Members News: James McPake Takes Over At Dunfermline

James McPake – New Dunfermline Manager May 2022

We are pleased to hear that our member, former noughties Sky Blue central defender James McPake has found a new managerial posting after leaving his post as gaffer of Dundee FC in February.

On May 24th James signed a two year contract to become the First Team Manager at Dunfermline Athletic.

James left the Scottish Premier League side on good terms following a two and a half years contract. He had joined them a player in May 2014 and since then served the club as Dundee’s Captain, Under 18s Manager, First Team Caretaker Manager, and First Team Manager. During the 2020-21 season, James led the team to promotion to the Scottish Premiership after just two seasons in the Championship. At the time of reluctantly asking him to leave they said,

“It is without a doubt that someone who has achieved so much in such a short amount of time will go on to continue achieving remarkable things, and for this James has our unequivocal support and endorsement. We are proud to have given James his first steps in management and beyond proud of his accomplishments. He is, and will always remain, a valued and loved member of the Dundee FC family.”

Now the gritty ex Sky Blue man has a new challenge with the third tier League One Pars.  James told their website,

“I’m delighted to have been appointed manager at such a prestigious club within Scottish football. It’s been a challenging year for the club but I am excited and optimisticabout how we can build the club upand get it moving in the right direction from League One.”

James McPake in the Sky Blue

Born in Bellshill (on 24th June 1984) James previously played for both Livingston and Greenock Morton before joining the Sky Blues in 2008 and subsequently turned out for both Hibernian and Dundee. Though Scottish, a northern Irish grandparent allowed him selection to win a single cap for Northern Ireland (a 6–0 defeat by the Netherlands on 2 June 2012) whilst with Hibs. 

The defender actually began his career as a forward and as a youngster played for Holytown Colts, Celtic South BC, Coatbridge Amateurs and then Livingston youth going on to sign professional for the Academy of the then Scottish First Division team in August 2000 eventually debuting nearly four years later in April 2004 for Livingston‘s SPL side.

James went out on loan to Scottish Second Division side Greenock Morton in January 2006, going on to make ten appearances and scoring twice. James eventually became captain of the Livingston side and attracted attention from a number of English clubs including the Sky Blues.

Quentin Cosma (G-Casino); James; Billy Bell & Bob Eales (CCFPA)

By the time CCFC got their man, signing him initially on pre-contract terms in December 2008 (completed with agreed fee on 2nd February 2009), James had netted six times in 119 appearances for Livingston. He went on to spend four seasons with the Sky Blues (2008-12) making his debut for Chris Coleman‘s side in a 2-1 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 7th February 2009 and scoring his first goal for the club against Leicester City on 21 March 2010. James was awarded the Association’s ‘Player of the Year‘  title in 2010 (see photo above). In May 2011 James needed surgery for a bad back injury but in that August signed a one-year contract extension that would tie him to CCFC until July 2013.

James McPake in Sky Blue action

However James moved before his City contract was up returning to his homeland to sign for Hibernian on an initial six-month loan from 23 January 2012 turned into a two year full contract on 30th June 2012. During his Sky Blues days James had pulled on the first team shirt 43 times and netted just that once!

As Hibs. team captain he led the team to safety from relegation and helped them to the Scottish Cup final (which he sadly missed through injury)! His injury problems limited the central defender’s first team chances during the 2013–14 season and following their relegation  was released in May 2014 after 53 games and three goals. James then immediately signed for newly promoted Scottish Premiership club Dundee where he became a valued regular for his first two seasons but in the second two periods of injury kept him away from first team football.

By the time he retired from playing football in January 2018 he had scored four times in 55 appearances for Hibs and achieved a career total of 16 goals in 280 outings. James immediately began his coaching career in the Dundee youth academy system. After the club sacked manager Jim McIntyre in May 2019 James stepped in as caretaker manager before being appointed as the senior team manager in May 2019. As mentioned above the 2020-21 season saw him lead Dundee to winning the Premiership play-offs and gaining promotion to the Scottish Premiership his achievement being recognised with the award of the SPFL Scottish Championship Manager of the Year title!