The History of Newtongrange Star
1979/80
Back: G. Bate, M. Jones, W. Brown (Co-Manager), J. Ball, J. Pryde, P. Kerr (Trainer), D. Dick, R. McDonald (Co-Manager), A. Reid, K. Russell.
Front: T. Balanowski, B. Turner, N. Forbes, T. Cropley, G. Grandison, J. Hislop.
STORY OF THE SEASON
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    The Star once again progressed beyond the group stages of the League Cup, reaching the semi-final of the League Cup, but despite a Tom Balanowski goal lost 2-1 to Musselburgh Athletic.

    The league campaign started reasonably well with away victories at Bonnybridge (5-2) and Linlithgow Rose (1-0) before the Star took on Sauchie in the Scottish Junior Cup first round. The match ended 1-1. In the replay, Tom Balanowski gave the Star the lead from the penalty spot. Another penalty, this time awarded to Sauchie in the last minute, was missed and the Star progressed. A single goal from Jim Fleming saw off Muirkirk in the second round. The third round meant a visit to Ardrossan Winton Rovers where a solitary goal for the home side eliminated the Star.

    Soon after this defeat, Billy Brown left the club. He would go on to form a productive partnership with Jim Jeffries at a number of clubs including Hearts and Kilmarnock. His replacement was former Hearts goalkeeper Gordon Marshall.

    Just like the season before, only 29 points were required to clinch the league championship, this time won by Camelon. For the Star the league campaign was disappointing with relegation only being avoided by a single point after a series of poor results towards the end of the season.

    Benefiting from a home draw in every round, the Star reached the final of the Scottish Brewers Cup against Linlithgow Rose, but for the fifth time lost a cup final to the West Lothian outfit. Tom Balanowski scored in a 2-1 defeat.

    The Dryborough Cup was to provide the Star with some silverware though. Having conceded only one goal on the way to the final, the Star met Penicuik Athletic at Newbyres Park and scraped victory with a solitary goal from John Hislop.

    The Dryborough Cup win qualified the Star for the national trophy, but the team were well beaten 4-0 by Auchinleck Talbot.

    Source: The History of Newtongrange Star FC [2010]
LORIMER LEAGUE 'A' DIVISION
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Camelon Juniors 22 11 7 4 29
Linlithgow Rose 22 12 3 7 27
Penicuik Athletic 22 11 5 6 27
Bo'ness United 22 10 7 5 26
Whitburn Juniors 22 9 8 5 26
Sauchie Juniors 22 11 4 7 26
Tranent Juniors 22 7 8 7 22
Bonnyrigg Rose 22 7 5 9 19
Newtongrange Star 22 7 4 11 18
Dalkeith Thistle 22 5 8 9 18
Livingston United 22 6 4 12 17
Bonnybridge Juniors 22 2 5 15 9
Relegated from 'A' Division: Livingston United
Bonnybridge Juniors
Promoted to 'A' Division: Broxburn Athletic
Arniston Rangers
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Info
Bo'ness United H 1 2 Aitchison Ball, Jones, Russell, Aitchison, Ramsay, Cropley, Alexander, Fleming, Balanowski, Hislop, Gilmour. Subs: G. Brown, Grandison.
A 1 3 Hislop Ross, Jones, Cropley, Ramsay, Lennie, Fleming, Aitchison, Gilmour, Balanowski, Hislop, Alexander. Subs: G. Brown, Grandison.
Bonnyrigg Rose H 2 1 Fleming 2 Ross, Jones, Lennie, Cropley, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, Fleming, Hislop, Aitchison, Alexander. Subs: G. Brown, Russell.
A 0 1 Glynn, Ramsay, Russell, Aitchison, Grandison, Cropley, Balanowski, Fleming, Hislop, Gilmour, Reid. Subs: Alexander, G. Brown.
Bonnybridge Juniors H 4 0 Aitchison 2, Prentice, Lennie Ross, Russell, Grandison, Cropley, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, McCallum, G. Brown, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Jones, Lennie.
A 5 2 Balanowski, Reid 2, Fleming, Bell Ball, Jones, Lennie, Aitchison, Cropley, Gilmour, Alexander, Fleming, Balanowski, Bell, Reid. Subs: G. Brown, W. Brown.
Camelon Juniors H 1 2 Reid Glynn, Russell, Gilmour, Aitchison, Grandison, Cropley, Alexander, Balanowski, Reid, G. Brown, Bell. Subs: Jones, Lennie.
A 1 2 Brown Ross, Russell, Grandison, Cropley, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Hislop, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Jones, Lennie.
Dalkeith Thistle H 1 0 Fleming
 Ball, Jones, Lennie, Aitchison, Cropley, Gilmour, Alexander, Balanowski, Hislop, Fleming, Reid. Subs: Bell, G. Brown.
A 3 2 Hislop 2, Aitchison Ross, Russell, Grandison, Cropley, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Hislop, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Jones, Alexander.
Linlithgow Rose H 0 1 Ross, Jones, Russell, Cropley, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Hislop, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Reid, Grandison.
A 1 0 Reid Glynn, Jones, Lennie, Balanowski, Grandison, Cropley, Alexander, G. Brown, Hislop, Gilmour, Reid. Subs: Fleming, Ramsay.
Livingston United H 4 6 Hislop 3, Brown Glynn, Jones, Fleming, Aitchison, Grandison, Cropley, Alexander, G. Brown, Reid, Gilmour, Balanowski. Subs: Lennie, Hislop.
A 2 3 Balanowski, Reid Ross, Russell, Grandison, Cropley, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Hislop, McCallum, Alexander. Subs: Aitchison, Jones.
Penicuik Athletic H 1 2 Hislop Ross, Russell, Grandison, Cropley, Smith, Gilmour, Lennie, G. Brown, Hislop, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Jones, Balanowski.
A 2 2 Hislop, Gilmour Ball, Fleming, Russell, Aitchison, Grandison, Cropley, Balanowski, G. Brown, Reid, Gilmour, Hislop. Subs: Alexander, Lennie.
Sauchie Juniors H 1 1 Hislop Ball, Jones, Lennie, G. Brown, Grandison, Cropley, Aitchison, Gilmour, Hislop, Balanowski, Alexander. Subs: Bell, G. Brown.
A 1 2 Hislop Ball, Jones, Grandison, Brown, Ramsay, Aitchison, Balanowski, Cropley, Hislop, Fleming, Alexander. Subs: Lennie, McCallum.
Tranent Juniors H 2 2 Balanowski, Prentice Ross, Jones, Russell, Cropley, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Hislop, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Lennie, Alexander.
A 4 6 Balanowski 2, Alexander, OG Glynn, Jones, Russell, Balanowski, Aitchison, Cropley, Alexander, Grandison, Fleming, Hislop, Gilmour. Subs: G. Brown, Lennie.
(Note: At one point in this match, Star were leading 4-1.)
Whitburn Juniors H 0 0 Ball, Russell, Grandison, Fleming, Ramsay, Cropley, Balanowski, Aitchison, G. Brown, McCallum, Lennie. Subs: Gilmour, Jones.
A 3 0 Balanowski 2, Hislop Ross, Russell, Grandison, Cropley, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Hislop, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: McCallum, Jones.
SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A Sauchie Juniors 1 1 Hislop Glynn, G. Brown, Russell, Fleming, Grandison, Cropley, Balanowski, Hislop, Reid, Gilmour, Alexander. Subs: Lennie, Aitchison.
H Sauchie Juniors 1 0 Balanowski Glynn, Jones, Russell, Aitchison, Ramsay, Cropley, Balanowski, Fleming, Hislop, Gilmour, Reid. Subs: Alexander, Lennie.
(Note: A tale of two penalties. Balanowski scores for the Star. Moran misses in the last minute for Sauchie.)
2 H Muirkirk Juniors 1 0 Fleming Glynn, Jones, Russell, Aitchison, Grandison, Cropley, Balanowski, Fleming, Hislop, Gilmour, Reid. Subs: Alexander, G. Brown.
3 A Ardrossan Winton Rovers 0 1 Ball, Jones, Russell, Aitchison, Ramsay, Cropley, Alexander, Grandison, Hislop, Balanowski, Gilmour. Subs: Fleming, G. Brown.
SCOTTISH BREWERS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 Bye
2 H Kirkcaldy YMCA 5 0 Hislop 3, Gilmour, Alexander Glynn, Jones, Russell, Aitchison, Ramsay, Grandison, Balanowski, Fleming, Hislop, Gilmour, Reid. Subs: Alexander, Lennie.
3 A Musselburgh Athletic 3 3 Brown, Hislop, Gilmour Ross, Russell, Grandison, Cropley, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Hislop, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Lennie, Jones.
H Musselburgh Athletic 2 2 Brown, Hislop Ross, Jones, Russell, Ramsay, Cropley, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Hislop, Aitchison, Lennie. Subs: Prentice, Alexander. AET
A Musselburgh Athletic 4 2 Brown 2, Prentice, Lennie Ross, Jones, Russell, Grandison, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Reid, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Lennie, Alexander. AET
QF H Armadale Thistle 2 0 Reid, Gilmour Ross, Jones, Russell, Grandison, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Lennie, Aitchison, Prentice. Sub: Reid.
SF H Broxburn Athletic 3 1 Lennie 2, Brown Ross, Jones, Russell, Grandison, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Lennie, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Reid, Cropley.
F N Linlithgow Rose 1 2 Balanowski Ross, Jones, Russell, Grandison, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Reid, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Cropley, Young. AET
DRYBOROUGH CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 Bye
2 A Bathgate Thistle 0 0 Ross, Jones, Lennie, Cropley, Ramsay, Aitchison, Balanowski, Fleming, Hislop, Gilmour, Alexander. Subs: Bell, G. Brown.
H Bathgate Thistle 2 1 Brown, Grandison Ball, Jones, Russell, Cropley, Grandison, Gilmour, Balanowski, Fleming, Hislop, G. Brown, Prentice. Subs: Alexander, McCallum.
QF H Camelon Juniors 2 0 Prentice, Balanowski Ross, Russell, Grandison, Cropley, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Hislop, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Alexander, Jones.
SF A Haddington Athletic 4 0 Balanowski 2, Aitchison, Brown Ross, Russell, Grandison, Cropley, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Hislop, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Jones, Alexander.
F N Penicuik Athletic 1 0 Hislop Ross, Russell, Grandison, Cropley, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Hislop, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Jones, Lennie.
NATIONAL DRYBOROUGH CUP
Winners of the Dryborough sponsored cups in all six Junior regions in Scotland then compete for the National Dryborough Cup.
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
QF A Auchinleck Talbot 0 4 Ross, Jones, Young, Russell, Ramsay, Grandison, Cousins, Balanowski, Reid, Allan, Prentice. Subs: Shearer, Dingwall.
ROBERTSON HOMES CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A West Calder United 6 0 Hislop 3, Brown, Balanowski 2 Ball, Jones, Russell, Cropley, Grandison, G. Brown, Aitchison, Gilmour, Balanowski, Hislop, Alexander. Subs: Bell, Lennie.
2 H Arniston Rangers 1 0 Balanowski Ball, Jones, Grandison, Brown, Ramsay, Aitchison, Balanowski, Cropley, Hislop, Fleming, Alexander. Subs: Russell, Lennie.
QF A Livingston United 7 0 Brown, Hislop 4, Cropley, Lennie Ross, Russell, Grandison, Cropley, Ramsay, Gilmour, Balanowski, G. Brown, Hislop, Aitchison, Prentice. Subs: Jones, Lennie.
SF A Bo'ness United 0 1 Ross, Cropley, Jones, Russell, Alexander, Aitchison, Balanowski, Gilmour, Lennie, Prentice, Hislop. Subs: Reid, McCallum.
HIGHLAND QUEEN LEAGUE CUP
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Newtongrange Star 4 3 1 0 10 4 +6 7
Bonnyrigg Rose 4 2 1 1 10 7 +3 5
Arniston Rangers 4 0 0 4 4 13 -9 0
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Info
Arniston Rangers H 2 1 Brown 2 Glynn, Russell, Lennie, Balanowski, Ramsay, Cropley, Alexander, G. Brown, Reid, Gilmour, Hislop. Subs: Bell, Fleming.
A 3 1 Reid, Balanowski, Hislop Ball, Ramsay, Russell, Aitchison, Grandison, Cropley, Balanowski, G. Brown, Reid, Gilmour, Hislop. Subs: Alexander, Lennie.
Bonnyrigg Rose H 4 1 Balanowski 2, Reid, Aitchison Glynn, Jones, Fleming, Aitchison, Grandison, Cropley, Alexander, G. Brown, Reid, Gilmour, Balanowski. Subs: Lennie, Hislop.
A 1 1 Cropley Glynn, Russell, Lennie, Aitchison, Ramsay, Cropley, Alexander, G. Brown, Reid, Gilmour, Hislop. Subs: Jones, Bell.
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
QF H Penicuik Athletic 3 2 Hislop 2, Balanowski Glynn, Jones, Lennie, Balanowski, Grandison, Cropley, Alexander, G. Brown, Hislop, Gilmour, Reid. Subs: Fleming, Ramsay.
SF A Musselburgh Athletic 1 2 Balanowski Glynn, Jones, Lennie, Balanowski, Grandison, Cropley, Alexander, G. Brown, Hislop, Gilmour, Reid. Subs: Fleming, Aitchison.
SQUAD
  • John Ball
  • Derek Gowrie
  • Ian Ross
  • David Dick
  • Mervyn Jones
  • Kenneth Russell
  • Kenneth Donald
  • Neil Forbes
  • Thomas Cropley
  • Thomas Gilmour
  • Alan Reid
  • Alan Duthie
  • Gordon Grandison
  • John Hislop
  • Thomas Balanowski
  • James Fleming
  • George Downie
  • Robert Aitchison
  • Norrie Alexander
  • Gary Bate
  • Gordon Brown
  • James Lennie
  • Peter Ramsay
TOP SCORERS
John Hislop 28
Thomas Balanowski 20
TESTIMONIAL
RAB AITCHISON
Arniston, Bonnyrigg & Newtongrange XI ?
Rest of East of Scotland XI ?
New Dundas Park, Bonnyrigg
Teams:
Arniston, Bonnyrigg & Newtongrange XI
Gowrie (Arniston), Bertram (Bonnyrigg), Devlin (Bonnyrigg), Cropley (Newtongrange), Lynch (Arniston), Aitchison (Newtongrange), Stephan (Bonnyrigg), Balanowski (Newtongrange), Robertson (Arniston), Hislop (Newtongrange), Buckley (Bonnyrigg)

Rest of East of Scotland XI
Martin (Tranent), Finn (Broxburn), Drudge (Tranent), Ure (Linlithgow), McPherson (Camelon), Brand (Armadale), Harkin (Linlithgow), Forrest (Penicuik), Smith (Camelon), Temperley (Bo'ness), Park (Livingston)