THE PARS team are set to pull on the strip Norrie McCathie wore for the final time as part of a series of tributes planned to mark the 20th anniversary of the legendary skipper's death.
McCathie, who made a record 497 league appearances for Dunfermline after signing from Cowdenbeath in 1981, tragically passed away on 8th January 1996 from carbon monoxide poisoning at his home near Crossford.
After consultation with his family, the club have announced a series of initiatives planned to celebrate the life of the man who became known as 'Mr Dunfermline' to mark the landmark year.
A specially commissioned one-off strip, replicating the iconic red and blue quarter top that was the last Pars shirt Norrie wore against St Mirren at Love Street, will be worn during the Cowdenbeath match and will feature the skipper's number four on the back.
A commemorative matchday programme will be issued for the match and supporters have been invited to attend an event hosted by the club and the Dunfermline Athletic Heritage Trust (DAHT) at the Carnegie Hall on Friday 15th January.
On an evening for all to pay tribute to Norrie, a number of full length interviews filmed with his former team-mates and footage from Norrie’s playing career at DAFC will be shown, while there will also be live Q&A sessions on stage with key people from Norrie’s time at East End.
Fans can also share their messages of Norrie on the club's social media outlets with the special hashtag label #SPIRIT, with the best or most poignant messages printed in the programme for the Cowdenbeath game.
Pars managing director Ross McArthur said, “It is hoped that all Pars supporters will join together and participate in the various “We did it for Norrie” initiatives we have planned to celebrate his life. As our former chairman, Roy Woodrow said at Norrie’s remembrance service “the SPIRIT which he had will live with us for a very long time to come”.
“Without question, his spirit lives on at DAFC, and to me all of the qualities that Norrie epitomised (leadership; fighting spirit; work ethic; and community focus) are still evident at our reborn community club today. I remember only too well, that after Norrie’s tragic death, our club vowed to win the old First Division championship for him in 1996, which we managed to do by all pulling together, particularly up at Tannadice. Ever since that time, the expression “We did it for Norrie” is held dearly by Pars fans, in his memory.”
The DAHT also plan to host a special exhibition celebrating Norrie and his time at the club at East End Park in December, and if anyone owns any memorabilia or exhibits significant to Norrie that they could lend to DAHT for the exhibition, they should email enquiries@daht.org.uk with further details.
The limited edition shirt, most famously associated with Stewart Petrie's winning goal at Tannadice on the penultimate day of the 1995/96 season that took the Pars to the top of the First Division, will be on sale in the club shop in early December.
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