DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC are mourning the loss of Scottish Cup winning legend, Harry Melrose, who has died.

The club have announced that their former player and manager has passed away at the age of 88.

A member of the team which brought the Scottish Cup back to East End Park for the first time in 1961, Melrose made 275 appearances for the Pars, scoring 106 goals, during a seven-year spell as a player.

He would later become manager for five years, from 1975 to 1980, leading them to promotion to Division One in 1979.

The Dunfermline players wore black armbands during the win over Partick Thistle last night, and the club said that they will "honour Harry further ahead of our next home fixture on Saturday 2nd March", against Ayr United.

Dunfermline Press:

David Cook, Dunfermline Athletic chairman and CEO, said: "We are all saddened to hear the news of the passing of Harry. He was a massive figure at this football club who contributed a huge amount on and off the field.

"On behalf of everyone at Dunfermline Athletic I would like to pass on our condolences to Harry’s family, friends and teammates at this difficult time."

Born on May 31 1935, in Edinburgh, Melrose moved to Rangers after winning junior caps with Dalkeith Thistle, but joined Dunfermline in May 1958 after being released following two years at Ibrox.

In 1959, he set a new Scottish League record for a winger, scoring six times in a 10-1 win over Partick Thistle, and was a member of the Pars side which, under Jock Stein, defeated Celtic, after a replay, in the 1961 Scottish Cup final.

Three of Melrose's goals came in European competition, the most memorable of which was the winning goal in a Fairs Cup tie against English giants Everton, in the 1962/63 season.

He played for the club in a second Scottish Cup final, in 1965, and although he scored, Celtic - by now managed by Stein - won 3-2, in a season that saw Dunfermline finish third in the league, missing out on the top flight title by a point.

During the following campaign, Melrose made just one appearance before being transferred to Aberdeen for £100,000, where he spent four years.

After leaving Pittodrie, he joined Berwick Rangers, serving them as player / manager, before returning to East End Park in 1975 as manager.

In May 1979, a 1-1 draw against Falkirk, in the final game of the season, in front of a record crowd for the new Second Division of 5,955.

Paying tribute, Aberdeen, for whom Melrose made 87 appearances, scoring 19 goals, said: "Aberdeen FC were saddened to learn today of the passing of former captain Harry Melrose.

"Signed by Eddie Turnbull, Harry was transferred to Aberdeen for £10,000 in October 1965 and was a vital signing as Turnbull slowly rebuild the club after a disastrous spell in the early 60s. He led the team out at Hampden in the 1967 Scottish Cup final and was in charge of the side when they played as the Washington Whips in the summer of ’67 while Eddie was unwell.

"During three seasons at Pittodrie he made 87 appearances, scoring 19 goals."

Berwick Rangers also paid tribute, commenting: "Berwick Rangers are deeply saddened today to hear of the passing of former Player / Manager, Harry Melrose (88).

"Harry lived in Dunfermline with wife Betty and the news of his passing was relayed to Secretary Dennis McCleary by Harry’s Grandson, Ryan. Harry made 117 appearances for Berwick scoring 19 goals.

"Harry was Berwick Player / Manager from 1969 to 1975, having joined the club from Aberdeen where he made 87 appearances for the ‘Dons’ scoring 19 goals as a winger or inside forward."

In 2013, Melrose, who also served the Pars as general manager, had a street named after him, alongside the late John Lunn, in a development on the site of the former Blacklaw Primary School.