Bobby Kinloch (1935-2014)

Former Pars player Bobby Kinloch has died at the age of 79.

The club is saddened to learn of the death of Bobby Kinloch on 27th August. His football career included Hibs, Greenock Morton, Berwick Rangers, Toronto City, Hamilton Steelers, Raith Rovers and Dunfermline Athletic.

Kinloch started his senior career with Hibs, having previously served in the Royal Air Force (RAF). He was stationed in Malaya while serving in the RAF and played for the Malaya national football team.

During his time with Hibs, Kinloch famously scored the winning goal in a European tie against Barcelona. After spells with Morton and Berwick, Kinloch emigrated to Canada and played in the ECPSL for Toronto and Hamilton. He returned to Scotland and played for Fife clubs Raith Rovers and Dunfermline during the 1967–68 season, after which he retired from playing football.

Bobby played in the Pars Scottish Cup winning run in 1967/68 after being signed as cover for the suspended Roy Barry. The Pars captain was handed a 14 day suspension for a sending off offence in December 1967 so counting him out of the Scottish Cup Quarter Final tie against Partick Thistle.

Kinloch had been released by Raith Rovers and was not cup tied so the 32 year old "utility player" went straight into George Farm's team. He had games against Clyde and against Rangers before seeing the Pars through to the Scottish Cup Semi Final with Bert Paton firing in the goal to secure the 1-0 win.

Kinloch played for Hibs as well and tells a story about how in February 1961 he was ordered to take a crucial penalty against Barcelona at Easter Road. He scored from the spot to clinch Hibs a 3-2 victory and send them into the last four of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup on a 7-6 aggregate.

German referee Johannes Malka's decision sparked fury among the Barcelona players and police were forced to take action to calm the explosive incident which became known as the 'Battle of Easter Road'. During a 13-minute delay the fracas Kinloch sat on the ball in the centre circle and was stunned when regular penalty taker Sammy Baird told him to take the kick.

Despite scepticism on the terracings about Kinloch as a penalty taker, he converted the penalty and his success earned the team their highest bonus of £90.

In September 2011 Kinloch told the story in the Kingdom Suite at East End Park when a guest at the home game against Hibs:-

"Sammy was originally earmarked to take Hibs' penalties. The whole crowd and the players thought I would miss the penalty. Pat Stanton, who later captained Hibs, was in the crowd and he will verify that he was going mental as I ran up to hit it.

"Nobody expected me to score after so much time had elapsed and my priority was just to hit the back of the net. I couldn't really lose because if I had missed we would have drawn and if I scored I would be the hero.

"I did score and we won a European tie against the mighty Barcelona. We all got a £90 bonus for that one match - our highest ever. I remember getting a load of nice crisp new fivers in a brown envelope. Lawrie Reilly, who is a Hibs legend, only ever got a maximum of £20 a week."

Dunfermline Athletic extends its condolences to Bobby's family and friends.