Cammy Fraser

DOB: 24 May 1941
Position:Full back
Previous Clubs: Steelend Juniors
Later Clubs:Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Falkirk

Career Record:
Scottish League 80 Apps, 0 Goals
Scottish Cup:11 Apps, 0 Goals
Scottish League Cup: 18 Apps, 1 Goal
European Cup Winners Cup:5 Apps, 0 Goals

John 'Cammy' Fraser started life as a centre forward at Larbert High School, but soon moved into defence.After gaining some experience with Steelend Juniors he signed for Dunfermline in July 1959 as one of manager Andy Dickson's last signings for the club as it desperately tried to avoid the relegation struggle it had endured for most of the previous season.  Cammy was promoted to the first team after only four reserve games, and made his debut in a home league match against Clyde on 12th December 1959.Dunfermline lost the match 5-4, but it didn't stop Cammy from being included in the next game, nor indeed for the remainder of the season.Jock Stein took over as manager in March 1960 and steered the Pars away from relegation with six wins out of six at the end of the season.  Cammy was still only just 18 but he played in them all and was outstanding.

Cammy maintained his position under Stein the following season and played in every Scottish Cup match from the quarter final on, including both the Cup Final and the replay.At just 19 he had been the youngest player on either side, but performed brilliantly in Dunfermline's 2-0 victory.  By season 1961/62, Cammy was virtually ever-present in the Dunfermline side that entered European football for the first time and he scored his first and only goal for the Pars against Aberdeen in an August League Cup tie.  By now his performances were being noticed further afield and he was rewarded on 6th December 1961 by becoming only the second Dunfermline player to win a Scotland Under 23 cap, playing in a 0-0 draw against Wales.

As Dunfermline continued to progress, it was inevitably only a matter of time before Cammy went to a bigger club and in October 1962 he was transferred to Aston Villa for £23,500 - a huge fee for that time. Jock Stein joked that the new main stand should have been named after him as the fee went a long way to paying it off.  Despite a good start at Villa, where he played in the League Cup Final, he lost his place and moved to Birmingham for £9,000 in May 1964. Two years later he joined Falkirk, his last senior club.

After football, Cammy worked in the computer division of the Bank of Scotland when he left football. After ten years he then went on holiday to Singapore and found a job out east in the computer division this time of an oil company.  Returning to Scotland Cammy had short contract work until he retired.  At the age of 69 Cammy and his wife Moya live in Edinburgh while their two sons have settled for a new life in Australia.

In many ways, Cammy Fraser was the epitome of a Stein player - young but filled with the confidence that success brought.In all Cammy made 114 appearances for Dunfermline, scoring just that one goal.He will however be most remembered as the youngest member of Stein's magnificent Cup-winning team.

Cammy Fraser (second from left) with Harry Melrose, Alex Smith and Eddie Connachan at the 2008 Dunfermline Athletic Hall of Fame

- - Interview 16 September 2010