Rival football fans will team up to help Fife rail link bid

Rival football fans will unite ahead of a big clash to support a campaign to reinstate a Fife rail link.

Before the match between East Fife and Arbroath supporters will gather signatures on a petition calling for the five miles of track between Leven and Thornton to be reopened.

East Fife is the only team in division two without a station or rail service so while Arbroath is on the east coast main line, fans are unable to make the 40-mile journey between there and Methil by train.

Lifelong Red Lichties fan Allen Armstrong said he used to travel by train to watch Arbroath away games at the old Bayview, before the line closed in 1969.

East Fife supporter Eugene Clark said: “It remains a national disgrace that the Levenmouth conurbation has no direct rail link.

“The rail campaign has been active this past year and a new feasibility study will commence in April 2015, funded to the tune of £100,000 by Fife Council.

“Getting public backing from the fans and rail services back to Leven is more important than any single game.”

Signatures will be collected before the 3pm kick-off at New Bayview, which is just 200 metres from where the Leven railway station would be.