Sam Hutchison (95), of Whitelaw Crescent, died peacefully at Victoria Hospice, Kirkcaldy, after working for the club in a number of roles - from groundsman to serving half-time tea to referees – over a period of more than 50 years.

Pars director Jim Leishman led the tributes, describing Sam as a “great servant” to the club, and said, “He spent a lot of years at East End Park and he and his brother Daniel were always together. When I was manager, he was always about on a Saturday and when I first met him he was the groundsman. Sam, Daniel and Joe Nelson were all great pals. He was a great servant to the club and he was very proud of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. It is very sad.” A well-known face around East End Park, Sam was first lifted over the turnstile by his dad in the 1920s as a four-year-old and thereafter took his favourite position at the halfway line on the old railway side, now the North Stand.

After working for the then Fife County Council water department and as a janitor at Blacklaw Primary School, he joined the East End groundstaff, working under older brother Daniel, and only a spell serving as a lance corporal in the Black Watch during the Second World War, where he fought in Burma and Syria, separated him from who he described as “the one and only team”.

From 1963 through to the First Division title-winning season of 2010/2011, during which he witnessed European triumphs, Scottish Cup victories and both promotions and relegations, he acted as a steward at the club.

In 2005/2006, he was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame at the same time as club greats Leishman, Harry Melrose and several members of the legendary 1968 Scottish Cup-winning side.

Speaking to Press Sport in 2010 about his inclusion, Sam said, “Mr Leishman called me into his office to tell me I was getting nominated for the Hall of Fame – I thought he was kidding!

“It was a great honour and the highlight of my life. Dunfermline are the one and only team.” Sam’s son Danny said, “He took me to my first game when I was five against Rangers reserves. My grandad was there as was my uncle Dan, and we all stood at the halfway line in the old enclosure.

“I remember that at the cup final in 1961, dad threw me up in the air – I have a lot of memories from that day! I went on to be a ballboy at East End Park, as did my two sons - Dunfermline is something that’s in the blood.

“My daughter had Gregor Abel’s song ‘Dunfermline’ on her phone and played it just at the end, so I’m sure it was the last thing that he heard. I think he would be quite happy with that. He was just a great dad, grandad and great-grandad, and was a friend to everybody.” Ross McArthur, managing director of the club, added, “Everyone associated with our club is extremely sad to hear of the death of Sam. Very few non-football people are inducted into our club’s Hall of Fame, but Sam was one of them in recognition of his tremendous service to DAFC. He epitomised everything that our club should stand for, and dedicated so many years of his life to The Pars. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”