tom and Nancy helped our club enormously over the last few years, assisting us with the use of McKane Park for training. Tom’s grandfather (also Tom) was a former Chairman of our club from 1947-1950, and held some of the original shares in DAFC. Tom`s association with our club goes back a long way.

“Sadly, Tom has not been in the best of health for a while but his passing was a sudden and unexpected development. He was always full of life and energy and really good company. His infectious enthusiasm for anything that he got himself involved in was admirable. He was also happy to do anything to help you. He will be sorely missed. Rest in peace Tom.”

The funeral cortege will pass East End Park on Monday at 11.10/15am for any #DAFC fans wishing to pay their respects.