THE team spirit and camaraderie between the players is set to come shining through when members of an iconic Athletic team reunite tomorrow evening.
Twenty years on, stars from the side that took the club on a memorable run to the 2004 Scottish Cup final will come back together for a nostalgic look back at the Carnegie Hall.
Stevie Crawford and Barry Nicholson will join the likes of Scott Thomson, Lee Bullen, Craig Brewster, Darren and Derek Young, Derek Stillie, Gary Dempsey and Richie Byrne, as well as the assistant manager, Jimmy Nicholl, will be on stage for the 'Celebrating 20 years of the PST - The Road to Hampden 2004' event, organised by The Pars Supporters Trust (PST).
Under the charge of manager, Jimmy Calderwood, Dunfermline defeated Dundee United, Clyde, Partick Thistle and Inverness Caledonian Thistle on their way to the end of showpiece, where they played Celtic.
Martin O'Neill's side lost just twice in the league - one of which was against the Pars three weeks before the final - and recovered from Andrius Skerla's memorable opener in the first half to win 3-1.
"One of the things that got us to the final that season, and finishing fourth in the league, was the togetherness and the team spirit amongst us that the two Jimmies and Sandy Clark created from the management side," Crawford exclusively told Press Sport.
READ MORE: 'It was a special occasion': Pars hero looks forward to cup final event
"They had an unbelievable balance of us being allowed to express ourselves, but we knew, when we trained, we had to train properly. We knew when we played we had to try and carry out the game plans. Along with that, they managed to put a really good squad together, and good players enjoy playing with good players.
"When I look back on my career anyway, I can't speak for the other boys, but it's certainly an unbelievable spell in my career to play in, and be lucky to have boys playing alongside me that I played with during that spell.
"The type of group we were was that you came in and you had to be one of the boys. You had to buy into it. We were going to be pushed by the management team.
"I look back on it, and everybody will always go on about the Crawford / Brewster partnership, but I can only speak for myself on this one, you look at Scotty Wilson, Andrius Skerla, Bully (Bullen) was playing at right back at times in that spell, Nipper (Thomson) - as well as being good footballers, they were rapid. They were quick.
"The team Jimmy put together, you had to be able to run, and the reality was that everybody could.
"I don't want to miss anybody out - you had the quality of Gary Mason in the middle of the park, Darren Young, Gary Dempsey fighting to get into the team, Richie Byrne fighting to get into the team, Noel Hunt fighting, Billy Mehmet, young Aaron Labonte - so the competition was strong.
"Not only was there good senior players throughout the squad, there was young, hungry players desperate to get in and take the jerseys."
'Brilliant dressing room'
"It was an absolutely brilliant dressing room. It was a brilliant place for me to go," Nicholson recalled.
"I was a young player at Rangers at the time before I moved. I didn't really play regularly, but Jimmy brought me to the club, and I never really looked back to be fair. I went on and made over 200 appearances for the club, and to be made captain throughout that cup campaign, when Nipper was injured, was a special moment for me.
"I've got really fond memories of the place. The club were brilliant with me, the players, the staff and everybody. I really enjoyed being there so I'm looking forward to going back and catching up. I'm sure a few of the lads will have a few tales to tell come Friday night!
"My memory's terrible, but when it comes to Friday night, when we watch the highlights and see the games that we played, I'm sure there'll be some stories come flooding back.
"I just remember it being a really good dressing room. I think it was somewhere where every player enjoyed going into work every day, working with the two Jimmies and Sandy.
"It was a brilliant time."
Crawford added: "It's now a time when we can look back on with fondness, we can share a few stories, and look back on it with a bit of pride in ourselves.
"I don't just mean players, I'm just talking about the club as a whole, and the supporters.
READ MORE: LOOK BACK: Athletic's 2004 Scottish Cup final in pictures 20 years on
"You want to wake up tomorrow to bring back those feelings. It's happened before, it's taken time for Dunfermline to get back there, and there's no reason why the club, if everybody's pulling in the same direction, can't kick-on and look forward to a good future again."
Hosted by Rob Maclean, who was the BBC's lead football commentator back in 2004, the event kicks off at 7.45pm and will feature archive footage from every round.
Those in attendance will also have the first chance to buy a specially produced replica shirt from the final, of which there are a limited run, before any that remain go on general sale.
Tickets can be bought at the Carnegie Hall box office, or online, at https://www.onfife.com/event/celebrating-20-years-of-the-pst-the-road-to-hampden-2004-cb41/.
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