Norrie McCathie
Encyclopedia
Norman "Norrie" McCathie (23 March 1961 – 8 January 1996) was a Scottish
professional footballer
best known for time with Scottish club Dunfermline Athletic
.
Signed by Dunfermline manager Pat Stanton
in August 1981 from Cowdenbeath
, McCathie went on to play a club record of 576 games between 1981 and 1996.
McCathie made his Dunfermline debut on 24 October 1981 against Ayr United
and scored his first goal three days later in a 3-1 win over Queen's Park
. By 1984, McCathie had become a regular in the Dunfermline team and helped the club to successive promotions to the First Division in season 1985-86
and to the Scottish Premier Division
in season 1986-87
.
McCathie sustained a career-threatening injury in 1989 and went on loan to Ayr United during his rehabilitation. He returned in January and scored in his return match against Airdrieonians
. He went on to play in every match for Dunfermline in the next two seasons and helped the club reach the League Cup
final in season 1991-92
.
McCathie died on 8 January 1996 from carbon monoxide poisoning
, aged 34, at his home in Fife
. His 26-year-old girlfriend Amanda Burns also died in the tragedy. He had separated from his pregnant wife Julie in late 1995, and their daughter Jade Clare was born in March 1996 just over two months after his death. He also had two older children.
His final appearance was a 2-1 defeat against St.Mirren at St.Mirren Park on 6 January 1996. Dunfermline went on to gain promotion to the Scottish Premier Division that season
. Following McCathie's untimely death, his shirt number 4 was retired for the remainder of the 1995-96 season.
In December 1998, a stand at the club's East End Park
stadium was named after him.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
best known for time with Scottish club Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
.
Signed by Dunfermline manager Pat Stanton
Pat Stanton
Patrick Gordon Stanton is a Scottish former football player and manager.He joined Hibs from Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic in 1963 and made his debut for the club against Motherwell in October that year. He quickly established himself in the first team, playing in defence or midfield...
in August 1981 from Cowdenbeath
Cowdenbeath F.C.
Cowdenbeath Football Club are a professional Scottish football team based in the town of Cowdenbeath, Fife. They currently play in the Second Division of the Scottish Football League. The club plays its home games at Central Park in the centre of the town which has the unusual feature of a motor...
, McCathie went on to play a club record of 576 games between 1981 and 1996.
McCathie made his Dunfermline debut on 24 October 1981 against Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
and scored his first goal three days later in a 3-1 win over Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
. By 1984, McCathie had become a regular in the Dunfermline team and helped the club to successive promotions to the First Division in season 1985-86
1985-86 in Scottish football
The 1985–86 season was the 89th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Key events:With Rangers once again failing to mount a title challenge, manager Jock Wallace's second spell as manager ended in April when he was sacked and the club appointed Graeme Souness as player-manager,...
and to the Scottish Premier Division
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
in season 1986-87
1986-87 in Scottish football
The 1986–87 season was the 90th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Notable events:In the first full season under the management of player-manager Graeme Souness, Rangers won their first league title since 1978, and also won the League Cup....
.
McCathie sustained a career-threatening injury in 1989 and went on loan to Ayr United during his rehabilitation. He returned in January and scored in his return match against Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
. He went on to play in every match for Dunfermline in the next two seasons and helped the club reach the League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
final in season 1991-92
1991-92 in Scottish football
The 1991–92 season was the 95th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier Division:Champions: RangersRelegated: St...
.
McCathie died on 8 January 1996 from carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...
, aged 34, at his home in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
. His 26-year-old girlfriend Amanda Burns also died in the tragedy. He had separated from his pregnant wife Julie in late 1995, and their daughter Jade Clare was born in March 1996 just over two months after his death. He also had two older children.
His final appearance was a 2-1 defeat against St.Mirren at St.Mirren Park on 6 January 1996. Dunfermline went on to gain promotion to the Scottish Premier Division that season
1995-96 in Scottish football
The 1995–96 season was the 99th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Summary:Rangers won the Premier Division with a record 87 points, finishing four ahead of rivals Celtic. Aberdeen were third with 55 points ....
. Following McCathie's untimely death, his shirt number 4 was retired for the remainder of the 1995-96 season.
In December 1998, a stand at the club's East End Park
East End Park
East End Park is a football stadium situated in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland with a seating capacity of 11,380.The stadium plays host to the home matches of Scottish Premier League side, Dunfermline Athletic F.C. It currently comprises four stands: East Stand, Main Stand, SGM Stand and the Norrie...
stadium was named after him.