Audrey Bastianelli (1961 - 2014)

Audrey's funeral is at Perth Crematorium on Friday 5th December at 12.30 to which all her friends at DAFC are welcome

It is with great sadness that Dunfermline Athletic Football Club has been notified of the death of our former Commercial Manager Audrey Bastianelli on Wednesday 26th November.

Audrey had battled courageously with cancer for the past twelve months and passed away peacefully at Cornhill Hospice at Perth Royal Infirmary, aged 53.

Audrey, who originally lived in Inverkeithing, began life as a student at Dunfermline College at Cramond, seeking a career in PE teaching. However, she gave up that idea and went to work for the Scotsman where she worked in advertising, before moving back to Fife to work at Rosyth Dockyard.

At the age of just 26, Audrey was appointed in 1987 as only the second Commercial Manager that the club had ever employed, following in the footsteps of the short-lived reign of Australian Karen Grega.

Her appointment coincided with the Pars rise up the leagues during the Leishman era, and along with a small team set about transforming the club’s commercial structure. During Audrey’s time at East End Park the club established the first hospitality suite, the Jock Stein Suite, in what is now Charlie D’s and significantly increased their income from sponsorship and other commercial ventures.

Even in the post-Leishman era when money was tighter and the club spent time in the lower divisions, Audrey still managed to achieve commercial success with virtually every match being sponsored. Her success was recognised as she was appointed as Chairwoman of the Scottish Football League Commercial Managers Group.

Audrey was hard-working, a powerful personality and a creative thinker. She and her small team punched above their weight because of their ability to make relationships with the local business community, the punters and the players. Audrey sadly left the club in acrimonious circumstances in 2002, but returned last year in happier times to meet members of the new Board.

Pars Director Jim Leishman, who was manager at the time of her appointment and who visited Audrey in hospital earlier this year said this on hearing of her death:
“Audrey was happy and fun-loving. She was a real professional and did her job well for us, and always with a smile. She will be sadly missed by those who knew and loved her.”

Audrey was a huge fan of Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara, who was a young player at East End Park during Audrey’s time. Jackie also visited Audrey in hospital this year and when he was told of her passing texted, “Absolutely gutted. So sad.”

Audrey is survived by her daughter Tarryn, her Mum Margaret, and her partner Gordon. Our thoughts are with them at this sad time.