John Lunn

Born: Dunfermline 9th December 1942
Died: 10th December 1973

John Lunn was an outside left signed from Blairhall Colliery by Jock Stein In September 1961. Following an injury to Willie Cunningham he was tried out at left back and performed so impressively that he was handed his first team debut in the position three days later on 6th April 1963 in a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock.

Forming a remarkable partnership with Willie Callaghan in almost 300 first class matches, the two were idolised by the supporters who regarded them as the best full back pairing in Scottish football and could never understand their lack of international recognition.

Early in 1967 John developed leukaemia and it was testiment to his courage and determination that he recovered to play every match of the 1967/68 season and help the Pars lift the Scottish Cup, making up for the disappointment of three years earlier.

A tough tackler with the heart of a lion, John had a terrific turn of pace that was the equal of any winger playing against him. The only thing, sadly, that John could not beat was leukaemia, which struck again in 1972 and forced him into premature retirement after 359 appearances, the ninth highest in Dunfermline history.

On Monday 10th December 1973 John passed away, a day after his 31st birthday. A few months before he died, he was awarded the Player of the Year’ trophy by the Players Union, presented annually to a retired member, who in the opinion of his fellow professionals, had best served the game. It was one of John’s proudest possessions.

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