The History of Newtongrange Star
1961/62
STORY OF THE SEASON
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    The Mid / East Division was closely contested in 1961/2, with Star in with a chance of winning the title until late in the season. In the end, a degree of inconsistency, left them in third place, trailing some nine points behind eventual winners Dunbar United. Bonnyrigg Rose finished second. Dunbar went on to win the overall Edinburgh and District title, beating Whitburn home and away in the Play Off.

    Star’s season was still regarded as a successful one on the field with two Cups returning to Victoria Park. However, off the field things were problematic with the club in serious difficulties. Victoria Park may have been the envy of many other clubs, but the cost of maintenance was high, and crowds were dwindling throughout Junior football. The tremendous facilities at Victoria Park were becoming something of a millstone around the club’s neck. In May 1962 the Committee discussed closing down but the two trophy wins convinced them to carry on.

    The St Michael Cup run saw Star eliminate Loanhead, Arniston, Pumpherston and Dalkeith en route to an Easter Road Final against Armadale Thistle. The semi final win at King’s Park against Dalkeith was controversial – one of Star’s goals, credited to David Bogie, was scored through the side netting. Star were always the better side in the Final and goals from Slater (2) and Veitch earned a win.

    In the Brown Cup Star knocked out Armadale, Linlithgow and Whitburn on the way to the Final. Dalkeith Thistle were the opposition and the match was played at Tynecastle, with Star winning 2-0, thanks to goals from Slater and Kidd (Penalty).

    The Scottish Junior Cup was proved to be a bitter disappointment with Duntocher Hibs travelling through to Victoria Park and winning 2-1. This was the first time that the Cup had been drawn on an ‘all in’ national basis. In the East of Scotland Cup Star beat Musselburgh but went out to Whitburn in Round Two. Reports indicate that Star should have won but poor finishing let them down.

    Jimmy Veitch and David Bogie emerged as really good prospects in the curse of the season with senior scouts having a look at them.

    Source: Newtongrange Star FC match programme [7-Mar-2009]
EDINBURGH & DISTRICT LEAGUE MID/EAST DIVISION
Pld W D L F A Pts
Dunbar United 24 18 3 3 79 43 39
Bonnyrigg Rose 24 16 2 6 64 41 34
Newtongrange Star 24 13 4 7 71 47 30
Preston Athletic 24 13 4 7 56 36 30
Loanhead Mayflower 24 12 6 6 57 52 30
Dalkeith Thistle 24 10 5 9 51 50 25
Arniston Rangers 24 11 2 11 57 51 24
Haddington Athletic 24 10 1 13 62 67 21
Ormiston Primrose 24 9 1 14 61 80 19
Penicuik Athletic 24 8 1 15 51 62 17
Musselburgh Athletic 24 8 1 15 59 90 17
Easthouses Lily 24 5 3 16 45 62 13
Tranent Juniors 24 5 3 16 32 50 13
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Info
Arniston Rangers H 2 2 ?
A 3 3 Bogie, Watson, Combe
Bonnyrigg Rose H 5 3 Bogie 2, Kidd, Gillespie, OG
A 3 3 Bogie, A. Slater, Veitch
Dalkeith Thistle H 3 0 Gillespie 2, Slater
A 5 2 Veitch 3, Gillespie, ?
Dunbar United H 1 3 Gillespie
A 1 3 Kelly
Easthouses Lily H 3 0 Young, Gillespie 2
A 1 1 ?
Haddington Athletic H 2 3 ?
A 3 1 ?
Loanhead Mayflower H 2 3 Veitch, McLean
A 1 2 ?
Musselburgh Athletic H 5 2 ?
A 4 1 Young
Ormiston Primrose H 7 0 Gillespie, Callaghan, Slater, ?
A 5 4 Gillespie 3, ?
Penicuik Athletic H 0 3
A 2 1 Gillespie ?
Preston Athletic H 5 2 Gillespie 2, ?
A 3 2 ?
Tranent Juniors H 4 1 Kidd 2, D. Smith, Gillespie
A 1 2 Gillespie
SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 Bye
2 H Duntocher Hibs 1 2 Marshall
EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A Musselburgh Athletic 7 3 Gillespie 2, Bogie, ?
2 A Whitburn Juniors 1 3 Smith Wilson, McFarlane, Kidd, Durie, McWilliam, Smith, Boyce, Slater, Gillespie, Beech, Young.
ST MICHAELS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A Loanhead Mayflower 3 0 Gillespie 2, ?
2 A Arniston Rangers 3 0 Gillespie 2, Bogie
QF H Pumpherston Juniors 4 3 Gillespie 3, Young Wilson, McFarlane, Kidd, Durie, McWilliam, Marshall, Bogie, Young, Gillespie, Smith, Veitch.
SF A Dalkeith Thistle 3 1 Bogie 2, Kidd
F N Armadale Thistle 3 0 Slater 2, Veitch
BROWN CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 Bye
2 A Armadale Thistle 2 1 Watson, Smith Wilson, McFarlane, Kidd, Marshall, McWilliam, Owens, Bogie, Young, Gillespie, Smith, Callaghan.
QF H Linlithgow Rose 2 1 Gillespie, Young Wilson, McFarlane, Kidd, Marshall, McWilliam, Owens, Bogie, Young, Gillespie, Slater, Callaghan.
SF H Whitburn Juniors 3 0 Veitch, Marshall, Gillespie Wilson, McFarlane, Kidd, Marshall, McWilliam, Owens, Bogie, Slater, Gillespie, Veitch, Callaghan.
F N Dalkeith Thistle 2 0 Slater, Kidd
Donald dashes out to save a shot from Gillespie