The History of Newtongrange Star
1929/30
EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP WINNERS, SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP WINNERS & EDINBURGH & DISTRICT LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Back: W. Cornwall, J. Pryde, T. Moffat, S. McCord, T. Naysmith, R. Henderson, A. Spence, D. Jack, W. Marshall.
Centre row: W. Greenhill (Representative), G. Richardson, J. Walker, A. Allan, W. Petrie, J. Currie, G. Letham, A. Wright, G. McIntosh, W. Smith (Trainer).
Front row: J. Kerr (Assistant Trainer), W. Torrance, W. Walker, A. Marman, A. Todd, P. Henderson, J. McPherson, T. Young, J. Barclay, A. Crichton (Secretary), A. Reid (Assistant Trainer).
Seated: J. Kirkwood (Assistant), S. Moffat (Assistant), J. Thomson, J. McAuley, W. Cornwall (Assistant)
EDINBURGH & DISTRICT LEAGUE
Pld W D L F A Pts
Newtongrange Star 31 21 6 4 86 41 48
Tranent Juniors 33 20 5 8 96 48 45
Rosewell Rosedale 32 18 5 9 81 60 41
Musselburgh Bruntonians 30 16 7 7 78 33 39
Wallyford Bluebell 28 16 3 9 68 49 35
Armadale Juniors 31 14 6 11 75 68 34
Dunbar United 31 13 6 12 56 71 32
Dalkeith Thistle 33 15 2 16 69 81 32
Portobello Thistle 31 12 7 12 66 69 31
Linlithgow Rose 30 12 7 11 63 76 31
Stoneyburn Juniors 32 11 7 14 71 70 29
Ormiston Primrose 30 9 10 11 66 56 28
Edinburgh Emmet 28 9 9 10 59 60 27
Arniston Rangers 30 9 3 18 64 83 21
Wemyss Athletic 27 7 6 14 54 71 20
Bonnyrigg Rose 29 8 4 17 50 72 20
Penicuik Juniors 27 7 3 17 43 85 17
Broxburn Athletic 29 4 6 19 39 72 14
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Info
Armadale Juniors H 6 1 Young 3, Allan 2, Imrie
A
Arniston Rangers H
A 3 1 Barclay, Thomson, Henderson
Bonnyrigg Rose H 4 2 McAuley, Todd, Barclay, Walker
A 3 1 Walker 2, Allan
Broxburn Athletic H 2 1 ?
A 1 0 ?
Dalkeith Thistle H 3 0 'Another', Newman, Henderson
A 3 1 Walker 3
Dunbar United H 5 7 ?
A 4 1 McAuley 2, McIntosh 2
Edinburgh Emmet H 6 3 McAuley 2, Walker, Henderson, McIntosh, Thomson
A 1 0 McAuley
Linlithgow Rose H 7 0 McAuley 2, Barclay, Henderson, Allan, Thomson 2
A 1 1 ?
Musselburgh Bruntonians H 3 0 Imrie 2, Walker
A 1 1 ?
Ormiston Primrose H 1 2 ?
A 2 2 ?
Penicuik Juniors H 6 1 Newman 4, Barclay, McPherson
A 3 1 Young 2, Imrie
Portobello Thistle H 3 1 Walker 2, Allan
A 0 3
Rosewell Rosedale H 1 1 ?
A 3 1 ?
Stoneyburn Juniors H 6 3 ?
A 2 3 ?
Tranent Juniors H 2 2 ?
A 3 4 Newman, Black, Young
Wallyford Bluebell H 2 0 McAulay 2
A 1 0 Walker (Note: Match played as double header with East of Scotland Cup final)
Wemyss Athletic H 2 2 ?
A
SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Crowd
1 A Edinburgh Emmet 3 1 Imrie 2, McIntosh
2 H Anstruther Rangers 3 2 ?
3 A Linlithgow Rose 4 1 Imrie 2, Thomson, Allan
4 Bye
5 H Aberdeen Parkvale 4 1 Walker, Barclay, McPherson, McIntosh
QF A Ormiston Primrose 2 0 ? 4000
SF N Croy Celtic 2 2 Barclay 2 15,000
N Croy Celtic 2 0 Thomson, McAuley 9000
F N Hall Russels 3 0 Allan 2, McAuley Currie, Todd, Letham, McPherson, Henderson, Marman, Thomson, Walker, McAuley, Allan, Barclay. 17,000
Cummings (Hall Russels) jumps to a high ball. McAulay, the Newtongrange Star centre forward, is seen on the right.
Match Report
    24th May 1930, Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh

    BRAVO STAR

    Newtongrange Star realized a long standing ambition on Saturday when they won the Scottish Junior Cup decisively defeating Hall Russels Aberdeen by 3 clear goals, at the ground of the Heart of Midlothian. As the trophy is the blue riband of Scottish Junior football the game created much interest all over the country, and also among football in England, but more particularly in the East of Scotland and the North of Scotland. Neither team had been in the final of the competition before but confidence was high in each camp. The approaches before the game suggested that the crowd would be a big one. The North team were well supported, but the Star had a bigger support, and a number of their supporters came into prominence by wearing red bathing caps and carrying balloons.

    Since both teams usually played in blue as per rule, both teams had to change. Hall Russells donned the black and gold of Aberdeen and Newtongrange Star wore the maroon of Heart of Midlothian.

    The Star led by a mascot in the team's playing colours, and carrying a practice ball, were first out to be followed by their opponents, who had also a mascot. The first impressions were more that the Star were the 'part' in smartness and physique, as the Aberdonians looked a bit small in size and weight.

    The first goal came in a way that is frequently seen in football. When a team is defending with all its might and suddenly breaks away it often gets a goal or immediately loses one. And a loss fell, to be recorded on this occasion. It happened this way - The Star had been battering at the Hall Russels goal without success, suddenly the Aberdeen men broke away and developed an attack on the right. Sentor who incidentally was the likeliest of his forwards to cause damage, carried play down the wing and cut in towards goal, Todd however cleared nothing to spare, but he did manage to pass the ball forward. Away went the Star, a corner was forced, following some play in front Cummings, the ball came out to Allan, who never hesitated in his shot which went hard and low into the net.

    Shortly after the goal, the Hall Russels forwards went away with a rush on the right, Letham found himself under pressure, but he cleared his lines with a backheeler. It was perhaps a trifling incident, but it served to demonstrate the abandon and confidence that animated the whole Star team. They sensed victory and played accordingly.

    Hall Russels tried hard to wipe out their deficit, but it was all in vain against the trenchant and relentless tackling of the Star half-backs and backs, among whom Skipper Henderson was always prominent. An attack on the Aberdeen goal found a crowd of players around Cummings, the call came out to Allan, and from 20 yards he drove it into the net like lightning.

    Half Time

    The second half continued as the first, with Henderson shooting over the bar, when it was easier to score, Thomson hit the crossbar. Back again went the Star, and 25 minutes into the second half the Star scored a third goal, a ball was lobbed into the goalmouth from the left, McAuley headed into the net. Five minutes later Allan with a beautiful left foot drive, struck the post, but later the same player had a "shot at the brewery".

    The match ended with the final result: Star 3 Hall Russels 0.

    Summing Up

    It was a fine clean game, with the Star always in the ascendancy. With regards to the Stars performance, it might be invidious to single out individuals when all played well. Currie and his backs were as safe as the "proverbial houses" while the half-backs kept a grip on the game throughout. Henderson being always in the thick of it. McAuley was at times unfortunate but had the satisfaction of scoring a goal. Allan was always prominent and came into the limelight through his 2 goals, the second was a real beauty. Hall Russels took their defeat well, but it must be said, they were outplayed in every department and gave no excuses.

    The Cup was presented to Mr. W. McPhail on behalf of the Star, by Mr. R. Campbell, Chairman of the Scottish Junior Football Association. Mr. McPhail said he was one of the Honorary Presidents of the Star and they had no more vocal supporter, for he cracked them up on every occasion (Laughter). The presentation was carried out in the Hearts Board Room.

    Teams
    Newtongrange Star: Currie, Todd, Letham, McPherson, Henderson, Marman, Thomson, Walker, McAuley, Allan, Barclay.

    Hall Russels: Cummings, McKay, Baxter, Paterson, A. Smith, Sutherland, H. Smith, J. Stephen, W. Stephen, Ritchie, Soutar.
THORNTON SHIELD
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Crowd
1 A Penicuik Juniors 6 0 McDonald 4, Barclay, McIntosh
2 H Rosewell Rosedale 2 0 Letham, McAuley
SF N Musselburgh Bruntonians 1 2 Todd Currie, Todd, Letham, Young, McPherson, Marman, Thomson, Walker, McAulay, Allan, Barclay. 2000
EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Crowd
1 A Portobello Thistle 2 0 ?
2 H Rosewell Rosedale 4 0 McIntosh, ?
SF N Wemyss Athletic 5 3 McIntosh 2, Walker 2, Barclay 2500
F N Wallyford Bluebell 1 1 McAuley Petrie, Todd, Letham, McPherson, Henderson, Marman, Thomson, Walker, McAuley, Allan, Barclay.
N Wallyford Bluebell 1 0 Walker 5000
MARSHALL CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 ?
MUSSELBURGH CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Crowd
1 H Edinburgh Emmet 2 2 ?
A Edinburgh Emmet 3 0 Imrie, Allan, McIntosh
2 A Linlithgow Rose 4 0 Walker 2, McIntosh, McIntyre
SF N Dunbar United 4 1 McAulay 2, Walker, Young
F N Wemyss Athletic 0 1 3000