Willie Callaghan

Willie Callaghan was honoured to be one of those chosen for recognition in the tunnel photo gallery.

Willie said that there wasn't a day that goes past without him thinking about Dunfermline Athletic and he felt that he was the luckiest man alive to have joined straight from school. It was in 1958 when the 15 year old arrived and although often linked with Crossgates Primrose, Willie felt that he only played one game there after he left Halbeath Boys Club.

"I started on £10 per week and received £25 for signing on. I joined a wee quiet team but then all of a sudden Mr Stein arrived and that was a complete change. Charlie Dickson, Geordie Peebles, Ronnie Mailer, and John Sweeney all came through the change.

"I was fortunate to be here and Big Jock tagged me the'Wee Man'. All of a sudden I was moved from centre forward to right back. When Cammy Fraser was transferred I got my place in the first team."

Willie's best memory was the Inter Cities Fairs Cup match against Everton at Goodison Park.

"I had only played three times and one of those was at Ibrox against Willie Henderson. When he read the team out it was Connachan. Callaghan and Cunningham. I took fright but the Big Man took me through to the shower and told me that if I wasn't good enough I wouldn't be in his team - don't give them a kick at the ball.

"I never looked back after that. Willie Cunningham was unbelievable and he gave me my greatest achievement in captaining the club."

Willie was capped for Scotland and might have made more appearances but for his reluctance to play for another club :-

"I wanted to play for Scotland as a Dunfermline player not because I was playing for Celtic or anybody else."