Dunfermline's pitch fight

By Michael Harrold

'Huge occasions'
"European nights were huge occasions," he said, recalling evenings when as many as 26,000 would pack into East End Park. Yorkston went with his father, getting to the ground early to find standing room at the front of what is now the Norrie McCarthie Stand.

Winning start
Charlie Dickson, "an old-style centre-forward not afraid to go crashing into goalkeepers", was his favourite player and the striker was on the scoresheet when Dunfermline first took to the European stage with victory over Ireland's Saint Patrick's Athletic FC in September 1961.

Dickson delight
Dickson would score four more times as the Pars reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup that season, before Jock Stein's Scottish Cup winners were knocked out by a 1-0 home defeat by Újpesti TE - still Dunfermline's only loss in 20 European home ties.

European success
Runs to the quarter-finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1966 and the semi-finals of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1969 followed - including victories over the likes of Valencia CF and Everton FC. But a decade of European football ended in January 1970, when a 3-2 win against RSC Anderlecht failed to stop Dunfermline bowing out of the Fairs Cup.

Hafnarfjördur visit
Since then nothing - until now, and the visit of FH Hafnarfjördur in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup. After drawing 2-2 in Iceland a fortnight ago, Dunfermline are confident of winning their first European tie in 34 years, but the experience has been tainted by Hafnarfjördur's refusal to play the second leg on East End Park's artificial pitch.

'Extremely disappointing'
"It is extremely disappointing for the club and the town," Yorkston told uefa.com. "Thirty-four years is a long time to wait for European competition."

Financial reality
Not that Yorkston would consider a return to grass - the romantic vision is tempered by the club's financial reality. The home tie against Hafnarfjördur has been moved to Saint Johnstone FC's McDiarmid Park, but Yorkston considers it a small price to pay for the rewards his side has reaped on and off the pitch since turning to artificial turf in August 2003.

'Better surface'
"Players have a better surface to train on and better facilities," Yorkston said. "They can train on it during the week and then we can let it to our junior clubs or companies for five-a-side, so we're earning more than just gate money. It helps the team and the club's finances on a weekly basis."

Moscow first
Artificial pitches can be used in Europe with the away side's consent and UEFA Cup matches have already been played on the FieldTurf of FC Torpedo Moskva's Luzhniki stadium. Results of a study examining the use of artificial pitches are expected next year when UEFA will reconsider the question of their use in European competition.

Pioneering lead
Yorkston certainly expects more clubs to follow Dunfermline's lead. "Better versions [of artificial pitches] are being produced all the time - and it's a development that is sure to take over," he said. "It's a question of time and economics."

'Special night'
Before then there is the small matter of a European tie to win. Even though the game won't be played at East End Park, for Pars fans it will still be something to remember. "This is really a fantastic feeling," Yorkston said as he contemplated Thursday's European return. "It will be a special night."