ANDY Rolland is the 12th in the series of Hometown Heroes by Cowdenbeath football historian David Allan.

Andy was born in the Dunfermline Maternity Hospital in November 1942. His father, Davie Rolland, hailed from Lumphinnans and his mother, Jeannie Watt, from Walker Street.

Jeannie’s sister was married to Johnny Knox, who played for Cowden, Preston and Queen of the South. Davie Rolland played for Kinglassie Amateurs, Bo’ness, Lumphinnans Wanderers, Glencraig and Wisbech Town. He also played with his brothers Jim and Andrew (alongside Tommy McDonald and Willie Allan who both signed for Hibs – Willie being Andy Kinnell’s uncle) in the Cowdenbeath RGA Battery 413 team that lost to Worksop in the final of the Territorial Challenge Cup. Davie’s dad coached the team.

Andy played for Beath High and Dunfermline Schools. His rival for the outside right berth at Dunfermline Schools was Andy Penman. One day they linked up in partnership. Penman scored six and Rolland five in an 11-2 win over Markinch. Andy was turning out for Cowdenbeath Reserves before the end of season 1959/60 and skippered Cowdenbeath Royals to success in five competitions in 1960/61.

In October 1961, Andy Rolland was called up by Cowdenbeath and made his debut on the right wing partnering 16-year old Jimmy Robertson who would go on to play for Spurs and Scotland.

At the end of the season though, Rolland was freed as the reserve team at Central Park was scrapped. Rolland, along with Tommy Callaghan, was told by Cowden boss Harry Colville that he didn’t think either of them would make it as footballers.

Andy signed for Dundonald Bluebell but later moved down south with his family. Retained by Dundonald, he played in Crewe Alexandra’s reserve side under a false name. Andy’s brother Jimmy Rolland played as a centre forward down south and scored a record number of goals for Northwich Victoria in a season. He had a spell with Montrose but went to the USA and joined the Los Angeles Skyhawks in the American Soccer League.

Andy was homesick and came home to Lumphinnans. Archie Robertson resigned him for Cowdenbeath in 1964 as a wing half but, as he did with Bobby Wilson, converted Andy Rolland into an overlapping full back. He felt Andy was too quick in the kick and coached him to become one of the hardest shooting players in Scotland. Soon lots of clubs were interested but Dundee United swooped first. A Cowden record fee of £10,000 was received in 1967.

Andy Rolland was known as the ‘Major’ at Tannadice. This was a legacy from Archie Robertson who wanted Andy to be more vocal on the field. He ended up barking out orders right, left and centre. Andy thrilled the Dundee United fans. He was a prolific goalscoring full-back as he galloped from one end of the field to the other. He was one of football’s great enthusiasts but his zealous tackling sometimes drew the ire of referees. Rolland played for United in the 1974 Scottish Cup final and won a solitary cap from the Scottish League in 1975. Eventually, Andy fell out with Jim McLean over his refusal to live in Dundee rather than in Glenrothes.

Andy Rolland headed for the US after quitting Tannadice in 1977 and played for Los Angeles Aztecs and Fort Lauderdale where he was involved in a swap deal with George Best. In the late 1970’s, he joined Dunfermline. It was his last day of the season penalty which took the Pars to promotion – by then he was effectively managing the side. However, after a bust up at East End Park, in 1979 ‘Rollie’ once again pulled on a Cowden jersey in his third spell with the club. He was as popular as ever and in 1980 was appointed player-manager.

His inspirational leadership saw Cowden agonisingly failed to win promotion on the last day of season 1980/81. Andy left Cowden in 1982 aged 39.

He had played in 714 senior matches scoring 73 goals. He then played with Newburgh, Leven and Thornton in the Fife Juniors until he was aged 45 before hanging up his boots.