Andy Tod Select 4 Dunfermline 1
Thursday, 3rd May 2007Andy Tod's Testimonial match attracted a crowd of 1600 to watch an array of former Pars play in a Select against Dunfermline Athletic.
The Andy Tod Select appropriately won by four goals to one as a star studded line up of football legends joined Pars stalwart Andy Tod for his testimonial match at East End Park on Wednesday night. Making up the Andrew Tod select side were an array of Dunfermline greats including Ivo Den Bieman, Stewart Petrie, Istvan Kozma and Craig Brewster, with Gordon Durie, Ally McCoist, Arthur Numan and Jackie McNamara also forming part of the team which was managed by veterans Dick Campbell and Bert Paton.
And for the first time this season, there was no pressure on the East End men - a complete contrast with the vital Scottish Cup and League clashes bitterly contested in recent weeks.
The first chance of the game which could only be described as a friendly kick-about amongst friends fell to Stevie Crawford who sent a fierce shot from around 20 yards over the bar for Athletic after one minute of play.
Toddy's effort 13 minutes later from a McNamara pass went wide of target, but got the crowd going nonetheless. After much pressure, Mark BURCHILL opened the scoring in the 31st minute when he beat Dundee United keeper Derek Stillie in front of an open goal from around six yards.
However, the second half saw the veteran select team, who had few chances in the first 45, coming more in to the game. Ross Jack's weak drive, nicely set up by Arthur Numan in the 68th minute, was easily taken by Sean Murdoch. TOD then showed him how it's done five minutes later, beating a stumbling Murdoch from around eight yards to level the scoring.
Minutes later Tod's close range shot hit off the left post with the rebound eventually falling to JACK, who gave his side the lead. Mark Wilson's effort was saved by Murdoch in the 83rd minute but the ball came to Hamish FRENCH, who was around six yards out, and he blasted home for number three. With seconds to go, WILSON, who came on as a sub in the second half, scored his team's fourth from just in front of goal making it an entertaining, albeit emotional, evening.
Jackie McNamara came up from Wolves and he was delighted to be back at East End Park:-
"It was a special night for Andrew, it was good to come and play for him. There was a good turn out from ex players with Istvan coming over from Hungary, it says a lot for him. The last time I played here it was on the artificial pitch, it was good to come back and play on grass. The pitch was excellent tonight."
Jackie has one important game on his mind with Wolves on Sunday:-
"It has been good, we have only one game left in the league and a good result will get us in the play offs. We need to win away at Leicester" he added.
Aberdeen player, Craig Brewster wished Dunfermline well in the Cup Final:-
"It is a fantastic achievement. I remember playing in the last Cup Final for the Pars and I couldn't believe how many people turned up. It is a great occasion and the players should just enjoy the occasion. The way they have played of late and in the cup run; if they can keep that going then you never know.
"There could be some similarities from when I played in the Cup Final for Dundee United in 94. Rangers had won the title a month before the end of the season, they maybe switched off a touch and we caught them at a good time maybe Dunfermline could do the same."
Andy Tod had some words of thanks for everyone who made his night so special:-
"It was a great turn out from the players who played for my Select team, I appreciated that very much. To all the fans - I can't thank them enough, they made it a good night. The weather made it and there was a good atmosphere. The result was good as well and I managed to score.
"Then with my best pal, Mark Wilson scoring as well it was a bit of nostalgia from when we were younger. He has been on my committee and organised most of the events. He has been a Dunfermline supporter all of his life so it is amazing playing on the park and scoring, you just can't put that into words.
"The fans have been brilliant all through my career here. Right from day one they have taken to me. I went away and came back and they were just as good as ever."
The biggest compliment to Toddy was paid by Stewart Petrie who flew around the world from Australia just to be at East End Park for the big night. Toddy acknowledged that tribute:-
"He said that he wouldn't have missed it for the world. It means a lot for me."
Andy's wife, Zoe is expecting the couple's second child any day now and apart from that, the big man is content to be a Dunfermline player for now:-
"I had my game to look forward to and I am going to make myself as fit as possible to try and get back in the team. If not, I am a Dunfermline supporter and I will support the team until the end of the season. Next season will take care of itself. I am bound to get something if not ..." Toddy quipped "your job looks easy enough just putting a couple of squiggles on a bit paper."
The 35 year old utility man said that to be re-unite with his old pals reminded him of just how good his days at Dunfermline had been:-
"When I joined Dunfermline, Frenchie was playing, Ivo was playing and wee Jackie they were the best times I ever had at Dunfermline. It is brilliant that Ivo has flown over from Holland, Stewart from Australia, Jackie from England despite having a game on Sunday. I have played against Ally McCoist but to play on the same side as him was brilliant."
Stewart Petrie was looking great despite his 37 years and an exhausting journey back to Scotland:-
"I am just back for a few days and I go back to Australia on Tuesday morning. It is great to be back, very nice. It is over four years since I played here, it didn't seem like four years ago since I played but it was great for Andy and just a pleasure to come back and play in a game for him. He would have done the same for me so it wasn't a problem to fly back to play in the game."
Stewart praised Dunfermline Athletic for retaining long serving players like Andy Tod and Scott Thomson:-
"It is fantastic, it shows how good a club it is when people are prepared that length of time here. They have had that throughout the years. It is a very family orientated club, it is a nice place to be around. I certainly missed it when I left. Tonight brought a lot of memories back."
Stewart Petrie - delighted to be back
After joining from Forfar Athletic in 1993, Stewart played over ten years for Dunfermline before joining Northern Spirit in Sydney. He now needs to find a new club:-
"I am out of contract and I am just like any other player out of contract looking for a new club. I hope to be playing again next season, I don't know if it will be Australia or back in Scotland.
"We have been looking around but its early on - the season has finished over there, the season has not finished over here but I will sit down with Blair Morgan and see what happens from there."
One decision Stewart has already made is to be up in the wee sma hours of what will be Sunday 27th May to tune in to the Tennent's Scottish Cup Final:-
"It is a one off game, hopefully they will come away with a result. The last Scottish Cup Final they played in they were unlucky against Celtic. Gretna came very close to an upset over Hearts last year. Dunfermline will go in as underdogs, that is nothing to be worried about, it is all about the 90 minutes or 120 minutes whatever it might be. I have strong feelings for the club and still look out for their results. I speak to Andy, my Dad and father in law every weekend and I ask for the Dunfermline score, and then the Forfar score! It is a small world and it is amazing how you can keep in touch.
"I wish them well, they have plenty of experience there - good players and good pros who have been through it before. I am sure there will be words of encouragement for the younger ones on the day. I wasn't fortunate to play in a final with the club. I just hope the players and fans enjoy the day out and.... who knows?"
DUNFERMLINE:- Sean Murdoch, Freddie Daquin, Phil McGuire, Calum Woods, Darren Young, Jamie McCunnie, Mark Burchill, Scott Muirhead, Scott Morrison, Stevie Crawford, Jim Hamilton.
SUBS:- Greg Ross, Nick Phinn, Iain Williamson, Adam Hamill, Tam McManus.
SCORER: Burchill (31)
ANDY TOD SELECT:- Derek Stillie, Ivo Den Bieman, Andy Tod, Stewart Petrie, Jackie McNamara, Russell Latapy, Istvan Kozma, Ally McCoist, John Watson, Gordon Durie, Paul Deas.
SUBS:- Greg Paterson, Arthur Numan, Billy Dodds, Stevie Morrison, Ross Jack, Greg Shields, Mark Wilson, Craig Brewster, Hamish French.
SCORERS: Tod (73), Jack (80), French (85), Wilson (90)
REFEREE: Kenny Clark
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