The History of Newtongrange Star
1987/88
Star captain Kevin McColl receives new strips from Mr Bob Allan of the Star's Supporters Club and a match ball from Mr Jack Carson Insurance on behalf of the team.
Back: J. Quinn (President), J. Coughlin, D. Nisbet, S. Purves, P. Ramsay, J. Hughes, D. McNab, J. Cockerell, T. Cropley (Trainer)
Front: R. Flavell, B. Dickson, G. Wilson, K. Lyall, G. Boyle
STORY OF THE SEASON
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    The Scottish Junior Cup was to provide most of the focus in the 1987/88 season. Wins over Bonnybridge, Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Stoneyburn, Broughty Athletic and Dundee Violet took the Star through a quarter-final meeting with Ayrshire side Kilbirnie Ladeside. Three games were required before the Star prevailed 4-1 at neutral Newlandsfield, Glasgow. The Star's goals came from O'Hara (2), Hughes and Lyall. The semi-final was played at Brockville Park, Falkirk and despite a goal from Stewart Purves, the Star lost 2-1. The Star team was McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Lyall, Cockerell, Hughes, Ramsay, O'Hara, Purves. Subs: Flavell, Aird. Petershill would lose the final to Auchinleck Talbot.

    The lengthy cup run meant the Star had a backlog of league fixtures that had to be fulfilled. Consequently a fourth place position was all that was attainable.

    The Star did collect silverware in the shape of the Radio Forth Cup. There was a thrilling semi-final at Victoria Park between the Star and Whitburn that ended 3-3. The Star's goals came from O'Hara, Purves and Cockerell. In the replay at Central Park, the Star scored through Ramsay and Purves to reach the final with a 2-1 win. In the final, the Star met Fife side Kelty Hearts at Prestonfield, Linlithgow. In a tight match, a solitary goal from John Hughes secured the cup.

    John Hughes would go onto further success with Berwick Rangers, Swansea City, Falkirk, Celtic, Hibs and Ayr United before returning to become manager at Falkirk and then Hibs.

    Source: The History of Newtongrange Star FC [2010]
LAIDLAW LEAGUE 'A' DIVISION
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Linlithgow Rose* 26 15 7 4 56 27 +29 39
Whitburn Juniors 26 16 5 5 55 24 +31 37
Ormiston Primrose 26 13 6 7 49 34 +15 32
Newtongrange Star 26 15 1 10 42 37 +5 31
Broxburn Athletic 26 11 9 6 34 31 +3 31
Bathgate Thistle 26 11 8 7 42 31 +11 30
Bonnyrigg Rose 26 11 5 10 38 30 +8 27
Edinburgh United 26 8 7 11 33 39 -6 23
Bo'ness United 26 7 8 11 35 50 -15 22
Dalkeith Thistle** 26 7 9 10 37 40 -3 21
Arniston Rangers 26 6 8 12 22 32 -10 20
Fauldhouse United 26 6 8 12 32 47 -15 20
Musselburgh Athletic 26 5 8 13 34 58 -24 18
Preston Athletic 26 5 3 18 28 57 -29 13
Relegated from 'A' Division: Musselburgh Athletic
Preston Athletic
Promoted to 'A' Division: Livingston United
Tranent Juniors
* 2pts awarded
** 2pts deducted
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Media
Arniston Rangers H 1 2 Ramsay McNab, Wilson, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Hughes, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, Nisbet, Wilson. Subs: Boyle, Dunn.
A 1 0 O'Sullivan McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Dickson, O'Sullivan, O'Hara, Ramsay, McColl, Fraser. Subs: Nisbet, Boyle.
Bathgate Thistle H 1 2 O'Hara McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Trialist, McColl, Flavell, Cockerell, Hughes, Ramsay, O'Hara, Purves. Subs: Tait, Nisbet.
A 0 2 McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Lyall, Cockerell, Hughes, Ramsay, O'Hara, Nisbet. Subs: Wilson, Dickson.
Bo'ness United H 2 0 Cockerell, O'Hara Smith, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Lyall, Cockerell, Hughes, Ramsay, O'Hara, Flavell. Subs: Boyle, Dunn.
A 2 0 Cockerell, Purves McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, Purves, Dickson, Cockerell, O'Hara, Nisbet, McColl, Hughes. Subs: Ramsay, Boyle.
Bonnyrigg Rose H 0 2 McNab, Coughlin, Boyle, Wilson, McColl, Nisbet, Flavell, Fraser, O'Sullivan, Wilkinson, Aird. Subs: Tait, Dunn.
A 1 4 Ramsay McNab, Coughlin, Boyle, Wilson, McColl, Dunn, Cockerell, Prior, Ramsay, Hughes, Purves. Subs: Fraser, Tait.
Broxburn Athletic H 1 2 Fraser Trialist, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, McColl, Tait, Dickson, Prior, Ramsay, Hughes, Purves. Subs: Boyle, Cockerell.
A 2 0 McColl, Hughes McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Hughes, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, McColl, Nisbet. Subs: Flavell, Boyle.
Dalkeith Thistle H 5 3 O'Hara 3, McColl, Cockerell McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Hughes, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, McColl, O'Hara. Subs: Nisbet, Flavell.
A 1 0 Lyall McNab, Purves, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Lyall, Cockerell, Hughes, Ramsay, O'Hara, Flavell. Subs: Boyle, Nisbet.
Edinburgh United H 1 0 Ramsay McNab, Coughlin, Boyle, Fraser, Purves, Dickson, Cockerell, O'Hara, Ramsay, McColl, Wilson. Subs: Flavell, Dunn.
A 1 0 ? McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Lyall, Cockerell, Hughes, Ramsay, O'Hara, Purves. Subs: Nisbet, Flavell.
Fauldhouse United H 4 0 Purves, O'Hara 2, Wilson Smith, Coughlin, Boyle, Tait, McColl, Wilson, Cockerell, Dickson, Purves, O'Hara, Hughes. Subs: Nisbet, Ramsay.
A 4 3 Lyall 3, Hughes McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, McColl, Dickson, Cockerell, O'Hara, Ramsay, Hughes, Lyall. Subs: Nisbet, Boyle.
Linlithgow Rose H 1 0 Dickson McNab, Coughlin, Boyle, Wilson, McColl, Purves, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, O'Hara, Hughes. Subs: Smith, Dunn.
A 1 5 O'Hara McNab, Dickson, Wilkinson, Wilson, Purves, Coughlin, Murray, O'Hara, Ramsay, McColl, Boyle. Subs: Nisbet, Fraser.
Musselburgh Athletic H 2 2 McColl, O'Hara McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, Purves, Dickson, Cockerell, O'Hara, Ramsay, McColl, Hughes. Subs: Nisbet, Boyle.
A 4 1 Lyall, Hughes 2, Ramsay McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Lyall, Cockerell, Hughes, Ramsay, McColl, O'Hara. Subs: Dickson, Nisbet.
Ormiston Primrose H 0 1 McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Lyall, Cockerell, Hughes, Ramsay, Flavell, Nisbet. Subs: Wilson, Boyle.
A 0 2
Preston Athletic H 2 1 Coughlin, O'Sullivan McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Dickson, O'Sullivan, O'Hara, Ramsay, McColl, Nisbet. Subs: Flavell, Boyle.
A 3 1 O'Hara, Ramsay, OG McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, McColl, Lyall, Cockerell, Hughes, Ramsay, O'Hara, Purves. Subs: Nisbet, Aird.
Whitburn Juniors H 2 1 Cockerell 2 McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Dickson, Cockerell, Flavell, Ramsay, McColl, O'Hara. Subs: Dunn, Boyle.
A 2 4 Prior, O'Hara Smith, Coughlin, Boyle, Tait, Fraser, Prior, Cockerell, Hughes, Ramsay, Wilson, O'Hara. Sub: Lyall.
OVD SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 H Bonnybridge Juniors 2 0 Cockerell 2 Smith, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, Purves, Flavell, Cockerell, O'Hara, Ramsay, McColl, Wilson. Subs: Boyle, Hughes.
2 A Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2 2 Ramsay, OG McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Dickson, Cockerell, Lyall, O'Hara, Hughes, McColl. Subs: Nisbet, Boyle.
H Hill of Beath Hawthorn 1 0 O'Hara McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Lyall, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, McColl, O'Hara. Subs: Nisbet, Flavell.
3 A Stoneyburn Juniors 4 1 Dickson, Hughes, Cockerell, Purves McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Hughes, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, McColl, O'Hara. Subs: Flavell, Lyall.
4 H Broughty Athletic 6 0 Dunn 2, Cockerell 2, Ramsay 2 McNab, Coughlin, Boyle, Wilson, Purves, Hughes, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, McColl, Nisbet. Subs: Lyall, Flavell.
5 H Dundee Violet 1 1 Nisbet McNab, Coughlin, Lyall, Wilson, Purves, Hughes, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, McColl, O'Hara. Subs: Flavell, Boyle.
A Dundee Violet 1 0 Hughes McNab, Coughlin, Lyall, Tait, McColl, Hughes, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, Purves, O'Hara. Subs: Wilson, Boyle.
QF A Kilbirnie Ladeside 1 1 Cockerell McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Hughes, Cockerell, Purves, Ramsay, Lyall, O'Hara. Subs: Nisbet, Wilson.
H Kilbirnie Ladeside 0 0 McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Hughes, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, Purves, O'Hara. Subs: Lyall, Nisbet.
N Kilbirnie Ladeside 4 1 O'Hara 2, Hughes, Lyall McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Hughes, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, Purves, O'Hara. Subs: Lyall, Nisbet.
SF N Petershill 1 2 Purves McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Lyall, Cockerell, Hughes, Ramsay, O'Hara, Purves. Subs: Flavell, Aird.
RADIO FORTH CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 H St. Andrews United 2 0 Cockerell 2 McNab, Coughlin, Boyle, Tait, Purves, Dickson, Cockerell, O'Hara, Ramsay, McColl, Wilson. Subs: Nisbet, Flavell.
2 A Ormiston Primrose 1 0 Wilson McNab, Dickson, Boyle, Fraser, Purves, Flavell, Cockerell, O'Hara, Ramsay, McColl, Wilson. Subs: Nisbet, Tait.
3 H Bonnyrigg Rose 2 1 Ramsay, Cockerell McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Hughes, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, McColl, Nisbet. Subs: Boyle, Lyall.
QF A Broxburn Athletic 1 1 Ramsay McNab, Wilson, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Flavell, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, O'Hara, Nisbet. Subs: Boyle, Lyall.
H Broxburn Athletic 4 0 Hughes 2, Cockerell 2 McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, McColl, Purves, Cockerell, Flavell, Ramsay, O'Hara, Hughes. Subs: Nisbet, Boyle.
SF H Whitburn Juniors 3 3 O'Hara, Purves, Cockerell McNab, Coughlin, Boyle, Wilson, McColl, Purves, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, O'Hara, Hughes. Subs: Tait, Nisbet.
A Whitburn Juniors 2 1 Ramsay, Purves McNab, Coughlin, Boyle, Wilson, McColl, Purves, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, O'Hara, Hughes. Subs: Fraser, Tait.
F N Kelty Hearts 1 0 Hughes McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Purves, Tait, Hughes, Dickson, Wilson, Ramsay, Cockerell, O'Hara. Sub: Nisbet, Boyle.
Match Report
    STAR WINS RADIO FORTH CUP FINAL
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    Newtongrange Star beat their Fife opponents, Kelty Hearts by a solitary goal last Thursday evening in a rather disappointing Radio Forth Cup Final at Prestonfield, Linlithgow.

    The final of the inter-region competition lacked the quality of a good cup final and even although Newtongrange played below par, they themselves were still much better that the Hearts who played second fiddle to the Midlothian aces throughout.

    Kevin McColl, injured in the game against Broxburn three days before was missing from the Star’s final line up so Stuart Purves deputised at centre half with Tait in central defence with Fraser continuing at left back instead of Boyle and John Coughlin as usual at number 2.

    The midfield read Dickson, Hughes (captain), and Wilson while up front we saw Cockerell, Ramsay and O’Hara. McNab was back in goal after missing the Broxburn game.

    Kelty were no mean finalists themselves having taken care of Haddington (5-0), Bo’ness (3-1), and Bathgate (4-1), en route to the final while Newtongrange put out Ormiston (1-0) as well as beating holders Whitburn in a replay by 2-1 at Whitburn in the semi final.

    The Star quickly asserted their superiority in the final pushing Kelty back in their own half on a sun drenched June evening.

    Speculative shots from both sides did little to trouble goalkeepers as Kelty opted for a tight defensive tactic looking to take advantage of any quick counter attacks.

    Kelty were able to soak up the Star’s efforts for the opening quarter of the game but in the 25th minute Newtongrange scored what proved to be the cupwinner. Tony O’Hara was fouled in midfield and from Fraser’s deep free kick skipper ‘Yogi’ Hughes stole in on the blind side to side foot the ball into the net at the far post to break the deadlock.

    The goal was well deserved and well executed and Paul Ramsay next went close with a powerful shot.

    Then a swerving drive by Moffat troubled McNab but Star after dominating the first half took the break just one goal ahead when they should have been further on top.

    Kelty improved briefly on the restart but without really troubling McNab.

    Kelty keeper Inglis earned a sporting round of applause in the 50th minute when he saw Tony O’Hara down injured and promptly kicked the ball into touch to allow treatment to be given to the injured striker.

    Then a good move involving three Star players Dickson, Ramsay and Cockerell ended with the latter shooting straight at Inglis.

    On the hour mark Moffat (Kelty) was booked and two minutes later he deserved to be taking an early bath when his crude foul on Brian Dickson went unpunished but the victim was forced out the final, injured with Nisbet then coming on as substitute.

    Durie substituted for Kelty next as the game rifted rather aimlessly into the last quarter in a dull negative spectacle.

    The temperature was raised slightly in 68 minutes when a terrible foul by Dunlop on Cockerell saw the full back deservedly sent off and Kelty were left with 10 men to see out the rest of the final. Hill became Kelty’s second substitute next before Star’s Paul Ramsay again went very close with a ferocious shot in 73 minutes.

    Hughes too almost netted with a header off Fraser’s corner then Kelty’s Big Bob Fair’s header fully tested McNab in 76 minutes from a Kelty corner at the other end.

    In the closing minutes, Kelty’s 10 men battled to save the game but their feckless attack found Stuart Purves the pick of the defence in fine form.

    Congratulations then to Newtongrange Star, the second Midlothian club (the other is Bonnyrigg Rose) to win a Junior Cup this season (Dalkeith were beaten finalists), Midlothian hopes now rest on Bonnyrigg Rose.
ALLOA BREWERIES EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 H Polkemmet Juniors 4 1 Cockerell 2, Kilgour, Ramsay McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, McColl, Kilgour, Cockerell, Flavell, Ramsay, Nisbet, Aird. Subs: Boyle, Dickson.
2 A Dunbar United 1 0 Cockerell McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Lyall, Cockerell, Hughes, Ramsay, McColl, Nisbet. Subs: Dickson, Tait.
QF H Arniston Rangers 1 1 Cockerell McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Lyall, Cockerell, Nisbet, Ramsay, Purves, O'Hara. Subs: Flavell, Boyle.
A Arniston Rangers 2 1 Cockerell, Ramsay McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, McColl, Lyall, Cockerell, Hughes, Ramsay, O'Hara, Nisbet. Subs: Aird, Flavell.
SF A Broxburn Athletic 0 3 McNab, Coughlin, Boyle, Tait, McColl, Wilson, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, O'Hara, Hughes. Subs: Nisbet, Flavell.
ROBERTSON HOMES CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 A Polkemmet Juniors 4 3 Purves, Cockerell 3 Smith, Coughlin, Boyle, Tait, McColl, Nisbet, Flavell, Purves, Cockerell, Hughes, Wilson. Subs: Dickson, Fraser.
2 A Linlithgow Rose 1 2 McColl McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Hughes, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, McColl, O'Hara. Subs: Flavell, Nisbet.
M.R.S. CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 A Edinburgh United 1 0 Ramsay McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, Purves, Dickson, Cockerell, O'Hara, Ramsay, McColl, Hughes. Subs: Nisbet, Boyle.
2 A Bonnyrigg Rose 0 2 McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Tait, McColl, Hughes, Cockerell, Dickson, Ramsay, Purves, O'Hara. Subs: Flavell, Nisbet.
INCHVIEW LEAGUE CUP
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Newtongrange Star 4 4 0 0 13 0 +13 8
Dalkeith Thistle 4 1 0 3 4 10 -6 2
Musselburgh Athletic 4 1 0 3 3 10 -7 2
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Media
Dalkeith Thistle H 3 0 Aird, Wilkinson, O'Sullivan McNab, Dunn, Boyle, Wilson, McColl, Nisbet, Coughlin, Russell, O'Sullivan, Wilkinson, Aird. Subs: Burrell, Smith.
A 4 0 Ramsay, O'Hara, Purves, O'Sullivan McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Dickson, O'Sullivan, O'Hara, Ramsay, McColl, Nisbet. Subs: Wilkinson, Boyle.
Musselburgh Athletic H 4 0 Ramsay 2, O'Hara, Flavell McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, Dickson, Flavell, O'Hara, Ramsay, Nisbet, Boyle. Subs: McColl, Wilkinson.
A 2 0 O'Hara, Coughlin McNab, Tait, Boyle, Wilson, McColl, Flavell, O'Sullivan, O'Hara, Ramsay, Wilkinson, Coughlin. Subs: Nisbet, Dunn.
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
QF A West Calder United 1 2 McColl McNab, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Purves, McColl, O'Sullivan, O'Hara, Ramsay, Tait, Aird. Subs: Nisbet, Boyle.
SQUAD
  • Dougie McNab
  • Stephen Smith
  • John Coughlin
  • Gordon Fraser
  • Colin Tait
  • Kevin McColl
  • Dean Murray
  • Sandy Burrell
  • Bobby Flavell
  • David Nisbet
  • Des O'Sullivan
  • Stewart Purves
  • Tony O'Hara
  • John Cockerell
  • Graeme Boyle
  • Paul Ramsay
  • Gordon Wilson
  • Mark Wilkinson
  • Kenny Lyall
  • John Hughes
  • Brian Dickson
  • Rab Kilgour
  • Jimmy Aird
  • Lawrie Dunn
  • Steven Prior