The History of Newtongrange Star
1993/94
NATIONAL STEEPLEJACKS CUP WINNERS
Back: Aitchison, Miller, O'Hara, Tolmie (Assistant Manager), Sneddon, Neil, Lumsdaine.
Front: O'Donnell, O'Malley (Physio), Ramsay, McColl, Fraser, Soutar, Buckley (Manager), Cochrane.
STORY OF THE SEASON
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    After coming so close the previous season, the Star were determined to reclaim the league title. This time their closest rivals were Camelon. The teams met towards the end of the season at Carmuirs Park in a match that would go a long to decide the outcome of the title. The home side recorded a 2-0 win. The Star eventually completed all their fixtures and were sitting two points clear at the top of the league. Camelon had one remaining fixture away to Linlithgow Rose, which they had to win. A large Star contingent travelled through to the game, but despite an early lead for Linlithgow Rose, Camelon came back to win 2-1 and claim the league title on goal difference.

    In the Scottish Junior Cup, the Star were drawn against Arniston Rangers of all teams in the first round. Despite going two goals behind, the Star came back to win 3-2 with goals from Hugh Sneddon, Paul Ramsay and Jimmy Reilly to set up what appeared to be an easy home tie against North Junior side Culter. The game was far from easy though with Culter pulling off a shock 1-0 win in what would prove to be the Star's last Scottish Junior Cup tie at Victoria Park.

    The club had arranged with Walker Homes to move to a new ground built at Redwood Bing with Victoria Park being turned over for housing. The move ended seventy years of history, but the costs of running such a large ground were proving to be too difficult, a problem that had existed from the early 60's. The Star's last game at Victoria Park was a league match against Linlithgow Rose. The Star won 1-0 with a goal from Jimmy Reilly.

    Despite losing out on the league title, the Star did not finish the season empty handed as they retained custody of the Brown Cup for another year with a 3-2 win over Bo'ness United, a club that were probably by now sick of losing cup finals to the Star. The Star's goals were scored by Tony O'Hara and a double from John Perry. The winning team was Houston, Aitchison, O'Donnell, Miller, McColl, Fraser, Reilly, O'Hara, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Perry. Subs: Cochrane, Forrest.

    Paul Ramsay scored his 200th goal for the club in a home league match with Camelon Juniors.

    Source: The History of Newtongrange Star FC [2010]
JOHN WALKER LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Camelon Juniors 22 15 4 3 49 17 +32 34
Newtongrange Star 22 15 4 3 44 22 +22 34
Whitburn Juniors 22 15 3 4 54 33 +21 33
Linlithgow Rose 22 13 3 6 43 21 +22 29
Fauldhouse United 22 8 7 7 39 35 +4 23
Ormiston Primrose 22 7 5 10 32 37 -5 19
Livingston United 22 8 3 11 30 51 -21 19
Bonnyrigg Rose 22 6 6 10 37 43 -6 18
Bo'ness United 22 5 6 11 34 40 -6 16
Armadale Thistle 22 5 5 12 34 48 -14 15
Harthill Royal 22 4 4 14 33 49 -16 12
Edinburgh United 22 4 4 14 24 57 -33 12
Relegated from First Division: Harthill Royal
Edinburgh United
Promoted to First Division: Dunbar United
Stoneyburn Juniors
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Media
Armadale Thistle H 2 1 Reilly, Cochrane Carswell, Aitchison, Fraser, Cochrane, McColl, Neil, Perry, O'Hara, Trialist, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: O'Donnell, Reilly.
A 3 2 Ramsay, Reilly, Cochrane Houston, Aitchison, O'Donnell, McColl, Neil, Cochrane, Reilly, O'Hara, Ramsay, Lumsdaine, Ballantyne. Subs: Soutar, Fraser.
Bo'ness United H 1 0 Neil Carswell, Aitchison, Fraser, O'Donnell, McColl, Neil, Cochrane, Miller, Brock, O'Hara, Ballantyne. Subs: Lumsdaine, Forrest.
A 1 1 Ramsay Carswell, Fraser, O'Donnell, Perry, Neil, McColl, Cochrane, Lumsdaine, Ramsay, O'Hara, Ballantyne. Subs: Reilly, Soutar.
Bonnyrigg Rose H 3 0 Ramsay, Reilly, Parkin Carswell, Aitchison, O'Donnell, Lumsdaine, Neil, Fraser, Reilly, O'Hara, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Soutar. Subs: Miller, Parkin.
A 3 2 O'Hara 2, Perry Carswell, Cochrane, Fraser, Miller, McColl, Neil, Perry, Fellinger, O'Hara, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: O'Donnell, Buckley.
Camelon Juniors H 1 1 Ramsay Carswell, Aitchison, Fraser, Miller, McColl, Neil, Ramsay, O'Hara, Brock, Perry, O'Donnell. Subs: Cochrane, Ballantyne.
A 0 2 Carswell, Aitchison, Fraser, Neil, McColl, O'Donnell, Reilly, O'Hara, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Forrest. Subs: Miller, Bailey.
Edinburgh United H 4 0 Forrest, Ramsay 2, Perry Houston, Aitchison, O'Donnell, O'Hara, McColl, Fraser, Reilly, Neil, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Forrest. Subs: Perry, Cochrane.
A 1 0 OG Carswell, Miller, Fraser, Aitchison, McColl, Lumsdaine, Reilly, Parkin, Soutar, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: Houston, O'Donnell.
Fauldhouse United H 2 0 O'Hara, Ramsay Carswell, Aitchison, Fraser, Neil, McColl, Cochrane, Reilly, O'Hara, Ramsay, Parkin, O'Donnell. Subs: Ballantyne, Lumsdaine.
A 3 1 Neil, Perry, Ballantyne Carswell, Aitchison, Fraser, Perry, McColl, Miller, Cochrane, Neil, Ramsay, O'Hara, Ballantyne. Subs: O'Donnell, Houston.
Harthill Royal H 3 1 Ramsay, Cochrane, Ballantyne Carswell, Cochrane, Fraser, Neil, McColl, Perry, Reilly, Parkin, O'Hara, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: Aitchison, Lumsdaine.
A 2 1 Soutar 2 Houston, Aitchison, O'Donnell, Lumsdaine, Neil, McColl, Soutar, O'Hara, Beveridge, Ballantyne, Reilly. Subs: Cochrane, Sneddon.
Linlithgow Rose H 1 0 Reilly Houston, Aitchison, Fraser, Neil, McColl, O'Donnell, Reilly, O'Hara, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Perry. Subs: Miller, Forrest.
A 2 1 O'Hara, Lumsdaine Houston, Aitchison, Fraser, Cochrane, Sneddon, Neil, Soutar, O'Hara, Ramsay, Parkin, O'Donnell. Subs: Reilly, Lumsdaine.
Livingston United H 4 0 Soutar, Reilly, Beveridge, OG Houston, Neil, O'Donnell, Lumsdaine, McColl, Sneddon, Soutar, O'Hara, Beveridge, Ballantyne, Reilly. Subs: Cochrane, Parkin.
A 3 1 Brock 3 Carswell, Miller, Fraser, Neil, McColl, O'Donnell, Ramsay, O'Hara, Brock, Cochrane, Ballantyne. Subs: Reilly, Lumsdaine.
Ormiston Primrose H 0 2 Carswell, McColl, O'Donnell, Perry, Neil, Fraser, Cochrane, Lumsdaine, Soutar, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: Parkin, Buckley.
A 2 2 Ramsay, Parkin Carswell, Cochrane, Fraser, Lumsdaine, Aitchison, McColl, Trialist, Parkin, O'Hara, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: Reilly, O'Donnell.
Whitburn Juniors H 2 2 Neil, Parkin Carswell, Aitchison, O'Donnell, Lumsdaine, Sneddon, Neil, Reilly, Parkin, Beveridge, O'Hara, Ramsay. Subs: Soutar, Ballantyne.
A 1 2 Ballantyne Carswell, O'Donnell, Fraser, Perry, Aitchison, Neil, Cochrane, McColl, O'Hara, Lumsdaine, Ballantyne. Subs: Forrest, Houston.
OVD SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 A Arniston Rangers 3 2 Sneddon, Ramsay, Reilly Houston, Aitchison, O'Donnell, Sneddon, McColl, Neil, Soutar, Parkin, Ramsay, O'Hara, Ballantyne. Subs: Reilly, Lumsdaine.
2 H Culter 0 1 Houston, Neil, O'Donnell, Lumsdaine, Sneddon, McColl, Reilly, O'Hara, Beveridge, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: Cochrane, Soutar.
FIFE & LOTHIANS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 Bye
2 H Livingston United 1 1 Perry Carswell, Aitchison, Fraser, Lumsdaine, Neil, McColl, Cochrane, Parkin, Ramsay, O'Hara, Perry. Subs: Reilly, O'Donnell.
A Livingston United 3 1 Perry 2, O'Hara Carswell, Aitchison, Fraser, Perry, McColl, Neil, Ramsay, Parkin, O'Hara, O'Donnell, Reilly. Subs: Cochrane, Ballantyne.
3 A St. Andrews United 0 0 Houston, Aitchison, Fraser, Miller, McColl, Neil, Ramsay, O'Hara, Brock, O'Donnell, Ballantyne. Subs: Reilly, Cochrane.
H St. Andrews United 2 0 Ramsay, Neil Houston, Aitchison, Fraser, Miller, McColl, Neil, Cochrane, O'Hara, Forrest, O'Donnell, Ramsay. Subs: Ballantyne, Lumsdaine.
QF A Stoneyburn Juniors 0 1 Houston, Miller, Fraser, Cochrane, McColl, O'Donnell, Perry, O'Hara, Brock, Ballantyne, Forrest. Subs: Lumsdaine, Aitchison.
ALLOA BREWERIES EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 Bye
2 A Bo'ness United 1 1 Lumsdaine Carswell, Cochrane, Fraser, Neil, Aitchison, McColl, Reilly, Parkin, Ramsay, O'Donnell, Ballantyne. Subs: Lumsdaine, Miller.
H Bo'ness United 1 0 Ramsay Carswell, Miller, O'Donnell, Lumsdaine, McColl, Fraser, Reilly, O'Hara, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Fellinger. Subs: Cochrane, Neil.
QF A Livingston United 2 3 O'Hara, Ramsay Houston, Aitchison, O'Donnell, Miller, McColl, Neil, Forrest, O'Hara, Brock, Fraser, Ramsay. Subs: Cochrane, Ballantyne.
NATIONAL STEEPLEJACKS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 H Fauldhouse United 2 1 Ramsay, Cochrane Carswell, Aitchison, Fraser, Perry, Neil, McColl, Lumsdaine, Cochrane, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Reilly. Subs: Soutar, Parkin.
2 A Bonnybridge Juniors 4 0 Brock 2, Perry, Fellinger Carswell, Miller, O'Donnell, Neil, Aitchison, Fellinger, Ramsay, Cochrane, Brock, Ballantyne, Perry. Subs: Fraser, O'Hara.
QF H Linlithgow Rose 1 1 Ballantyne Carswell, Miller, Neil, Cochrane, Aitchison, O'Donnell, Perry, McColl, O'Hara, Forrest, Ballantyne. Subs: Lumsdaine, Houston.
A Linlithgow Rose 0 0 6 5 Houston, Aitchison, O'Donnell, Cochrane, McColl, Fraser, Reilly, O'Hara, Perry, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: Neil, Forrest.
SF H Armadale Thistle 2 0 Reilly 2 Houston, Aitchison, Fraser, O'Donnell, McColl, Neil, Reilly, O'Hara, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Perry. Subs: Cochrane, Forrest.
F N Bo'ness United 3 2 O'Hara, Perry 2 Houston, Aitchison, Fraser, O'Donnell, McColl, Miller, Reilly, O'Hara, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Perry. Subs: Cochrane, Forrest.
Match Report
    GALA SUCCESS FOR STAR
    By Striker (Advertiser) at Newbyres Park, Gorebridge

    Newtongrange Star celebrated their village’s annual Gala Day last Saturday by adding to the auspicious occasion by winning the National Steeplejacks Cup Final at nearby Newbyres Park, Gorebridge – home of the sponsors.

    Meanwhile, next door at the Gore Park, the Gorebridge folk were celebrating their own Gala Day.

    So the windy afternoon included five goals, a series of bookings, a sending off, helicopter displays and parachute jumps for both Gala Day events – all adding up to an afternoon high on entertainment.

    The Star’s off-the-field problems over players contracts and a nailbiting wait until Monday evening this week to see whether they had won the ‘A’ Division championship were quickly dispelled by a lively start to the National Steeplejacks Cup Final against a Bo’ness United, who midweek had commendably won the Charlie Bain (Fife & Lothians) Cup Final by 2-1 from Fife aces Hill of Beath.

    The Star’s own midweek defeat by 2-0 at Camelon had been their 50th goal conceded this season, but against Bo’ness their three cup final goals raised their 1993/94 season’s goals scored tally to 90 in their 45th and final game.

    Tony O’Hara featured strongly in the opening minutes, and it was fitting that he should open the scoring in the 17th minute when a driven ball from the left was pushed out by the United defence and Tony quickly seized on the loose ball to stab it past Gavin Kirkwood to make it 1-0 for the Nitten men.

    Confidence oozed from the Star midfield with Mark Ballantyne in the mood to prise open Brian Molloy’s defence. The helicopter flypast distracted some of the fans, but the Star maintained their concentration and kept Bo’ness, and Tom Ward in particular, at bay.

    Gradually, however, Bo’ness clawed their way back into the game competing better, but they were shocked to the core after 30 minutes when they fell 2-0 behind.

    John Perry was the marksman as he put away Tony O’Hara’s excellent cross unchallenged with Kirkwood again stranded.

    Three minutes later senior statesman Kevin McColl robbed Tom Ward, touching the ball off his toes when the striker had the goal at his mercy.

    But, Bo’ness bounced back into the game in 41 minutes with a fine free kick taken by Russell Cheape.

    Gordon Fraser had fouled on the edge of the box and had been booked for his offence and from the resultant free kick Cheape drove straight and true into the back of Houston’s net.

    However, it was 3-1 just three minutes later when John Perry restored the Star’s two goal advantage, putting away a chance set up by Mark Ballantyne this time. 3-1 up at half time, Newtongrange were in the driving seat, but the second half honours mainly went to Bo’ness.

    Bo’ness had to attack in that second half and that they did giving O’Donnell in particular a roasting down the left flank.

    In 57 minutes, Cheape was clean through and, while Houston blocked his shot, Ward sent the rebound high and wide with the goal at his mercy.

    But Ward made up for that just a few minutes later when typically he cleared two tackles before cracking the ball into the net to make it 3-2.

    Now the Star were under pressure, but the likes of Fraser and Miller pulled them through. With more than an hour played Gary Wilcox next was sensationally sent off for a second bookable offence, reducing the United to 10 men.

    And to be honest they fared batter for the rest of the game short handed.

    Newtongrange couldn’t get the fourth safety goal and Bo’ness kept plugging away against the tiring Nitten defence, with Ward going very close more than once.

    John Perry was booked in 71 minutes and Mark White was next yellow carded for a foul trip on Tony O’Hara.

    In 77 minutes, Robert Cochrane came on to replace Kevin McColl, and Bobby Forrest also got on later to substitute for Jimmy Reilly. Bo’ness kept up the pressure but only gained another United booking – this time Russell Cheape.

    Yet just three minutes from time, Bobby Forrest crossed to Tony O’Hara who was unlucky to see his header hit the post.

    The Star had done enough damage in the first half to win the cup and so it proved in the end. Certainly Bo’ness are jinxed in cup finals against Newtongrange, but the Star were ably served by Fraser, McColl, Miller, Ballantyne, O’Hara and two goal hero John Perry.

    Well done to John Buckley and his team maintaining their silverware success – last season they won the League Cup and Brown Cup.

    Teams:
    Newtongrange Star: Houston, Aitchison, O'Donnell, Miller, McColl, Fraser, Reilly, O'Hara, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Perry. Subs: Cochrane, Forrest.
    Bo'ness United: Kirkwood, Dalton, Meldrum, Dunlevy, Malloy, Allison, Whyte, Wilcox, Ward, Burns, Cheape. Subs: McLaren, Gallacher

    Ref: I. Fyfe (Linlithgow)
PETER CRAIGIE CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 Bye
2 A Dunbar United 5 2 Neil 2, Ramsay, Reilly, Cochrane Carswell, Fraser, Aitchison, Neil, McColl, O'Donnell, Reilly, Parkin, Ramsay, O'Hara, Cochrane. Subs: Lumsdaine, Ballantyne.
QF H Preston Athletic 2 2 1 4 Perry, Forrest Carswell, Aitchison, Fraser, Miller, McColl, Neil, Perry, O'Donnell, Ramsay, O'Hara, Ballantyne. Subs: Houston, Forrest.
SKOL LEAGUE CUP
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Newtongrange Star 4 4 0 0 7 1 +6 8
Ormiston Primrose 4 2 0 2 4 3 +1 4
Arniston Rangers 4 0 0 4 2 9 -7 0
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Media
Arniston Rangers H 2 0 Sneddon, Dall Houston, Neil, Fraser, Lumsdaine, Aitchison, Sneddon, Reilly, O'Hara, Dall, Cochrane, Ramsay. Subs: O'Donnell, Soutar.
A 3 1 Reilly, Ramsay, Neil Carswell, Aitchison, Fraser, Lumsdaine, Sneddon, McColl, Reilly, Neil, Soutar, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: Miller, Parkin.
Ormiston Primrose H 1 0 Neil Houston, Aitchison, Fraser, Cochrane, Sneddon, Neil, Dall, O'Hara, Lumsdaine, O'Donnell, Ramsay. Subs: Forrest, Parkin.
A 1 0 Soutar Houston, Aitchison, Fraser, Lumsdaine, Sneddon, O'Donnell, Reilly, Neil, O'Hara, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: Soutar, Miller.
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
QF A Linlithgow Rose 1 1 O'Hara Carswell, Aitchison, Fraser, Lumsdaine, Neil, McColl, Reilly, Parkin, O'Hara, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: Soutar, O'Donnell.
H Linlithgow Rose 0 1 Carswell, Aitchison, O'Donnell, Lumsdaine, Neil, McColl, Reilly, Parkin, O'Hara, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: Soutar, Cochrane.
SQUAD
  • Allan Carswell
  • Frank Houston
  • Tam Aitchison
  • Gordon Fraser
  • Alan Miller
  • Kevin McColl
  • Craig Neil
  • Hugh Sneddon
  • Robert Cochrane
  • Tony O'Hara
  • Mark Ballantyne
  • Paul Ramsay
  • Craig Lumsdaine
  • Gordon Parkin
  • Stuart Dall
  • Bobby Forrest
  • Jimmy Reilly
  • Jackie O'Donnell
  • Graham Soutar
  • John Perry
  • John Brock
  • Keith Beveridge
  • Fellinger
  • Kevin Foley
TOP SCORERS
Paul Ramsay 14
John Perry 11
Jimmy Reilly 11