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 2nd 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
Ian Ness 99 9
Robert Downie (below L) 87 5
Neil Downie (below R) 80 6
Management

