There was an air of anticipation at the Old Inn in Dunfermline as Celtic clinched their final spot. This was the pub near the famous Glen Gates in the former capital of Scotland where Dunfermline Athletic FC were founded from a group of cricketers who wanted to experience more than gentle summer afternoons of swinging willow bats in the 1880's. The buzz around Dunfermline is that it is mission accomplished for the Pars if they beat Hibs. They'll be back in Europe just two years after a misfiring UEFA Cup campaign saw them go out at the first hurdle to Icelandic opposition. What a consolation prize for relegation and a cup final defeat if that is indeed what happens to the Pars at the end of this campaign ! Stories of 1960's Fairs Cup and Cup Winners Cup exploits against the likes of Valencia, Everton and Slovan Bratislava still fill the local bars in the Auld Grey Toun but now the Pars are only 90 minutes from being back on their old continental stomping ground for a new generation. A win over Hibs at Hampden will see the final against Celtic as a celebration for the Pars faithful even if they get "HUMPED" to use the local parlance. The news from Fife is most Pars fans would now take SPL survival and Europe as runners-up to the double winners over beating Celtic in the final. The Pars players are sure to be relaxed at Hampden on Sunday afternoon because the game against John Collins men now really is Dunfermline's cup final this season. The view from the Kingdom is "our name might not be on the cup but our name will be known next season in Europe." Dunfermline town is confident ahead of the Hibs tie. | |||
| Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net) Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net) This is ScottishFitba Net |
