Pars first Premier Goalscorer

"We had a good start in the Premier League, a couple of draws and a win. The Celtic game followed about three weeks afterwards and we won 2-1 in a game where we had not been given too much chance in.

Dave Young made his debut for Dunfermline against Stranraer on 11th August 1984 and missed only one match in the entire two seasons that followed. Within three seasons he had gone from Second Division football to the Premier League with Dave scoring for the Pars in that first Premier League game against Hibs.

Dave will miss the Rollercoaster 80's night since he will be away in Turkey on a golfing holiday. He has been recorded however and a video message will be played to the fans attending the Alhambra event on Friday 6th November.

He recalls how well the team gelled even as part time players.

"We went from the Second to First and then up to the Premier Division with a team that was predominantly part time. It is not until you leave and look back that you realise just what a great achievement that was for us. In the Second Division we were scoring goals for fun, went to the First and although it was a surprise that we got promoted, we got off to a flyer of a season."

Jim Leishman signed Grant Reid from Stenhousemuir for the First Division campaign and Dave was dropped but he regained his number five shirt after an absence of 14 games:-

"The Premier League was the pinnacle of my career and the biggest highlight of my time at Dunfermline. We were getting full houses at East End with crowds of 16,000, it was fantastic." 

Even more fantastic was the feeling of opening Dunfermline's goal account in Premirer Division football in 20th minute of that first fixture on 8th August 1987.

Eric Ferguson, Grant Jenkins, Dave Young and Stuart Beedie

"The first day in the Premier was a beautiful sunny day, full house and we went out and got a terrific 3-3 result against Hibs. Of course great for me to get the two goals in that game. The first one was an inswinging corner I can't remember if it was my head or my shoulder - whatever it was it went in. The second one was a Stuart Beedie free kick that was laid off to him. He hit it from 25 yards and then the third one was my header from about 18 yards. The biggest surprise about that was getting a crossed ball from Ian McCall because he was usually dribbling all the time. That was a great day, that lives with me forever. Every time I come to Dunfermline I am made welcome, people talk about that day and it obviously made an impression.

"We had a good start in the Premier League, a couple of draws and a win. The Celtic game followed about three weeks afterwards and we won 2-1 in a game where we had not been given too much chance in. We pulled all the stops out thanks to Westie in goals more that anything else.

"The good start caught up with us though and midway through the season the club changed direction to full time football. It was just progression on the club's part, which was right to sustain their position. Unfortunately we never."

For the Alhambra audience Dave will also recall a little of what can be told of the end of season Magaluf trips and an incident that painted supporters with red paint.

The Rollercoaster Night will bring together Harry Melrose, Kenny Thomson, Bobby Robertson, Ian Campbell, Jim Bowie, Hugh Whyte, Ross Jack, Stevie Morrison, Ian Westwater and John Watson. They are just some of the cast who will grace the Alhambra stage on Friday 6th November.

Tickets, priced £10, are still available for the Rollercoaster 80s night from the Club Shop, Pars Supporters Trust, Alhambra and Ticketmaster.