My not so dear Watson

Leishman's bargain buy will be back centre stage for Alhambra Rollercoaster night.

John Watson was Jim Leishman's best signing for Dunfermline and at the 80s Rollercoaster Evening organised by the Pars Supporters Trust the two will be on stage to talk about their fateful meeting in the Guildford Arms in Edinburgh. The striker's signature famously cost the club only £300 and the price of a pint of Guinness and a pint of Tartan Special for John's student girlfriend.

Some of the medals and trophies from the 80s

The two Pars legends were re-united this week to warm up their memories for the main event on Friday 6th November in the Alhambra. Back in 1983 John was planning to return to play in Hong Kong when an Edinburgh scout Ivan Finlayson recommended him to Andy Young for a trial at Dunfermline. He revealed that signing for Dunfermline was not really on his agenda:-

"I was never going to sign for Dunfermline. We went down to Ayr to play in the reserves as a trialist and it ended 3-3. In those days the first team played at home while the reserve team played away.

"I had a wedding reception to get to in Edinburgh and it must have taken us three hours to get back from Ayr. I said 'that's it, I'm not playing with that shower.'

Because things in Hong Kong couldn't get sorted out, John signed for Dunfermline in November 1983 at the age of 24.  He didn't score his first goal until April the following year in a match against Forfar's Stewart Kennedy. John's contract clearly states that his remuneration for first team football would be the princely sum of £20 per week.

His international clearance was slow to come through so he played about six games as a trialist. After becoming a Par in his 214 appearances John scored 73 league goals, 6 league cup and 7 Scottish Cup goals.  John would not be drawn into what was the most important:-

"Every goal was important; there was never one that meant nothing."  The one below has to be up there amongst the best however.

Leish rehearsed a story where he got booked at Starks Park. In 1986 after the Pars appearance on Pebble Mill at One singing 'Eastenders' he was asked if he would be singing in Kirkcaldy and jokingly said only if his team went two goals up. Watson's 76th minute goal secured the margin and the Big Man duly obliged leaving the dug out to conduct the Pars choir behind the goals only to be cautioned for inciting the crowd.

Much much more and loads of laughs on Friday 6th November in the Alhambra.  Tickets priced £10 are available now from the Club Shop, Pars Supporters Trust, Alhambra and Ticketmaster.