The History of Newtongrange Star
1981/82
STORY OF THE SEASON
Read More
    The Star once again struggled at the start of the season. They were eliminated at the group stage of the League Cup and recorded a few mixed results in the league with wins over Livingston United (1-0) and Sauchie (2-1), but defeats to Linlithgow Rose (2-4), Bo'ness United (0-2) and Broxburn Athletic (0-2).

    The Scottish Junior Cup adventure did not last far beyond the New Year. The Star faithful enjoyed a trip to Cardenden for a 2-0 win over Dundonald Bluebell and an even further trip up to Inverurie Locos for a 2-1 win. The third round yielded a home tie against Beith Juniors. Goals from the two Toms, Watson and Balanowski, were not enough to stop another defeat to an Ayrshire side by four goals to two.

    Unfortunately, there was little excitement from the league campaign with the Star's inconsistent form continuing. The team won 11 of their 22 games, but also lost 10. Eventually the Star settled for a mid table position far from the relegation zone and the championship battle between the two Roses, with Linlithgow finishing only one point ahead of Bonnyrigg.

    The Star made steady progress in two other cup competitions. In the Scottish Brewers Cup, the Star eliminated four Fife sides, before falling 1-0 to local rivals Bonnyrigg Rose in the semi-final.

    In the Dryborough Cup, the Star saw off Whitburn and Bathgate Thistle after replays before winning 4-0 at Dunbar with goals from Brown (2), Balanowski and an own goal. A semi-final tie away to Bo'ness United would always be a difficult draw and so it was, but a single goal from John Hislop took the Star into the final where they met Camelon at Prestonfield, Linlithgow. Goals from David Small and John Hislop secured a 2-0 victory and assured the Star continued their run of picking up at least one trophy over recent seasons. The winning team was McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Watson, Gilmour. Subs: Balanowski, Cropley.

    At the end of the season, manager Ian Cruickshanks left the club. He was replaced by Rab Currie.

    Source: The History of Newtongrange Star FC [2010]
LORIMER LEAGUE 'A' DIVISION
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Linlithgow Rose 22 14 3 5 43 24 +19 31
Bonnyrigg Rose 22 13 4 5 44 29 +15 30
Bo'ness United 22 12 3 7 41 21 +20 27
Broxburn Athletic* 22 10 4 8 30 27 +3 25
Camelon Juniors 22 10 4 8 34 25 +9 24
Arniston Rangers** 22 8 9 5 33 28 +5 24
Newtongrange Star 22 11 1 10 29 34 -5 23
Penicuik Athletic 22 7 6 9 27 35 -8 20
Sauchie Juniors 22 6 4 12 24 39 -15 16
Tranent Juniors 22 6 4 12 24 39 -15 16
Ormiston Primrose 22 4 7 11 32 43 -11 15
Livingston United 22 2 6 14 18 42 -24 10
Relegated from 'A' Division: Ormiston Primrose
Livingston United
Promoted to 'A' Division: Fauldhouse United
Haddington Athletic
* 1pt awarded
** 1pt deducted
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Info
Arniston Rangers H 2 1 Russell, Watson McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Tulloch, Hamilton, Grandison, Russell, Small, Watson, Hislop, Armstrong. Subs: Prentice, Cruickshank.
A 1 0 Balanowski McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Watson, Cropley, Gilmour, Small, Hislop, Tulloch, Armstrong. Subs: Balanowski, Grandison.
Bo'ness United H 2 0 OG, Watson McLafferty, Carr, Jones, Brown, Cropley, Russell, Tulloch, Small, Watson, Gilmour, Armstrong. Subs: Hamilton, Cruickshank.
A 0 2 McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Watson, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Prentice. Subs: Cropley, Gilmour.
Bonnyrigg Rose H 2 1 Balanowski, Small McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Watson, Grandison, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Gilmour. Subs: Cropley, Armstrong.
A 3 4 Hislop, Gilmour, Armstrong McDermott, Jones, Russell, Brown, Watson, Cropley, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Gilmour, Armstrong. Subs: Cousins, McLafferty.
Broxburn Athletic H 0 2 McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Brown, Cropley, Grandison, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Prentice, Gilmour. Subs: Watson, Cousins.
A 0 2 McLafferty, Cousins, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Gilmour, Armstrong. Subs: Watson, Prentice.
Camelon Juniors H 1 3 Small Ross, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Hamilton, Russell, Gilmour, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Tulloch. Subs: Watson, Armstrong.
A 0 0 McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Gilmour, Small, Watson, Balanowski, Tulloch. Subs: Hislop, Cropley.
Linlithgow Rose H 2 1 Small, Hislop McDermott, Cousins, Jones, Tulloch, Watson, Cropley, Russell, Small, Hislop, Gilmour, Armstrong. Subs: McLafferty, Hamilton.
A 2 4 Brown, Small McLafferty, Cousins, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Armstrong. Subs: Prentice, Cropley.
Livingston United H 1 0 Hislop McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Cropley, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Armstrong. Subs: Watson, Grandison.
A 1 0 Gunn McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Hamilton, Russell, Gilmour, Gunn, Watson, Hislop, Armstrong. Subs: Small, Balanowski.
Ormiston Primrose H 2 1 Watson, Small McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Gilmour, Small, Watson, Balanowski, Armstrong. Subs: Hislop, Prentice.
A 0 2 McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Gilmour, Small, Watson, Balanowski, Tulloch. Subs: Cropley, Armstrong.
Penicuik Athletic H 0 2 McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Gilmour, Small, Watson, Hislop, Armstrong. Subs: Tulloch, Balanowski.
A 3 1 Brown, Small, Hamilton McLafferty, Cousins, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Tulloch, Small, Watson, Gilmour, Armstrong. Subs: Hislop, Jones.
Sauchie Juniors H 2 4 Small, Watson McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Cropley, Russell, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Watson, Gilmour. Subs: Hamilton, Shearer.
A 2 1 Armstrong, Watson McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Gilmour, Small, Watson, Balanowski, Armstrong. Subs: Cropley, Cousins.
Tranent Juniors H 3 2 Watson 3 McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Tulloch, Hamilton, Grandison, Russell, Small, Watson, Hislop, Armstrong. Subs: Gilmour, Cruickshank.
A 0 1 McLafferty, Cousins, Russell, Brown, Watson, Grandison, Gilmour, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Armstrong. Subs: Cropley, Prentice.
SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A Dundonald Bluebell 2 0 Smith, Watson McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Hamilton, Russell, Gilmour, Small, Hislop, Watson, Armstrong. Subs: Balanowski, Tulloch.
2 A Inverurie Locos 2 1 Brown, OG McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Gilmour, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Armstrong. Subs: Cousins, Tulloch.
3 H Beith Juniors 2 4 Watson, Balanowski McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Gilmour. Subs: Watson, Armstrong.
SCOTTISH BREWERS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 H Halbeath 4 1 Small 2, Armstrong, Watson McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Cropley, Small, Gilmour, Watson, Balanowski, Armstrong. Subs: Hislop, Tulloch.
2 A St Andrews United 3 2 Small 3 McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Watson, Hamilton, Grandison, Gilmour, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Armstrong. Subs: Cropley, Tulloch.
3 H Clackmannan Juniors 1 0 Hislop McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Gilmour, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Tulloch. Subs: Cousins, Watson.
QF A Kelty Hearts 2 1 Hislop, Small McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Tulloch, Hamilton, Grandison, Russell, Small, Watson, Hislop, Armstrong. Subs: Balanowski, Cruickshank.
SF A Bonnyrigg Rose 0 1 McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Watson, Gilmour. Subs: Balanowski, Cropley.
DRYBOROUGH CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 H Whitburn Juniors 1 1 Armstrong McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Russell, Gilmour, Small, Hislop, Watson, Grandison, Armstrong. Subs: Balanowski, Cropley.
A Whitburn Juniors 4 3 Armstrong, Tulloch, Small, Balanowski McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Hamilton, Russell, Gilmour, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Armstrong. Subs: Watson, Tulloch.
2 A Bathgate Thistle 2 2 Hislop, Tulloch McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Watson, Russell, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Gilmour, Armstrong. Subs: Cropley, Grandison.
H Bathgate Thistle 3 1 Hislop, Tulloch, OG McLafferty, Cousins, Russell, Brown, Watson, Grandison, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Gilmour, Armstrong. Subs: Balanowski, Prentice.
QF A Dunbar United 4 0 Brown 2, Cousins, OG McLafferty, Cousins, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Gilmour, Armstrong. Subs: Watson, Jones.
SF A Bo'ness United 1 0 Hislop McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Gilmour, Balanowski. Subs: Watson, Cropley.
F N Camelon Juniors 2 0 Small, Hislop McLafferty, Cousins, Jones, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Watson, Gilmour. Subs: Balanowski, Cropley.
Back: T. Watson, L. Hamilton, T. Tulloch, G. Grandison, T. Gilmour, R. McLafferty, D. Small.
Front: T. Cropley, J. Hislop, M. Jones, G. Brown, G. Cousins, T. Balanowski.
Thanks to Gordon Grandison for providing this photo.
ROBERTSON HOMES CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 A Bonnyrigg Rose 1 1 Brown McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Gilmour, Small, Hislop, Watson, Armstrong. Subs: Balanowski, Cousins.
H Bonnyrigg Rose 2 0 Hislop, Small Ross, Jones, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Gilmour, Small, Hislop, Watson, Armstrong. Subs: Balanowski, Cousins.
2 H Bo'ness United 0 1 McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Gilmour, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Armstrong. Subs: Cousins, Watson.
HIGHLAND QUEEN LEAGUE CUP
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Bonnyrigg Rose 4 2 2 0 8 3 +5 6
Newtongrange Star 4 0 3 1 4 6 -2 3
Arniston Rangers 4 0 3 1 1 4 -3 3
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Info
Arniston Rangers H 0 0 McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Watson, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Prentice. Subs: Cropley, Gilmour.
A 1 1 Brown McLafferty, Cousins, Russell, Brown, Cropley, Grandison, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Armstrong. Subs: Jones, Prentice.
Bonnyrigg Rose H 1 1 Tulloch McLafferty, Cousins, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Grandison, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Armstrong. Subs: Cropley, Prentice.
A 2 4 Armstrong, Brown McLafferty, Jones, Russell, Brown, Hamilton, Cropley, Tulloch, Small, Hislop, Balanowski, Armstrong. Subs: Cousins, Grandison.
SQUAD
  • Ronald McLafferty
  • Mervyn Jones
  • Brian Ross
  • Ian Ross
  • Michael Dingwall
  • Gordon Grandison
  • James Lennie
  • Graeme Cousins
  • Peter Ramsay
  • Thomas Watson
  • Gordon Brown
  • Alan Reid
  • Alex Prentice
  • John Forbes
  • Thomas Gilmour
  • Thomas Cropley
  • Thomas Tulloch
  • John Hislop
  • Thomas Balanowski
  • David Small
  • Kenneth Russell
  • Ross Armstrong