Teams, tales and tips – a guide to the local game
The last of the four main Fifeshire clubs to see the light of day, East Fife extend their allegiance to a coastal area within the historic county on the north bank of the Firth of Forth. Although always based in Methil, first at Bayview Park and since 1998 at Bayview Stadium, East Fife represent the wider conurbation of Levenmouth.
This is fortunate, as two of the three towns that comprise this coastal community – Methil and Buckhaven, merged into one burgh in 1891 – have had little going for them since the closure of the collieries from the 1960s onwards. In fact, Bayview Stadium has been one of the few new developments there since. Even the chimney of the coal-fired power station behind it has been demolished.
The third element, formerly separate Leven, across the river of the same name, stands out as a resort with hotels and golf courses of decent standard. If you need a bed for the night or a beer in convivial surroundings, you won’t find it in Methil.
In fact, apart from East Fife and a surprisingly interesting heritage centre, there would be little reason to visit Methil at all. Bayview Stadium is near the river, just as close to Leven as the site of the old Bayview Park on Methil’s main street, Wellesley Road.
When East Fife were founded at a public meeting in 1903, Methil was Scotland’s busiest coal port. Two of three docks had already been built and a third would soon be added. Methil had trains, trams and pubs a-plenty. Raith Rovers in nearby Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline Athletic and Cowdenbeath FC had been in operation since the 1880s – now there was a team to represent the expanding labour force on the Fife coast.
Working at full capacity during World War II, Methil saw its football club reach its zenith soon afterwards when East Fife won the Scottish League Cup three times in six years to add to the Scottish Cup victory of 1938. The Fifers even challenged for the league title, in an era when Rangers and Hibernian had very strong sides indeed.
When Methil declined, so did East Fife. The last passenger train left in 1969 although there has been serious talk of reopening the Levenmouth rail link from Kirkcaldy, via the major bottling plant of Diageo.
Leven, meanwhile, draws more and and more tourists with its caravan parks, self-catering properties and golf courses – Leven Links is often a qualifying course when the Open is held at nearby St Andrews, as it was in 2022.
For all their humble surroundings, East Fife have shown great resilience, winning League Two in 2016 and temporarily expanding capacity to cope with the visits of Rangers and Dunfermline in recent years. Few fans will remember the glory years of the early 1950s, or even the last top-flight seasons in the early 1970s, but the club retains its spirit and identity.
Getting Around
Arriving in town, local transport and tips
Edinburgh Airport is 53km (33 miles) south of Methil. From the terminal, a tram runs every 7mins to St Andrew Square/Waverley (£7.50, journey time 25mins).
Travelling from Edinburgh’s main station to Methil becomes exponentially easier with the opening of the Levenmouth rail line to the newly built Leven station in June 2024. Services will run hourly at first.
Leven station is just over the water from East Fife’s Bayview Stadium. The centre of Methil is another 7-8min walk in the same direction.
To get to Methil by bus, first head to Kirkcaldy. From Stance 1 at Kirkcaldy bus station in the town centre, Stagecoach bus 7 takes 50mins to reach Methil, and Bayview Stadium, running every 30mins until late in the evening.
Bus 7 actually sets off from Dunfermline bus station, overall journey time to Methil, 2hrs 20mins.
Local Magnum Taxis (01333 422 333/01592 716 000) offer airport transfers from Edinburgh, rates usually around £70 and £20-£25 from Kirkcaldy.
Where to Drink
The best pubs and bars for football fans
Methil may have lost its hotels but has been slowly losing its pubs, too, such as the Bayview Bar for East Fife fans. The future of music venue, the Purple Cat, also remains uncertain. For the time being, your best bet is The Argyll Bar at 54 Methil Brae, provider of Belhaven brews just off Wellesley Road.
On the other hand, Leven isn’t short of pubs, on and off focal North Street. For sport, your first port of call should be McPhail’s, with its 13 screens, two bars, cover bands and DJs. You’ll also find TV football at friendly, popular Mollys, near the equally patronised Crown Inn.
You’ll find few better pubs in Fife for football watching than The Windsor, with decent food and a warm welcome. It has guest rooms, too.
Where to stay
The best hotels for the ground and around town
Welcome to Fife has a database of the hotels across the historic county.
Unfortunately, you’ll find few in Methil – the last hotel, the White Swan, closed a long while back.
Accommodation is available in tourist-friendly Leven just over the river from the ground.
The most obvious choice, the mid-range Caledonian, offers golf packages and dinner/B&B deals. En-suite rooms have WiFi, Sky TV and tea- and coffee-making facilities, and the restaurant operates from breakfast to 9pm. It’s just off the main street about 1km from the ground, and 300 metres from Leven bus station.
Nearer to both and right on the high street, The Windsor is a football-friendly pub equipped with five refurbished guest rooms at affordable prices. Each has a flat-screen TV as well as WiFi and tea and coffee in the room.
Slightly further from the town centre, behind the Caledonian, the Dunclutha Guest House provides a comfortable, affordable stay in one of five rooms, guests looked after by welcoming owner Julie. Treats include home-made shortbread, home-cooked breakfasts and a large communal hot tub in the sun-catching back garden. There’s even drying facilities if you get caught in the rain.
Further up the beach-lined coast are all kinds of guesthouses, self-catering lodgings and holiday parks, but these require a taxi or car to/from the ground.
