The History of Newtongrange Star
1967/68
STORY OF THE SEASON
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    After years of mid-table performances Star finally got back to title-winning ways in the East league. The Mid / East Division title was clinched with something to spare – Star won 18 of their 22 games, drew three and lost just once. The sole defeat was away to Bonnyrigg Rose and even then only by one goal to nil. ‘Doubles’ were recorded over Arniston, Dalkeith, Dunbar, Easthouses, Haddington, Musselburgh, Peebles and Preston.

    After drawing the first leg of the Play Off for the overall title 1-1 at Victoria Park, Star went down 5-1 to Linlithgow Rose at Prestonfield in the second game. Star were handicapped due to a lack of competitive match practice. The Mid / East Division finished well before the West section – Star had to wait several weeks before Linlithgow completed their programme.

    Star’s poor form in the Scottish Junior Cup continued. Drawn away to West side Johnstone Burgh in Round One, Star fell to a 3-5 defeat at James Y Keanie Park. But the scoreline tells just part of the story. Star led by 2-0 and 3-1 before a late collapse allowed the home side to triumph.

    Performances in local cups were also disappointing. Star lost in Round Two of the East of Scotland Cup to Penicuik after a replay. They lost in the Quarter Finals of the St Michael Cup to Bo’ness United, and went out of the Brown Cup at the same stage to Whitburn. In the RL Rae Cup they suffered a humiliating defeat in a replay to Peebles Rovers. The Border side drew 2-2 at Victoria Park and then won the replay 2-1 at Whitestone Park.

    At the end of the season the Star retained list comprised: Archibald Hunter, Thomas Brown, A Gardiner, W Greenan, Robert Rennie, Hugh McDonald, W Combe, J Dickson, G Baxter, David Kidd, Andrew Fraser, A Wagley, Robert Grant, J Leask, D McWhinnie. Inside forward Colin Dickson was signed by Hearts towards the end of the season.

    One player who came to the fore was striker Bobby Grant. His career had taken him from Ormiston Primrose to Rangers, St Johnstone and Carlisle United, amongst others, before he came to Star. He was a centre forward in the ‘old style’ who was not averse to knocking ball and goalkeeper into the net together. His son, Roddy Grant, continued in similar vein for many years.

    Source: Newtongrange Star FC match programme [2-May-2009]
EAST REGION MID/EAST DIVISION
Pld W D L F A Pts
Newtongrange Star 22 18 3 1 63 19 39
Musselburgh Athletic 22 15 2 5 32
Bonnyrigg Rose 22 13 4 5 30
Haddington Athletic 22 13 4 5 30
Arniston Rangers 22 10 3 9 23
Dunbar United 22 8 6 8 22
Dalkeith Thistle 22 7 8 7 21
Penicuik Athletic 22 8 5 9 21
Preston Athletic 22 3 9 10 15
Easthouses & Mayfield United 22 2 13 7 11
Peebles Rovers 22 2 6 14 10
Tranent Juniors 22 2 6 14 10
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Info
Arniston Rangers H 3 1 Fraser, Greenan, Grant
A 2 1 Grant, OG
Bonnyrigg Rose H 1 1 Greenan
A 0 1
Dalkeith Thistle H 6 1 ?
A 4 1 ?
Dunbar United H 3 0 Grant 2, McDonald
A 2 1 ?
Easthouses & Mayfield United H 5 1 ?
A 4 2 ?
Haddington Athletic H 1 0 ?
A 3 1 ?
Musselburgh Athletic H 3 0 ?
A 2 1 ?
Peebles Rovers H 2 1 ?
A 4 0 Greenan 3, Fraser
Penicuik Athletic H 3 1 ?
A 1 1 ?
Preston Athletic H 4 1 Grant 2, McDonald 2
A 4 0 ?
Tranent Juniors H 4 1 Grant 2, Duncan, Brown
A 2 2 Combe, Grant
EDINBURGH & DISTRICT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF
Mid/East Division winners v West Division winners
Round Venue Opponents F A Scorers Team Info
1st Leg H Linlithgow Rose 1 1 Grant
2nd Leg A Linlithgow Rose 1 5 Greenan
(Aggregate) 2 6
SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A Johnstone Burgh 3 5 Brown, Duncan, Greenan
EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 Bye
2 H Penicuik Athletic D D
A Penicuik Athletic 0 1
ST MICHAELS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 Bye
2 H Arniston Rangers 2 2 C. Dickson, Fraser
A Arniston Rangers 2 0 Duncan, Greenan
QF H Bo'ness United 0 3 Wagley, Dickson, Hunter, Thomson, Rennie, Fraser, Duncan, Greenan, Grant, Fordyce, Combe. Sub: McDonald.
BROWN CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 Bye
2 H Preston Athletic 3 1 ?
QF A Whitburn Juniors 0 4 Wagley, Dickson, Kidd, Thomson, Gardner, Fraser, Duncan, Greenan, Brown, Combe, Grant. Sub: Rennie.
R L RAE CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 H Peebles Rovers 2 2 Greenan, Grant
A Peebles Rovers 1 2 Grant