The History of Newtongrange Star
1973/74
STORY OF THE SEASON
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    The new league format was supposed to bring a bit more variety to the fixture list and perhaps entice a few more supporters into the grounds. The new league did mean more travelling though, but for the Star, the season was to offer no bright new horizons. With four teams being relegated from a league of thirteen teams, consistent form was a prerequisite. The Star actually started the season well with some good victories over Arniston Rangers (2-1), Sauchie (3-1), Dalkeith Thistle (2-0) and Linlithgow Rose (1-0). However, form and confidence evaporated towards the end of the season and the Star could only manage eleventh place and therefore slipped into the relegation zone. The team finished level on points with the two teams directly above, but goal difference was to prove crucial and heavy defeats to Linlithgow Rose (0-4) and Dalkeith Thistle (0-8) certainly contributed.

    There was to be little consolation in the cup competitions either. The Star played seven matches in the R L Rae Cup, but did not actually progress beyond the quarter-final.

    The most notable result was the defeat of local rivals Arniston Rangers in the second round of the Scottish Junior Cup. Goals from Purcell, Pryde and three from Iain Anderson gave the Star a 5-3 win in a thrilling match. The celebrations were to be short-lived though as the Star fell disappointingly 2-1 at the next hurdle to Bonnybridge despite another goal from Anderson.

    At the end of a disappointing season, manager Bill Murray left the club. He was replaced by former Star player Terry Christie.

    Source: The History of Newtongrange Star FC [2010]
EAST REGION 'A' DIVISION
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Broxburn Athletic 24 12 9 3 40 29 +11 33
Musselburgh Athletic 24 12 7 5 40 34 +6 31
Bonnyrigg Rose 24 11 7 6 50 36 +14 29
Linlithgow Rose 24 10 5 9 44 32 +12 25
Sauchie Juniors 24 9 6 9 48 45 +3 24
Whitburn Juniors 24 9 6 9 35 37 -2 24
Arniston Rangers 24 8 7 9 32 37 -5 23
Dalkeith Thistle 24 8 6 10 47 44 +3 22
Penicuik Athletic 24 6 10 8 25 32 -7 22
Newtongrange Star 24 8 6 10 23 39 -16 22
Camelon Juniors 24 8 5 11 45 45 0 21
Bo'ness United 24 6 7 11 34 37 -3 19
Bonnybridge Juniors 24 5 7 12 36 52 -16 17
Relegated from 'A' Division: Newtongrange Star
Camelon Juniors
Bo'ness United
Bonnybridge Juniors
Promoted to 'A' Division: Tranent Juniors
Fauldhouse United
Dunbar United
Preston Athletic
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Info
Arniston Rangers H 2 1 ?
A 1 3 Anderson
Bo'ness United H 1 1 ?
A 0 3
Bonnybridge Juniors H 0 0
A 2 0 ?
Bonnyrigg Rose H 0 0
A 1 3 ?
Broxburn Athletic H 2 2 Cropley, Pryde
A 1 3 ?
Camelon Juniors H 3 0 Pryde, Anderson, ?
A 2 1 Anderson, Lapinski
Dalkeith Thistle H 0 8
A 2 0 ?
Linlithgow Rose H 1 0 Pryde
A 0 4
Musselburgh Athletic H 0 1
A
Penicuik Athletic H 1 0 ?
A 1 3 Liddle
Sauchie Juniors H 3 1 Pryde, Beveridge, Mains
A 1 0 ?
Whitburn Juniors H 0 1
A 0 3
SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A Renfrew 5 1 Purcell 3, Cropley 2
2 A Arniston Rangers 5 3 Purcell, Pryde, Anderson 3
3 A Bonnybridge Juniors 1 2 Anderson
FIFE & LOTHIANS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 Bye
1 H Fauldhouse United 1 1 Purcell
1 A Fauldhouse United 2 4 Anderson, OG
EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 Bye
2 A Musselburgh Athletic 0 4
ST MICHAELS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 H Whitburn Juniors 1 0 Mains
1 H Linlithgow Rose 1 2 Pryde
BROWN CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A Bonnyrigg Rose 1 3 ?
R L RAE CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A New Blackburn Athletic 1 1 ?
H New Blackburn Athletic 5 3 Hogg, Anderson, Pryde, Purcell, OG Gowrie, Liddle, Scott, King, Lapinski, Cropley, Purcell, Anderson, Beveridge, Pryde, Hogg. Subs: Kelly, Paton.
2 H Bonnybridge Juniors 1 1 Paton
A Bonnybridge Juniors 3 1 Scott 2, Purcell
QF H Dalkeith Thistle 2 2 Anderson 2
A Dalkeith Thistle 1 1 Anderson
A Dalkeith Thistle L L