The History of Newtongrange Star
1957/58
STORY OF THE SEASON
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    Star added two ‘re-instatements’ to their squad for the start of the season. Left half Jim Davidson came back for a second spell at Star from Airdrieonians and winger Harry Young came from Dunfermline Athletic. He had previous experience in the East Juniors with Whitburn. The other main signings were a goalkeeper, Ronald, from Bo’ness United, and Barr, a striker from Bonnybridge Juniors.

    This was to be Star’s poorest league season since the war – they finished 9th in the 13 team league. The Mid / East Division was won by Ormiston Primrose who were beaten by Bo’ness United in the overall title play-off.

    League results were terribly inconsistent. The salvation of the season came through the East of Scotland Junior Cup. Victories over West Calder United, Preston Athletic, Loanhead Mayflower and Ormiston Primrose took Star all the way to the Final where they faced Arniston Rangers. A big crowd made their way from the local area to Tynecastle, where Star came out on top by two goals to nil. Slater and Cunningham were the goalscorers that day.

    In the Scottish Cup Star didn’t get through the regionalised rounds. Comfortable wins over Haddington and Stoneyburn brought rivals Star and Arniston face to face. After two drawn games, the 2nd replay turned into a disaster for Star as they crashed 7-1 at Newbyres Park. 3000 watched the first replay at Victoria Park with only slightly less at the two games in Gorebridge.

    The other local Cups did little to lift the gloom. First round exits were inflicted in the Brown Cup, St Michael Cup and Thornton Shield. Star did get to the Semi Final of the Murray Cup, but lost to West Calder United.

    A typical Star line-up that season was along the lines of:
    Ronald, Durie, Ferguson, Anderson, Davidson, Fraser, Linton, D Young, Martin, Slater, H Young.

    Supporters and officials alike were unhappy at the poor league position achieved and plans were quickly in place to improve things for 1958/59.

    Source: Newtongrange Star FC match programme [29-Nov-2008]
EDINBURGH & DISTRICT LEAGUE MID/EAST DIVISION
Pld W D L F A Pts
Ormiston Primrose 24 15 5 4 61 28 35
Haddington Athletic 24 14 6 4 65 37 34
Tranent Juniors 24 14 1 9 73 60 29
Dalkeith Thistle 24 12 4 8 51 46 28
Bonnyrigg Rose 24 11 4 9 60 60 26
Dunbar United 24 11 3 10 63 56 25
Musselburgh Athletic 24 10 4 10 50 55 24
Arniston Rangers 24 9 5 10 55 56 23
Newtongrange Star 24 10 3 11 49 57 23
Penicuik Athletic 24 8 2 14 46 59 18
Easthouses Lily 24 5 7 12 44 44 17
Preston Athletic 24 7 3 14 37 52 17
Loanhead Mayflower 24 6 1 17 46 71 13
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Info
Arniston Rangers H 1 2 ?
A 3 3 Hunter, Linton, Cunningham
Bonnyrigg Rose H 3 1 ?
A 3 2 ?
Dalkeith Thistle H 2 0 Young, ?
A 1 4 ? Ronald, Durie, Ferguson, Anderson, Davidson, Fraser, Linton, D. Young, Martin, Slater, H. Young.
Dunbar United H 3 5 Slater 2, ?
A 1 2 Barr
Easthouses Lily H 2 2 ?
A 2 2 ?
Haddington Athletic H 3 0 Gilroy, Slater, Young
A 0 6
Loanhead Mayflower H 3 1 Barr 2, Cunningham
A 3 2 Martin, Slater, ?
Musselburgh Athletic H 1 4 Fairnie
A 0 2
Ormiston Primrose H 3 2 Hunter, Young, ?
A 2 3 ?
Penicuik Athletic H 1 0 ?
A 3 2 Martin 2, Linton
Preston Athletic H 1 4 Watson
A 1 2 ?
Tranent Juniors H 6 2 Barr 4, Hunter, Young
A 1 4 ?
SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Crowd
1 H Haddington Athletic 3 0 Gilroy, Young, Slater
2 H Stoneyburn Juniors 4 1 Martin 2, Gilroy, Young Ronald, Durie, Stewart, Anderson, Davidson, Fraser, Gilroy, Slater, Martin, Hunter, Young.
3 A Arniston Rangers 3 3 D. Young, Gilroy, Martin
H Arniston Rangers 2 2 Slater, D. Young 3000
A Arniston Rangers 1 7 Slater
THORNTON SHIELD
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 H Dunbar United 2 3 Linton, Martin
EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A West Calder United 3 3 Young, Cunningham, ?
H West Calder United 3 1 Hunter 2, Durie
2 H Preston Athletic 4 1 Slater 2, D. Young, Martin
QF H Loanhead Mayflower 3 1 Young 2, Slater
SF N Ormiston Primrose 3 2 Young, Cameron, Cunningham
F N Arniston Rangers 2 0 Slater, Cunningham
ST MICHAELS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A Pumpherston Juniors 0 2 Ronald, White, Ferguson, Fraser, Durie, Davidson, Linton, Slater, Barr, Hunter, Young.
BROWN CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 H Whitburn Juniors 3 4 Hunter 2, Linton
MURRAY CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A Fauldhouse United 4 2 OG, Hunter, Gilroy, Martin
QF H Broxburn Athletic 3 1 Hunter, Fraser, Cunningham
SF N West Calder United 3 4 Cunningham 2, Slater