The History of Newtongrange Star
1965/66
STORY OF THE SEASON
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    With the closure of both Easthouses and Loanhead, just ten teams contested the Mid / East Division in 65/6. From Star’s point of view it was a desperately poor season with a mid table finish. The only brightness was in reaching the final of the St Michael Cup, but a 5-1 thrashing from Bonnyrigg at Easter Road was predictable but disappointing.

    Bonnyrigg won the league title but were defeated in the overall play-off by Linlithgow Rose. However, our near neighbours from New Dundas Park went all the way to Hampden in the Scottish Junior Cup and recorded a thumping 6-1 win over Whitburn to bring the Cup back to Midlothian or the first time since Star had won it in 1930.

    Star’s League season was defined by some dreadful results. If losing 6-2 at home to Bonnyrigg was bad enough, then going down 7-1 at Gorebridge against Arniston was too much for many to take. Attendances at New Victoria Park were poor and the club struggled for income.

    Star did manage to play two games in the Scottish Junior Cup but only because they protested following a 1-0 defeat at home to Haddington Athletic. Apparently the visitors had fielded an ineligible player. The game was replayed and Haddington again won 1-0.

    Star’s best result of the season probably came against Haddington in the East of Scotland Cup with a fine 5-0 victory. A further win over Bathgate set up Quarter Final with Tranent, but Star lost following a replay.. In the St Michael Cup Star beat Bo’ness, Pumpherston and Sauchie before that defeat in the Final against Bonnyrigg.

    As far as individual players went, winger George Duncan began to emerge as having some promise. Striker Alan Laing attracted the senior scouts to Star matches and at the end of the season he was transferred to then First Division side Stirling Albion. Also turning senior was Jimmy Thomson, who moved to Alloa.

    Source: Newtongrange Star FC match programme [15-Apr-2009]
EDINBURGH & DISTRICT LEAGUE MID/EAST DIVISION
Pld W D L F A Pts
Bonnyrigg Rose 17 14 1 2 29
Penicuik Athletic 17 9 4 4 22
Haddington Athletic 17 9 3 5 21
Arniston Rangers 18 10 1 7 21
Newtongrange Star 18 6 3 9 15
Tranent Juniors 16 5 3 8 13
Musselburgh Athletic 15 7 1 7 15
Dalkeith Thistle 17 6 4 7 16
Dunbar United 17 3 2 12 8
Preston Athletic 16 2 4 10 8
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Info
Arniston Rangers H 2 1 McCallum, Combe
A 1 7 McCallum
Bonnyrigg Rose H 2 6 Fraser, McCallum Archer, Goodall, Mercer, Thomson, S. Fraser, Carnegie, Duncan, Laing, McCallum, A. Fraser, Bremner.
A 0 4
Dalkeith Thistle H 2 4 Duncan, ?
A
Dunbar United H
A 2 0 McCallum 2
Haddington Athletic H 3 1 McCallum 2, Bremner
A 2 3 ?
Musselburgh Athletic H 1 3 ?
A 5 3 ?
Penicuik Athletic H 0 1
A D D
Preston Athletic H 0 1
A 2 0 Laing, McCallum
Tranent Juniors H 3 3 Laing, McCallum 2
A 2 3 ?
SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 Bye
2 H Haddington Athletic* 0 1 (* Star lodged a successful protest against Haddington Athletic fielding an ineligible player.)
H Haddington Athletic 0 1
EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A Haddington Athletic 5 0 McCallum 2, Thomson, Brown, OG Archer, Kidd, Bowman, Carnegie, Fraser, Combe, McCallum, Thomson, Brown, Laing, Bremner.
2 A Bathgate Thistle 2 1 Fraser, Mercer Archer, Brown, Kidd, Thomson, Fraser, Combe, Duncan, Laing, Mercer, Carnegie, Anderson.
QF H Tranent Juniors 1 1 Brown
A Tranent Juniors 0 2
ST MICHAELS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 Bye
2 H Bo'ness United 1 1 Fraser Mercer, Brown, Bowman, Carnegie, Fraser, Combe, Duncan, Thomson, McCallum, Laing, Kidd.
A Bo'ness United 2 0 ?
QF H Pumpherston Juniors 3 2 Duncan, Kidd 2
SF H Sauchie Juniors 1 0 McCallum
F N Bonnyrigg Rose 1 5 ?
BROWN CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A New Blackburn Athletic 1 2 OG Archer, Kidd, Bowman, Carnegie, Fraser, Combe, McCallum, Thomson, Brown, Laing, Bremner.
R L RAE SUPPLEMENTARY LEAGUE
Pld W D L F A Pts
Musselburgh Athletic 5 3 1 1 7
Newtongrange Star 6 3 1 2 7
Tranent Juniors 5 2 0 3 4
New Blackburn Athletic 6 2 0 4 4
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Info
Musselburgh Athletic H 4 0 McCallum 3, Laing
A 2 2 ?
New Blackburn Athletic H 0 2 Watson, Kidd, Bowman, Carnegie, Fraser, Combe, Chapman, Thomson, McCallum, Laing, Simpson.
A 1 0 ?
Tranent Juniors H L L
A 3 2 McCallum 2, Thomson