Nostalgia: Fife Flyers close to double glory in 1998

They were winners of the Northern Premier League then followed it up by battling their way to the British Championship semi-final.

On the final weekend of the league season they had a double header against Kingston Hawks then a winner-takes-all clash with Paisley Pirates 24 hours later.

Flyers picked up the two points against Hawks at the Fife Ice Arena in a scrappy game that failed to live up to expectations

The home side were always in control without playing at their best, but the final score of 5-4 suggests a closer game than it actually was.

However Flyers then headed west where they save the best until last and secured the Northern Premier League title with a stunning performance.

They travelled to the Lagoon Centre knowing that their championship crown was on the line – Paisley~had to win, Fife needed just one point – and rose to the occasion with their finest team performance of the season.

From start to finish they were in control, and there was even the prospect of a shut out until the closing stages of the game.

The huge travelling support in the capacity 1,300 crowd began their celebrations shortly after the third period started, such was Flyers grip on the game.

Player-coach Mark Morrison led by example with a fine hat-trick, but this was a rare occasion ‘when the “man of the match” award could, justifiably, have gone to the entire team.

It was a flawless performance, and by far the best road win of the season.

With the title secured Flyers headed into the British Championship play-offs in Group B where they blitzed their way through to the semi-final.

Lancashire Hawks were beaten 14-7 and 11-3, Peterborough Pirates 5-2 and 4-1, Cardiff rage 10-0 and 10-2 and Telford Tigers by 5-2 and 10-1.

This set Flyers up with a meeting in Hull with Kingston hawks which would sadly prove to be one game too many.

For 40 minutes it was a close and tense affair in the same vein as the majority of meetings had between the clubs during the season.

But in the final period, Hawks took advantage of their chances, while Flyers were guilty of squandering some excellent opportunities and it was noticeable that many of the Fife players visibly tired in the closing stages as they tried to chase the game which ended 7-3 in Hawks favour.

The trophy would go to Guildford Flames but there was some consolation for the Flyers when they dominated the first ever BNL awards .

Mark Morrison picked up both the BNL Coach of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards, as well as being voted into BNL All Star along with team mates, netminder Bernie McCrone and forwards Steven King and John Haig.