Peter thought he had relegated the Methil men
Cup competitions are great for giving smaller clubs the chance to pit their wits against the country’s top sides.
Part- time East Fife have already beaten Dundee United and drawn with Hearts this season.
This afternoon they face the even bigger task of taking on Steven Gerrard’s Rangers in the second round of the Betfred Cup.
The Fifers competed closely with the big guns for a spell in the 1970s.
Peter Mcquade was a defensive stalwart in the side that won promotion to Scotland’s top flight in 1971.
He reckons a team full of courage helped them go toe-to-toe with sides packed with class.
He recalled: “Our first season in Division One was very difficult.
“We were still all part- time players, but we had to compete against full-time clubs such as Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts.
“I was doing my day job as a civil servant, then had to go to Ibrox to play against Willie Henderson or Parkhead to face Jinky Johnstone!”
There’s no doubt Peter stuck closely to those famous wingers. He was booked after 22 minutes for a foul on Henderson when facing Rangers for the first time.
East Fife gave nothing away under manager Pat Quinn.
They only conceded 25 goals in away matches during season 1971-72.
But it nearly went horribly wrong for Peter on the last day of the season.
He said: “We needed to avoid defeat at Motherwell to have a chance of staying up. A win would have made it certain.
“I gave away a goal early in the match and feared it would be the mistake that us. “Fortunately, Joe Hughes later equalised. “We then had to wait for the result of Dunfermline against Dundee United.
“I had my head in my hands, thinking my mistake had cost us our place.
“Then the chairman came in to tell us that United had won 1-0 and we were staying up.
“It meant we were getting a bonus of a new colour television. That went wrong when it emerged the televisions were stolen property.
“I had to tell the police I’d already sold mine to a girl at work.
“I think she was watching Coronation Street when we went round to her house to break the news that the TV had to go back.”
Peter joined East Fife in 1967 after being spotted by manager, Jimmy Bonthrone, and his scout, Tommy Adams.
He said: “My signing for East Fife was very much down to good fortune.
“They were heading for a game that was postponed, changed direction, and saw me playing for Valleyfield Juniors.
“It led to the best five years of my football life. “My debut came against Stirling Albion and Jimmy told me to play at outside left.
“We won the game 3-2, and I set up two of the goals! I think that performance was my passage of right to the first-team dressing room.”
East Fife accepted a bid from Dumbarton for Peter’s services in 1973.
He said: “My signing-on fee enabled me to set a wedding date with my fiancé, Jean.
“We celebrate our 46th anniversary this year.” Peter, now 70, came up against Rangers with the Sons – a 6-0 defeat in the League Cup, however, wasn’t his most painful experience.
He said: “I got injured in a reserve game at Ibrox after a tackle from Johnny Hamilton.
“My ankle went up like a balloon, and after the game I reversed my car into a lamppost.”
Peter later spent three season with Berwick Rangers before joining Glenrothes Juniors.
He said: “I got a free transfer by promising I wouldn’t play for a senior team.
“Just a week later, I got a call from East Fife player-manager, Dave Clarke.
“He asked if I’d like a second spell at the club. But I had to tell him I’d given my word that it would only be junior football for me.”