14th October 1989

Fraser family's annual celebration of Kozma hat trick

Istvan Kozma's return to Dunfermline always evokes memories of his famous hat trick against St Mirren. Many claim to have been at the game to have seen St Mirren scoring first but two goals, including one from the spot, meant the Pars led 2-1 at the break. Then in 12 fantastic second half minutes Kozma hit the net three times to sink the Buddies by 5-1.

A bit like a 911 or JFK moment it is quite likely that many Pars fans will know where they were that day - 14th October 1989. Hopefully most were at East End Park but for one lifelong fan he will always celebrate the event with his birthday. Alastair Fraser was born in the town's Maternity Hospital at 12.30pm that Saturday scuppering his parents hopes of attending the wedding of their good friend Colin Bright to Janice Ritchie at St Serfs Church, High Valleyfield.

Alastair was brought up a Pars fan following the family tradition and first met the Hungarian internationalist who spent two and a half years at Dunfermline, at Stewart Petrie's Testimonial match in January 2003. The 23 year old was delighted to meet Istvan once again on Saturday night at the Club's Hall of Fame event at East End Park.

Alastair, now a dentist in Inverkip on the Clyde coast is continually reminded of the story by his father and he claims that it is a nice thing to have been born that day:-

"Everyone talks about that day, what a good game it was and how important it was to everyone. Kozma himself always talks about that day being one of the most special days of his time here."

Father, Grahame Fraser explained how he was always destined to miss Kozma's best moment at Dunfermline due to counterattractions, some of which were outwith his control:-

"My wife Frances and I were expecting our first child in October 1989 and I was meant to be the best man at a wedding on Saturday 14th October. I had resigned myself to the fact that I was going to miss the football match that day and we were joking when we met the happy couple on the Friday night at a pre wedding soiree, about what was to become Alistair perhaps arriving at the wrong time.

"We had clued up the ushers just in case to stand in but on the Saturday morning my wife started getting contractions. All sorts of things started happening so I drove up to the usher's house, handed in my speech to him and then we headed off to the maternity home in Hospital Hill.

"Alastair arrived at about half past twelve at lunchtime and after informing the proud grandparents, I stayed until probably about two before going up the town to buy flowers.  When I was making my way home to where we live in Garvock Hill - it must have been about a quarter past four - I realised that the Pars were playing.

"As you could in these days you could park a little nearer and come in, so I dashed into my usual spot behind the goal. I met some of my friends standing there who were not going to be attending the wedding that I was supposed to be at, only to be told that we were winning 5-1, Istvan Kozma had scored a hattrick and I had missed it all!"

Just to compound Grahame's strong mixed emotions Kozma was substituted to a standing ovation two minutes after he arrived:-

"The hat trick just made the occasion for me. Alistair was born that day and we will not forget it.  Later I went along to the wedding reception after visiting Frances & Alastair in the Maternity Ward at Hospital Hill in the evening.

"Back in 2003 Kozma came back for Stewart Petrie's testimonial game and I was lucky enough that my father, Tom Fraser, was a steward here managed to arrange that we met Istvan, so we had a couple of pictures taken then with Istvan. (see above)"

Calum and Alastair Fraser at Jim Leishman's return to DAFC.