Terrors, Blue Brazilians And A Man Called Rolland

Last updated : 18 July 2016 By Alex Horsburgh

C:WindowsTempphp4CA4.tmpAndy Rolland was born in Lumphinnans, a hamlet just outside Cowdenbeath, on 12th November 1942. He became known as "the Tommy Gemmell of the Second Division" because he was an attacking full-back with a rocket shot and came to Dundee United's attention following his performance at East End Park in the match between a Fife Select and Sunderland for the Michael Colliery Disaster Fund, and was transferred three days later from Cowdenbeath on 28th September 1967. 

Rolland had started with Cowdenbeath Royals before a season with Cowdenbeath FC in 1961/2 where he made only nine appearances. He then joined Juniors Dundonald Bluebell before returning to Cowden in 1964 suitably toughened up for the rigours of the old 19 team Scottish Second Division, Rolland's second spell at Central Park was three years long.
 

He went on to make Dundee United's top ten appearances list with 326 League appearances for the club over an eleven year period.

 

Andy had been injured in the lead up to the 1974 Scottish Cup Final at Hampden and although he was fit by the time of the final, he lost his full-back place to  Pat Gardner, a former Pars striker, who had played well in the semi-final win. It's hard to tell if Rolland would have made a difference to a United team in their first major cup final, especially as they were playing the European Cup semi finalists that season, and a Bhoys side on its way to claiming nine League titles in a row.
 

The final score was Celtic 3 Dundee Utd 0 with Harry Hood and Kenny Dalglish excelling for the Hoops on the day.
 

When he was in America in 1978 playing in the NASL, a well known lucrative last stop for former British pros, he found himself marking George Best. Not only did he win the Man of the Match, but he went on to be transferred to Best's team the Los Angeles Aztecs from Fort Lauderdale Strikers shortly after!
 

He signed for Dunfermline Athletic on 24th August 1978, just a few months short of his 36th birthday.
 

Dunfermline, meantime, were going through a difficult time. Having finished third for the second year in a row and thus failing to escape from the Second Division, the Pars were suddenly in crisis when manager Harry Melrose was taken into hospital quite seriously ill.  The Club decided to appoint a Coach and initially Pat Stanton was going to take the job but decided to move to Aberdeen instead as Alex Ferguson's assistant.
 

This cleared the way for Rolland to take the job on. It was a big responsibility for someone with no previous experience, but he was an instant success. By the end of October 1978, Dunfermline were top of the Second Division and had gone ten games undefeated under Rolland's guidance. This had given them exactly the kind of start they needed to get into the promotion fight and by the time the season was nearing its climax Dunfermline were scrapping it out with Falkirk to decide the second promotion place.

It all came down to the last game of the season against the Bairns. Falkirk took the lead early in the second half but Dunfermline were awarded a penalty. With nobody bearing to watch, Rolland coolly stepped up to score the equaliser for the one point that would secure promotion.
 

Although nearing his 37th birthday, Andy accepted a short-term contract for the following season but after 45 appearances for the Pars shocked East End Park on 31st October 1979 by leaving after a fall-out over payments to join Cowdenbeath for the third time, this time as player-manager.  Spurred on by their new boss, Cowdenbeath challenged for promotion .Unbelievably, they required one point on the last day of the season to clinch promotion for the first time in 11 years and were awarded a penalty. This time Andy missed (his first penalty miss for six years), Cowdenbeath lost to Second Division Champions Queens Park in that game 1-2 and did not get promotion but "The Major", as he was known at 'Beath, remained there until Rolland resigned in 1982. Rolland later said he would have swapped the penalty miss for Cowden against QP for the one he scored for the Pars v Falkirk such was his affection for Cowdenbeath, his home town team.
 

At the age of 40, he was re-instated to the junior ranks with Leven Royals and played for several years in the Fife Junior League.
 

Had it not been for Old Firm favourites Sandy Jardine and Danny McGrain surely Rolland would have been in the frame for international recognition with Scotland as it is he is remembered as one of the most notable players ever to play for Cowdenbeath and Dundee Utd.
 

Since Cowdenbeath were last in the top tier of Scottish football in season 1970/1 (losing twice to United in the old First Division 4-2 and 0-2) opportunities for clashes with the former Dundee Hibs have been limited almost exclusively to the League Cup and wins for United in the last two League Cup encounters in 1995/6 and 2008/9 have been routine 4-0 and 5-1 strolls for the Terrors at Central Park.
 

Former Hearts player Liam Fox lost his first game as Cowden boss, outside pre-season bounce matches, 2-1 at home to Inverness CT on Saturday but that result will give the youngest manager in the SPFL hope for the trip over the Tay Bridge to take on Ray McKinnon's side. Cowden go for their first win at Tannadice since season 1959/60 when the visitors won a Second Division fixture 3-2.
 

A draw and the prospect of taking the cup tie on penalties would do for the Cowden class of 2016 against the 2 time winners of the trophy who have managed 7 League Cup final appearances in all. Cowdenbeath have twice made the League Cup semi finals, in 1959 and 1970, but their progress was halted by Hearts (9-3) and Rangers (2-0) respectively.