Cowden player-manager Colin Cameron and assistant Lee Makel admitted after Saturday's match at Central Park that they were the original grumpy old men of Scottish football. ''Quick, get him smiling'', said Makel as the cameras clicked around him and former Hearts star Cameron at the final whistle. Cameron won the Scottish Cup with Hearts in 1998 and Makel has played for Blackburn Rovers in the Champions League but both admitted taking The Blue Brazil to the second tier of Scottish football after only one season away ranked alongside their major successes in the game.
Makel said: "We have spent long hours after training discussing formations, players and how we are going to get this club promoted and all that extra work has paid off today. Colin is a moaner and so am I but we are smiling today. We are so happy to be part of Cowden's success."
Former PM Gordon Brown admitted he was still a Raith Rovers fan and hoped the Kirkcaldy club could stay up but was keen to tell the story of his Cowden roots. The MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy said: "My father and grandfather were both Cowden fans but with me being born in Kirkcaldy it had to be Raith for me. My father saw Cowdenbeath win the Second Division in 1939 and I was proud to present the club with the 3rd Division title when they won it in 2006. It would be great if East Fife could win a play-off place and promotion and Raith could stay up. It would be quite an achievement all four Fife clubs in the First Division next season. The Pars got a great result at St Mirren today but you would have to say they are probably going to be playing four derbies against The Blue Brazil next season."
That possibility is still very much on the cards and all four Kingdom sides in the second tier next season would constitute something that has never happened since Scottish League football was originally reconstructed in 1975. Cowden supporters from West Bromwich, Birmingham, London, Dublin and Belfast joined the 930 attendance at Central Park as the cult of The Blue Brazil brought out even rumoured ex-pats. A tale was being told of exiled Fifers from Australia and the USA at the game and such was the joy after the final whistle it was easy to see why it meant so much to this ex-Mining community and why some would travel over 500 Miles to see 'Beath win only their second post-war League title.
House parties and local public houses overflowing were the order of the day after 5pm on Saturday but it is back down to earth for The Blue Brazil this Saturday as they travel to Brechin before facing promotion hopeful Airdrie United at Central Park on the final day of the League season on Saturday May 5th. Colin Cameron said: "We want to try and pass the 70 point mark and keep up a defensive record that at the moment is only being bettered by The Old Firm. We will be professional in our final two games and give our fans something to shout about. Judging by the celebrations today they might want to keep it going up at Glebe Park next weekend."