The History of Newtongrange Star
1995/96
STORY OF THE SEASON
Read More
    All looked reasonably promising at the start of the season as the Star secured first place in the League Cup group section with four wins out of four against Arniston Rangers and Dalkeith Thistle with plenty of goals. There was also a league win over Bonnyrigg Rose. The only blip was a 1-0 defeat at home to Fauldhouse United, the only win the men from West Lothian would achieve in the league all season.

    The Star lost out in the quarter-final of the League Cup to Whitburn and lost 3-1 to Arniston Rangers in the league. Soon after the Star also exited the Scottish Junior Cup as the team lost to a last minute winner in the second round away to Kilsyth Rangers. This result and the poor recent form led to the departure of Ronnie Tolmie after only a few months in charge.

    Willie Garner took over as manager and he led the team to a fourth place in the league, only four points away from top spot. The Star may have finished just short, but the climax to the league was one of the most exciting in years. Linlithgow Rose met Whitburn in the final match. The winner would take the title. However, if the match ended in a draw then the title would go to Arniston Rangers. In the end Whitburn prevailed.

    In addition to the League Cup, there were two other cup quarter-final appearances in another largely disappointing season. For a team accustomed to winning trophies, such lack of progress was frustrating.

    Goalscoring feat of the season came from Gordon Bailey who scored a hat-trick of hat-tricks in January 1996. He grabbed 3 goals in three consecutives matches against Harthill Royal, Bonnyrigg Rose and Blackburn United.

    The season did mark the testimonial year for three Star stalwarts - Gordon Fraser, Tony O'Hara and Paul Ramsay. Although, there was sad news in January when the death of former Star player Bobby Flavell was announced aged only 39. Bobby was your typical journeyman footballer, playing for a diverse range of clubs such as Halifax Town, Barnsley, Vasteras SK in Sweden, Hibs, Motherwell and Berwick Rangers before he ended up at the Star.

    Source: The History of Newtongrange Star FC [2010]
JOHN WALKER LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Whitburn Juniors 22 13 5 4 40 22 +18 44
Arniston Rangers 22 13 4 5 43 28 +15 43
Linlithgow Rose 22 12 5 5 45 32 +13 41
Newtongrange Star 22 12 4 6 40 25 +15 40
Armadale Thistle 22 11 6 5 46 36 +10 39
Camelon Juniors 22 11 3 8 42 32 +10 36
Dunbar United 22 7 6 9 39 45 -6 27
Bo'ness United 22 7 4 11 31 32 -1 25
Harthill Royal 22 7 4 11 33 43 -10 25
Bonnyrigg Rose 22 6 5 11 33 42 -9 23
Ormiston Primrose 22 5 4 13 26 46 -20 19
Fauldhouse United 22 1 4 17 22 57 -25 7
Relegated from First Division: Ormiston Primrose
Fauldhouse United
Promoted to First Division: Tranent Juniors
Bonnybridge Juniors
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Media
Armadale Thistle H 1 2 Samuel Hogarth, Davidson, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, O'Hara, Cochrane, Samuel, Bailey, P. Thomson, Ramsay. Subs: Ballantyne, MacLaren, Rennie, J. Thomson, Neilson.
A 1 2 Cochrane Hogarth, Davidson, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, Reed, Cochrane, Samuel, Brock, Dall, O'Hara. Subs: Buchan, J. Thomson, P. Thomson, Rennie, Carswell.
Arniston Rangers H 1 1 O'Hara Hogarth, Davidson, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, O'Hara, P. Thomson, Samuel, Brock, Ramsay, Dall. Subs: Buchan (for Brock), Rennie, Bailey (for Dall), Cochrane (for Davidson), Neilson.
A 1 3 O'Hara Hogarth, Miller, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, P. Thomson, Buchan, Samuel, Bailey, Ramsay, O'Hara. Subs: Reed, Cochrane, Davidson, Neil, Carswell.
Bo'ness United H 1 2 Samuel Hogarth, Davidson, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, Miller, Cochrane, P. Thomson, Ramsay, Samuel, Reed. Subs: Dall (for Miller), O'Hara, Ballantyne, J. Thomson, Carswell.
A 1 0 Brock Hogarth, Davidson, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, O'Hara, Cochrane, Samuel, Buchan, Bailey, Dall. Subs: Brock, Ramsay, J. Thomson.
Bonnyrigg Rose H 3 2 Bailey 3 Hogarth, Davidson, Reed, Fraser, Aitchison, O'Hara, Cochrane, Samuel, Bailey, Ramsay, Dall. Subs: J. Thomson (for Reed), Buchan, Rennie, P. Thomson, Carswell.
A 2 1 Bailey, O'Hara Russell, Davidson, Fraser, J. Thomson, Aitchison, Cochrane, Buchan, P. Thomson, Bailey, Ballantyne, O'Hara. Subs: Dall, Reed, Robertson, Carswell.
Camelon Juniors H 4 1 Bailey, Samuel, Brock 2 Hogarth, Davidson, Reed, Affleck, Aitchison, O'Hara, Cochrane, Samuel, Bailey, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: Brock (for Bailey), P. Thomson (for Ballantyne), Buchan, J. Thomson, Carswell.
A 2 1 Samuel, Cochrane Hogarth, Miller, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, Cochrane, O'Hara, P. Thomson, Ramsay, Samuel, Ballantyne. Subs: Buchan, Davidson, Neil, J. Thomson, Carswell.
Dunbar United H 3 1 Ramsay, Samuel, Reed Hogarth, Davidson, Reed, Affleck, Aitchison, Miller, Cochrane, Samuel, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Dall. Subs: Buchan, Carswell.
A 2 2 Bailey, Ramsay Hogarth, Davidson, Reed, Affleck, Rennie, O'Hara, Cochrane, Samuel, Brock, Bailey, P. Thomson. Subs: Buchan, Ramsay, J. Thomson, Fraser, Dall.
Fauldhouse United H 0 1 Russell, Davidson, Fraser, J. Thomson, Aitchison, Cochrane, Ramsay, P. Thomson, Bailey, Ballantyne, O'Hara.
A 5 0 Ramsay, Cochrane, Samuel, Buchan, Bailey Hogarth, Davidson, Reed, Affleck, Aitchison, Cochrane, Buchan, O'Hara, Ramsay, Samuel, Bailey. Subs: Dall, J. Thomson, Perry, Fraser, P. Thomson.
Harthill Royal H 1 1 Samuel Hogarth, Miller, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, Cochrane, O'Hara, P. Thomson, Ramsay, Samuel, Ballantyne. Subs: Buchan, Davidson, Neil, Reed, Carswell.
A 3 2 Bailey 3 Hogarth, J. Thomson, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, Davidson, Cochrane, Samuel, Bailey, Ballantyne, Ramsay. Subs: Dall, Buchan, Carswell.
Linlithgow Rose H 2 1 Samuel 2 Hogarth, Davidson, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, O'Hara, Cochrane, Samuel, Bailey, Ramsay, Dall. Subs: Brock (for Ramsay), Ballantyne (for Fraser), Buchan, Rennie, Carswell.
A 1 1 Dall Carswell, Davidson, Fraser, Rennie, Aitchison, Affleck, Cochrane, Samuel, O'Hara, J. Thomson, Dall. Subs: P. Thomson (for Rennie).
Ormiston Primrose H 3 0 Samuel, Bailey, Davidson Hogarth, Davidson, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, O'Hara, Cochrane, Samuel, Buchan, Bailey, Dall. Sub: Brock (for Dall), Rennie, J. Thomson, P. Thomson, Carswell.
A 1 0 Ramsay Hogarth, Davidson, Reed, Fraser, Aitchison, Cochrane, Buchan, P. Thomson, Ramsay, Samuel, Ballantyne. Subs: Affleck, O'Hara, Dall, Miller, Carswell.
Whitburn Juniors H 0 1 Russell, MacLaren, Fraser, Affleck, P. Thomson, O'Hara, Cochrane, Samuel, Brock, Ramsay, Ballantyne. Subs: Buchan (for Ballantyne), Davidson, Bailey (for Ramsay), J. Thomson.
A 2 0 Samuel 2 Neilson, J. Thomson, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, O'Hara, Cochrane, Samuel, Ramsay, P. Thomson, Buchan. Subs: Davidson, Dall, Ballantyne, Hogarth.
OVD SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 Bye
2 A Kilsyth Rangers 1 2 Ramsay Hogarth, Davidson, Fraser, Neil, Aitchison, Miller, Cochrane, Samuel, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Dall. Subs: Buchan, O'Hara, J. Thomson, Bailey, Carswell.
WHYTE & MacKAY FIFE & LOTHIANS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 Bye
2 A Haddington Athletic 0 2 Hogarth, Davidson, Fraser, Cochrane, Aitchison, Reed, Buchan, O'Hara, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Samuel. Subs: Affleck, J. Thomson, Neil, Carswell.
CALDERS 70/- EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 H Harthill Royal 5 1 Samuel 2, Reed, Dall, Cochrane Hogarth, Davidson, Reed, Fraser, Aitchison, Cochrane, Dall, P. Thomson, Ramsay, Samuel, Ballantyne. Subs: Buchan (for Dall), Miller (for Cochrane).
2 H Blackburn United 4 0 Bailey 3, Samuel Hogarth, Davidson, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, O'Hara, Cochrane, Samuel, Bailey, Ramsay, Ballantyne. Subs: Adams (for Bailey), Dall (for Davidson), Reed (for Fraser), J. Thomson, Buchan.
QF H Linlithgow Rose 0 0 Hogarth, Davidson, Fraser, Affleck, P. Thomson, O'Hara, Cochrane, Samuel, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Dall. Subs: Buchan (for Ballantyne), Bailey (for Dall).
A Linlithgow Rose 1 3 Bailey Hogarth, Davidson, Fraser, Affleck, P. Thomson, Cochrane, Dall, Samuel, Bailey, O'Hara, Ramsay. Subs: Buchan, Rennie, J. Thomson.
PENDRICH STEEPLEJACKS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 H Musselburgh Athletic 5 0 Ramsay 2, Reed, Samuel, Cochrane Hogarth, Davidson, Reed, Affleck, Aitchison, Cochrane, Buchan, O'Hara, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Samuel. Subs: J. Thomson, Dall, Bailey, Fraser, Carswell.
2 A Armadale Thistle 2 1 Samuel 2 Hogarth, Davidson, Reed, Affleck, Aitchison, Cochrane, Buchan, Samuel, Bailey, Ramsay, O'Hara. Subs: J. Thomson, P. Thomson, Dall, Ballantyne.
QF H Bonnybridge Juniors 0 1 Hogarth, Davidson, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, Buchan, Cochrane, Samuel, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Dall. Subs: J. Thomson, Rennie.
SKOL LEAGUE CUP
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Newtongrange Star 4 4 0 0 17 1 +16 12
Arniston Rangers 4 1 1 2 5 9 -4 4
Dalkeith Thistle 4 0 1 4 3 15 -12 1
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Media
Arniston Rangers H 5 0 Bailey 2, O'Hara, P. Thomson, Reed Russell, Davidson, Fraser, J. Thomson, Aitchison, Cochrane, Buchan, P. Thomson, Bailey, Ballantyne, O'Hara. Subs: Dall (for Buchan), Reed (for Ballantyne), Miller, Carswell.
A 2 0 O'Hara, Cochrane Russell, Miller, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, Cochrane, Buchan, P. Thomson, Bailey, Ballantyne, O'Hara. Subs: Dall, Reed, Davidson, J. Thomson, Carswell.
Dalkeith Thistle H 6 1 Aitchison, Ramsay 2, Robertson 2, P. Thomson Hogarth, Davidson, Reed, Fraser, Aitchison, Miller, Cochrane, P. Thomson, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Dall. Subs: J. Thomson, O'Hara, Robertson, Carswell.
A 4 0 Aitchison, Reed 2, Cochrane Hogarth, Davidson, Reed, Fraser, Aitchison, Miller, Cochrane, P. Thomson, Ramsay, Ballantyne, Dall. Subs: Robertson, Affleck, O'Hara, Carswell.
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
QF H Whitburn Juniors 1 1 P. Thomson Hogarth, Davidson, Reed, Fraser, Aitchison, Cochrane, O'Hara, P. Thomson, Ramsay, Samuel, Ballantyne. Sub: Miller (for Cochrane), Buchan, J. Thomson, Affleck, Carswell.
A Whitburn Juniors 0 1 Hogarth, Miller, Fraser, Affleck, Aitchison, Cochrane, Ramsay, P. Thomson, Bailey, Samuel, Ballantyne. Subs: Buchan, Davidson, O'Hara.
SQUAD
  • Chris Russell
  • Myles Hogarth
  • Derek Neilson
  • Allan Carswell
  • Alan Miller
  • Ian Davidson
  • Gordon Fraser
  • Eric Archibald
  • Robert Cochrane
  • Tam Aitchison
  • Jimmy Thomson
  • Mark Reed
  • Colin Affleck
  • Peter Thomson
  • Mark Ballantyne
  • Paul Ramsay
  • Gordon Bailey
  • David Buchan
  • Stuart Dall
  • Dougie Samuel
  • John Brock
  • Paul MacLaren
  • Malky Adams
  • Chris Robertson
  • Steven Rennie
  • Tony O'Hara
  • Neil Irvine
  • John Perry
  • Craig Neil
TOP SCORERS
Dougie Samuel 18
Gordon Bailey 17
Paul Ramsay 9
TESTIMONIAL
  

GORDON FRASER, TONY O'HARA & PAUL RAMSAY
Newtongrange Star 0-2 Heart of Midlothian XI