Tayport FC’s Enjoyable Eighties in Fife Amateur Football

Despite its geographical location being in Fife, not since the 1930s had there been a Tayport FC team playing competitive league football in the Kingdom. That changed in 1980 when the committee, already running two teams in the Midlands AFA, decided to create a third team and enter the East Fife AFA.

The team was named Tayport Amateur FC, the same as the existing two teams, and would effectively be run as the club’s 2^nd XI. With the exception of the Scottish Amateur Cup and the Fife Amateur Cup, there were no restrictions which prevented players being eligible to play for all three of the club’s teams during the same season.

For eleven seasons, 1980/81 until 1990/91, the club would run three teams. The Midlands XI would enter both the Scottish Amateur Cup and North of Tay Cup while the Fife XI would enter the Fife Amateur Cup. The same club being eligible for entry to both District Cups raised a few eyebrows but was breaking no rules.

Whilst the Midands XI reached the Scottish Amateur Cup semi-final and a couple of North of Tay Cup semi-finals during this era, the Fife XI, perhaps not surprisingly, had a solitary Fife Cup quarter final appearance to show for their efforts.

It was generally a successful eleven seasons, with a couple of EFAFA Division Two titles and twelve cup finals, winning four, to show for their efforts. Much of this time Tayport had its own 30 seater coach which was a familiar sight on the roads of north Fife and the East Neuk, of a Saturday afternoon.

Tayport FC’s Fife XI in the Fife Amateur Cup 1981-1991

1981/82 Burntisland United 8-2 Tayport

1982/83 Tayport 1-3 Star Hearts

1983/84 Tayport 2-1 Methilhill Strollers

Crosshill United 5-1 Tayport

Tayport 4-2 Crosshill United

Woodside Athletic 1-0 Tayport

1984/85 Tayport 6-2 Smeaton BC

Leven Rovers 0-0 Tayport

Tayport 4-1 Leven Rovers

Wemyss Hearts 1-4 Tayport

Ballingry Rovers 5-2 Tayport

1985/86 Tayport 3-0 Louden Glenvale

Tayport 1-1 Eastvale

Eastvale 2-1 Tayport

1986/87 Tayport 0-1 Victoria Rovers

1987/88 Tayport 2-4 Glenvale Snooker Club

1988/89 Tayport 3-5 Leslie Hearts

1989/90 Woodside Athletic 6-0 Tayport

1990/91 Tayport 1-1 Auld Hoose FC

Auld Hoose FC 3-4 Tayport

Tayport 2-2 Benarty

Benarty 3-1 Tayport

1980/81

East Fife AFA

League Division Two

56 players played in 40 games. 25 players scored 160 goals.

League form

W L W W W W W W W D W W W W W W W D W W W D

110 Goals scored

Division 2 Champions

Carstairs Shield Final (Div 2 champions v Div 1 champions) – Tayport 4-2 Norton House at St Andrews

Usher Cup Final – Tayport 0-2 Norton House at St Andrews

Heaviest defeat – Tayport 2-8 Norton House (League Cup)

Biggest win – Crail 1-14 Tayport (League

17 players with most appearances (and goals)

36 Doug Henderson (5) (right)

31 Jimmy Robb (5)

26 Kenny Smith (13), Bruce Burnett (27)

25 Bobby Waddell (16)

23 Dean Anderson

22 Ronnie Stewart (2)

21 Richard Callander, Alan Paterson (17), Brian Davidson (11)

20 Willie Gardiner (18)

18 Roy Lessels (6)

17 Lindsay Clark (4)

15 Stuart Davie (1), Sandy Hamilton (1), Alan Gray (1), Richard Rennie (10)

1981/82

East Fife AFA

League Division One

58 players played in 38 games

22 players scored 88 goals

League form

W D W W L W L L W L L D W L W D L L

Heaviest defeat – Burntisland United 8 -2 Tayport (Fife Cup)

Biggest win – Balmullo Thistle 1-7 Tayport (Drysdale Cup)

Wilson Cup Final – Tayport 1- 5 Norton House

16 players with most appearances (and goals)

34 Doug Henderson (3), Bruce Burnett (30) (right), Colin Gray

29 Kevin Malone (4)

27 Willie Gardiner (2)

26 Ian Brown (4)

23 Ian Lyall, Sandy Hamilton (1)

22 Lyall Clark (2)

21 Brian Simpson (9)

19 Stephen Whyte (3)

14 Richard Rennie (1), Brian Davidson (3), Roy Lessels (4)

13 Neil Downie

12 Allan Harte (10)

1982/83

East Fife AFA

League Division One

53 players played 41 games

21 players scored 93 goals

League form

L W W L L D W L D L W L L W W L W W L D

Wilson Cup Final – Tayport 0-5 Norton House

Heaviest defeat – Norton House 6-0 Tayport (Rippin Trophy replay)

– Norton House 6-0 Tayport (League Cup)

Biggest win – Anster United 1-6 Tayport (Wilson Cup replay)

16 players with most appearances (and goals)

37 Stephen Whyte (9) ( right )

36 Neil Downie (4)

33 Colin Gray

26 Brian Davidson, Richard Rennie (11)

25 Brian Simpson (3)

24 Rab Downie

21 Brian Cosgrove (5), Sandy Hamilton (1)

19 Bruce Burnett (10), Leslie ‘Micky’ Hall (10)

17 Doug Henderson (2), Gordon ‘Hrubesch’ Smith (9)

16 Kenny Smith (4), Ian Brown

15 Roy Shaw (1)

1983/84

East Fife AFA

League Division One

49 players played 46 games

21 players scored 112 goals

League form

L L D L W W D L D D L L W W D W W L W L

Usher Cup Final – Tayport 0-0 Norton House (aet) 6v5 for Tayport after 7 penalties each (at Guardbridge)

Wilson Cup Final – Tayport 0-5 Norton House (at Milton of Balgonie)

Heaviest defeat – Tayport 1-9 Savoy Hearts (League)

Biggest win – Tayport 6-1 St Monans Swallows (League up)

16 players with most appearances (and goals)

42 Stephen Whyte (15)

36 Brian Smith, Rab Downie

34 Gordon ‘Hrubesch’ Smith (23)

31 Colin Gray (right), Joe Myles (3)

27 Andy McRobbie

20 Ian Howe (10), Ian Ness (2), Colin Robertson (1)

18 Sandy Hamilton

17 Ronnie Stewart (3)

16 Bruce Burnett (8), Kevin McGrory (8), Alan Paterson (2), Davie Blair (1)

1984/85

KINGDOM AFA (in its inaugural season)

Single Division – crème de la crème of Fife Amateur Football

66 players in 33 games

23 players scored 70 goals

League Form

L L L L L L W D L L L L D D L L L L L D

Heaviest defeat – Tayport 1-8 Star Hearts (League)

Biggest win – Tayport 7-0 Victoria Rovers (Supplementary Cup)

16 players with most appearances (and goals)

26 Stuart Davie (18)

22 Davie Blair (1) (right), John Squire

20 Ian Ness (4)

19 George Hayter

18 Roddy McCafferty (4)

17 Colin Robertson

16 George Furey

14 John Aitken

13 John Fernie (11)

12 Alan Hart (1), Ronnie Stewart

11 Ian Lees

10 Ian Howe (1)

9 Derek McDonald (1)

8 Mark Whiteside (1)

1985/86

EAST FIFE AFA

East Fife AFA Division Two

48 players in 37 games

86 goals scored by 26 players

League form

W D D D L L W W W L L W L L W L L L D W

Heaviest defeat – Freuchie Rovers 6-0 Tayport (League Cup)

Biggest win – Tayport 17-1 Crail (League)

17 players with most appearances (and goals)

37 Alan Hart (3)

35 Doug Henderson (5)

28 Jimmy Anderson (2)

26 Paul Thackeray (3)

20 Brian Smith (5), Bob Hill (1)

19 Brian Cree

17 Brian Cosgrove (6)

16 Scott Edwards (1), John Fernie (16), Bryan Fitchet (2), Andy McRobbie (3), Davie Blair

15 Colin Robertson (3)

13 Cammy Menzies (2), Kenny Smith (3) (right), Steve Rollo

1986/87

East Fife AFA

League Division Two

50 players in 35 games

15 players scored 110 goals

League form

D L W W W W W L L W W W D W W L D D W L D W

Heaviest defeat – Balmullo Thistle 6-3 Tayport (League)

Biggest win – United Colleges 1-12 Tayport (League)

18 players with most appearances (and goals)

34 Andy Don

33 Davie Ford

30 Paul Thackeray (1)

28 Brian Cosgrove (5)

27 John Fernie (37)

25 Neil Shaw (22)

24 Jimmy Anderson (3) (right)

21 Doug Henderson (4)

17 Davie Blair, Kenny Smith

16 Leslie (Micky) Hall (12)

15 Charlie McKenna

13 Ian Howe (3), D Stewart (6), Kirk Jack (2)

12 Alan Digby (1), Andy McCann, John O’Neil

1987/88

East Fife AFA League Division 2

47 players in 45 games

24 players scored 153 goals

League form

W W W W W W W W D W W W W W W W D D D W D W W W

Heaviest defeat – Strathkinness 5-0 Tayport (Carstairs Shield)

Biggest win – Tayport 14-0 Buck ‘n’ Hind League)

Carstairs Shield Final – Strathkinness 5 -0 Tayport at St Andrews

Rippin Trophy Final – Tayport 1-3 Savoy Hearts at East Wemyss

Summer Cup – Tayport 4-1 Buck ’n’ Hind at Pittenweem

18 players with most appearances (and goals)

45 Alan Hart

44 Kenny McRitchie

42 Davie Ford, Lyall Clark (7)

41 Davie Blair (3)

36 John Fernie (45) (right)

34 Jimmy Anderson (4)

31 Doug Henderson (7)

25 Bryan Fitchet (7)

22 Richard Rennie (15), Eddie Ramsay (13)

20 Doug Paterson (7)

13 Jimmy Brunton, George Shepherd

12 Bob Spittal

10 Bruce Burnett (6), Andy Heggie (11), Neil Shaw (5)

1988/89

East Fife AFA Division 1

80 players in 38 games * conceded game v Brig United when unable to field a team

23 players scored 62 goals

League form

L W L L L L L L L L W L L L L L L L L L L

Heaviest defeat – Tayport 0-10 Wemyss Hearts (League)

Biggest win – Tayport 7-3 Methilhill Strollers (League)

Drysdale Cup Final – Tayport 1-4 Wemyss Hearts

17 players with most appearances (and goals)

29 Lyall Clark (3)

20 Davie Blair (2), Alan Hart (1) (right)

17 Neil McLeod

16 Andy Heggie (6), Dunc McKellar

15 Stevie Moyes (4), Ian Lyall, Bryan Fitchet (3), Gordon McRae, Paul Thackeray (1), Ian Howe (1)

13 Dougie Hill, Billy Moyes

11 Glen Pearson (2), Neil Clark, Mike Smith

1989/90

East Fife AFA Division Two

49 players in 37 games

26 players scored 146 goals

League form

L W W L W W W W W W L W W W W W D W W W D D W W D

(uneven number of results as National Steel Foundry FC withdrew from league during the season but Tayport’s 4-1 win v NSF is included in above stats)

Heaviest defeat – Woodside Athletic 6-0 Tayport (Fife Cup)

Biggest win – Tayport 18-0 Springfield (League)

19 players with most appearances (and goals)

35 Gary McCabe (38)

30 Ian Ness (7) (right), John Petrie (10)

25 Scott Crichton. Rod Davie (1)

22 Alan McDade (10)

21 Craig Drysdale

19 Ian Lyall, Ian Mathers (1)

17 Bert Valentine (2)

16 Neil Munro (3), Andy McRobbie(3)

14 Alan Hart

13 Ewan Willison (5), Gordon McRae

12 Dougie Hill, Billy Kinnes (5), Bryan Fitchet (2), Richard Rennie (2)

1990/91

East Fife AFA Division Two

46 players in 54 games

23 players scored 191 goals

League form

W W W L W L W W L D L W W W D D W W D W W D W W W W W W

Heaviest defeat – Buck ‘n’ Hind 3-0 Tayport (League)

Biggest win – Tayport 15 -0 Wormit North Fife (League)

Skol League Cup Final – Tayport 1-0 Savoy Hearts at Bayview Park, Methil

Wilson Cup Final – Tayport 2-4 Auld Hoose at Milton of Balgonie

16 players with most appearances (and goals)

47 Andy McDougall (15)

46 Miller Lang

43 Fergus Mann (2), Alan Gray (9)

36 Doug Henderson (3)

31 Steve Rollo (9)

29 Davie Blair (1)

28 Allan Harte (24)

25 Colin Gray (14)

24 Mark Ednie (9)

20 Andy McRobbie, Bert Valentine (3)

19 Roy Miller (4), Wayne Henderson (13)

17 Richard Rennie (9) (right)

16 Alan Hart

IN SUMMARY…..

So, where did Tayport FC get to on their travels during their eleven years in the East Fife AFA?

They played in: Anstruther, Leven, Wemyss, Methilhill, Colinsburgh, Pittenweem, St Monans, St Andrews, Crail, Guardbridge, Milton of Balgonie, Cupar, Methil, Crosshill, Glenrothes, Auchtermuchty, Windygates, Burntisland, Cowdenbeath, Star, Aberdour, Kirkcaldy, Strathmiglo, Ballingry, Freuchie, Newburgh, Markinch, Buckhaven, Springfield, Wormit, Kingskettle and probably other places too …

During Tayport FC’s generally enjoyable 11 season venture into the Fife-based amateur football leagues, the club played 444 games scoring 1,211 goals.

As well as having a team playing in Fife, Tayport, in 10 of the 11 seasons, operated with two other teams, both in the Midlands AFA. Fortunately, at the time, all players were permitted to interchange, hence the big turnover during every season, with a number of players during the season turning out for all three sides.

Each team had a number of players who each season provided the core of the team. Some players’ appearances for the Fife XI stretched over many of the 11 seasons, a decade during which they would also turn out for the Midlands and Alliance XIs but were also happy to pull on a Fife shirt.

Here are the players who represented the Fife XI most during those11 seasons

Player Games played * Seasons * incl. appearances from subs bench

Doug Henderson 210 7

Alan Hart 169 10

Davie Blair 165 10

Colin Gray 143 8

Stephen Whyte 122 5

Richard Rennie 116 7

Jimmy Anderson 113 5

Bruce Burnett 111 8

John Fernie 111 6

Kenny Smith 102 9