Greatest ever Pars player

It is with great sadness that the Club has learned of the death of Charlie Dickson.

1961 Cup winners Charlie Dickson (left) with Ron Mailer and Davie Thomson

It is with great sadness that the Club has learned of the death of Charlie Dickson. The former Pars striker passed away after a short illness on Friday 18th October in hospital with his wife and family in attendance.

Jim Leishman paid tribute to a player he and very many more recognise as the "greatest ever Pars player":-

"He was such a humble man who could not believe how Dunfermline fans revered him. For me it was a great honour and pleasure knowing him. He made well over 300 appearances for the Club and scored 215 goals.

"On behalf of the Club I would like to extend our condolences to his wife Francis, twin daughters Arlene and Karen, son Charlie and his other daughter, Yvonne, and their children.  He will never be forgotten at East End Park."

A centre forward, Charlie Dickson was signed in January 1955 from Penicuik Athletic and made his debut later the same month against Stenhousemuir at Ochilview, where he scored twice in the Pars 3-0 victory. He made 340 appearances, scoring a quite remarkable 215 goals in the process. During his nine years with Dunfermline, he scored 11 hat-tricks, including a double hat-trick against St Mirren in December 1961.

Charlie scored the Pars second goal against Celtic in the 1961 Cup Final replay, after rounding the keeper and prodding the ball home into the empty net. He also scored five goals during the Pars European Cup Winners Cup run in 1961/1962.

In November 1964, Charlie was transferred to Queen of the South for £2,150. His last appearance in black and white came against Rangers in a 3-0 League Cup defeat two months previously. His last goal for the Pars was at the end of Season 1963/64 in a 1-1 draw against St Mirren.

Although not the most brilliant of footballers, thanks to his courage, goalscoring ability and boundless enthusiasm, Charlie D remains one the most popular players ever to grace East End Park. His tally of 215 goals is a record unlikely ever to be equalled.

Charlie played in 7 of the 1961 Cup games, missing only the semi-final replay against St Mirren, as a result of the injury picked up in the first game.

Charlie retired to Dunbar but was a regular attender at former Pars players get togethers.