The History of Newtongrange Star
2006/07
WHYTE & MACKAY SOUTH DIVISION CHAMPIONS
Back: McCaul, Stanton, Coogan, Dunbar, Affleck, Carnie, Paxton, Auld, McNicoll, Buchan, Hardie, Morocco (Physio).
Front: Manson, Roseburgh, Thomson, Meaney, Swaney, Dunn.
STORY OF THE SEASON
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    League reconstruction meant that the Star would start the 2006/07 season in the new South Division. For a club accustomed to the higher end of the league, it was a disappointing position. In addition, the Star also lost a number of experienced players who had decided to move on. Manager Graeme Armstrong turned to youth, bringing in a batch of juvenile players to add to the experience of McCaul, Hardie and new signing Craig Manson. The blend was to prove successful with the Star securing the only promotion place with some exciting attacking football that resulted in 84 goals scored. In a close finish, the league was only won on the last game against Haddington Athletic since Sauchie had chased the Star all the way. The Star in fact finished the season with eleven straight wins, ten of which were achieved without conceding a goal.

    The cup competitions provided little success though. A semi-final place in the Dechmont Forklift Cup was the best performance before the Star lost 2-0 to local rivals Bonnyrigg Rose.

    The Star were eliminated at the first hurdle in the Scottish Junior Cup, but did not discredit themselves having been given a difficult away draw to Superleague side Tayport.

    Source: The History of Newtongrange Star FC [2010]
WHYTE & MACKAY SOUTH DIVISION
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Newtongrange Star 28 22 2 4 84 22 +62 68
Sauchie Juniors 28 21 2 5 81 23 +58 65
Broxburn Athletic 28 15 9 4 56 30 +26 54
Pumpherston Juniors 28 15 6 7 64 44 +20 51
Haddington Athletic 28 15 4 9 62 36 +26 49
Fauldhouse United 28 13 8 7 71 41 +30 47
Harthill Royal 28 12 9 7 58 39 +19 45
Edinburgh United 28 12 7 9 48 37 +11 43
Dunbar United 28 9 7 12 51 60 -9 34
Blackburn United 28 8 7 13 38 51 -13 31
Tranent Juniors 28 8 5 15 40 70 -30 29
West Calder United 28 7 7 14 34 61 -27 28
Stoneyburn Juniors 28 6 6 16 26 55 -29 24
Dalkeith Thistle 28 2 6 20 20 85 -65 12
Livingston United 28 1 3 24 24 103 -79 6
Promoted to Premier League: Newtongrange Star
Relegated from Premier League: <none>
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Media
Blackburn United H 1 1 Manson Carnie, Buchan, Forbes, Hardie, McCaul, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Manson, Dunn, Roseburgh. Subs: Meaney, Swaney, Auld, Bernardi, Paxton.
A 3 0 Gielty, Roseburgh, Forbes Carnie, Buchan, Swaney, Britton, McCaul, Forbes, Gielty, Dunn, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Affleck, Dunbar, Curran, Murphy, Paxton.
Broxburn Athletic H 5 0 Manson 3, Thomson, Dunbar Carnie, Swaney, McCaul, Buchan, Britton, Forbes, Dunbar, Thomson, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: MacNamara, Hardie (for Buchan), Dunn (for Roseburgh), Curran (for Thomson), Paxton.
A 1 0 Bernardi Carnie, Buchan, McCaul, McNicoll, Hardie, Gielty, Dunn, Thomson, Manson, Bernardi, Roseburgh. Subs: Dunbar, Swaney, Affleck, Forbes, Paxton.
Dalkeith Thistle H 3 2 Manson 2, Meaney Carnie, Swaney, McCaul, McNicoll, Hardie, Thomson, Dunn, Bernardi, Manson, Auld, Roseburgh. Subs: Meaney, Curran, Affleck, Coogan, Paxton.
A 2 0 Manson, Thomson Carnie, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Buchan, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Dunn, Gielty, McCaul, Murphy, Paxton.
Dunbar United H 2 0 Dunbar, Manson Carnie, Buchan, Forbes, McNicoll, McCaul, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Manson, Bernardi, Roseburgh. Subs: Dunn, Auld, Meaney, Swaney, Paxton.
A 7 0 Dunn, Manson 3, OG, Meaney, Curran Carnie, Swaney, McCaul, Britton, Hardie, Forbes, Dunn, Gielty, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Buchan, Thomson, Curran, Affleck, Paxton.
Edinburgh United H 1 0 Dunn Carnie, Swaney, McCaul, Britton, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Dunn, Meaney, Forbes, Roseburgh. Subs: Murphy, Affleck, Buchan, Manson, Paxton.
A 0 1 Carnie, Swaney, Forbes, Buchan, Britton, Gielty, Dunn, Thomson, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Auld (for Swaney), Bernardi (for Manson), Affleck, Curran, Paxton.
Fauldhouse United H 2 0 Dunn, Meaney Carnie, Buchan, McCaul, Britton, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Meaney, Dunn, Roseburgh. Subs: Swaney, Murphy, Affleck, Forbes, Paxton.
A 1 1 Manson Carnie, Buchan, Swaney, McNicoll, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Dunn, Manson, Auld, Roseburgh. Subs: Stanton, Curran, Meaney, Affleck, Paxton.
Haddington Athletic H 3 0 Britton, Meaney, Manson Carnie, Swaney, McCaul, Britton, Hardie, Forbes, Dunn, Gielty, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Buchan, Dunbar, Curran, McNamara, Paxton.
A 0 2 Carnie, Buchan, McCaul, McNicoll, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Stanton, Manson, Dunn, Gay. Subs: Bernardi, Affleck, Curran, Paxton.
Harthill Royal H 3 1 Forbes, Manson, Dunn Carnie, Swaney, McCaul, McNicoll, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Meaney, Manson, Forbes, Roseburgh. Subs: Auld, Dunn, Bernardi, Buchan, Paxton.
A 3 1 Meaney 2, Forbes Carnie, Buchan, McCaul, Britton, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Manson, Meaney, Forbes. Subs: Roseburgh, Swaney, Dunn, Affleck.
Livingston United H 8 0 Manson 2, Meaney 2, Britton, MacNamara, Forbes, OG Carnie, Buchan, McCaul, Britton, Hardie, Forbes, Dunn, Gielty, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: MacNamara, Affleck, Curran, Thomson, Paxton.
A 3 2 Britton, Dunbar, Dunn
Pumpherston Juniors H 2 3 Bernardi 2 Carnie, Swaney, McCaul, McNicoll, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Dunn, Bernardi, Auld, Forbes. Subs: Meaney, Roseburgh, Manson, Gielty, Paxton.
A 2 3 OG, Manson Carnie, Buchan, McCaul, Britton, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Gielty, Manson, Dunn, Forbes. Subs: Meaney, Swaney, Roseburgh, Affleck, Paxton.
Sauchie Juniors H 2 0 Manson 2 Carnie, Britton, Forbes, Hardie, McCaul, Gielty, Dunn, Thomson, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Auld, Swaney, Affleck, Dunbar, Paxton.
A 1 0 Meaney Carnie, Swaney, McCaul, Britton, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Meaney, Manson, Forbes, Roseburgh. Subs: Dunn (for Roseburgh), MacNamara, Buchan, Paxton.
Stoneyburn Juniors H 1 0 Manson Paxton, Swaney, Forbes, McNicoll, McCaul, Gielty, Dunbar, Buchan, Manson, Bernardi, Roseburgh. Subs: Dunn, Meaney, Auld, Affleck, Carnie.
A 5 0 Buchan, Britton, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh Carnie, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Buchan, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: MacNamara, Affleck, Dunn, Gielty, Paxton.
Tranent Juniors H 9 1 Thomson, Meaney 2, Dunn 3, Roseburgh, Manson 2 Carnie, Britton, Forbes, Hardie, McCaul, Gielty, Dunn, Thomson, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Affleck, Swaney, Buchan, Dunbar, Paxton.
A 4 0 Forbes 2, Manson, Curran
West Calder United H 3 2 Roseburgh, Manson, Meaney Carnie, Swaney, McCaul, McNicoll, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Dunn, Manson, Auld, Roseburgh. Subs: Meaney, Coogan, Affleck, Buchan, Paxton.
A 7 2 Roseburgh 2, Dunn 3, Meaney 2 Carnie, Swaney, Forbes, Buchan, Britton, Thomson, Dunn, Murphy, Meaney, Gielty, Roseburgh. Subs: Dunbar, MacNamara, Hardie, McCaul, Paxton.
Match Report
    STAR SHINE AS THEY CLINCH LEAGUE TITLE

    By John Gilmour (Evening News) at New Victoria Park, Newtongrange

    NEWTONGRANGE STAR clinched the South League title and promotion to the Premier League with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Haddington Athletic.

    The New Victoria Park side, who had home advantage, went into the clash knowing that a draw or better would see them pip Sauchie to the championship.

    And Graeme Armstrong's men duly obliged as three second half goals saw them finish their season in style.

    "The players should take an enormous amount of credit for the way they won last night," said former Stenhousemuir defender Armstrong.

    "The boys came of age. They started the season as youngsters but last night they proved just how much they have picked up this season.

    "It's been a long time since Newtongrange won anything and it's good to get back to that.

    "We must give credit to Haddington because they had most of the play in the first half and they were up for the game. We knew it would be hard and we were nervous at first but the first goal settled us and we started to play good football again.

    "After that we were in control and the three goals were typical of what these players have been doing all season. Now we can look forward to more challenges, but that's what we're looking forward to."

    After an evenly contested first half the home side were handed a great chance to ease the nerves when they were awarded a penalty five minutes after the re-start.

    However, John Dunn saw his effort well saved by goalkeeper Chris Hill.

    But Haddington's relief was short lived as just minutes later Tom Britton headed powerfully into the net from Stuart Roseburgh's corner.

    With 72 minutes on the clock the celebrations were able to begin in earnest when Grant Meaney glanced a header into the far corner of the net from another Roseburgh corner.

    Then, with four minutes to go, Meaney played the ball into Craig Manson's path and from 18 yards he placed a shot just out of the goalkeepers reach to kill the tie.

    And Manson believes Star have improved all season and ended as worthy title winners.

    "Overall its been a mad season for us," he said. "We started badly and gradually started to knit together. The run in has been fantastic and the boys are already looking forward to next season."
CITYLINK SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Crowd
1 A Tayport 0 1 Carnie, Buchan, McCaul, McNicoll, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Meaney, Manson, Forbes, Roseburgh. Subs: Swaney, Auld, Bernardi (for Dunbar), Dunn (for Meaney), Paxton. 314
FIFE & LOTHIANS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 Bye
2 A Rosyth 2 1 Manson 2 Carnie, Buchan, Forbes, Hardie, McCaul, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Manson, Dunn, Roseburgh. Subs: Meaney, Auld, Swaney, Affleck, Paxton.
3 A Whitburn Juniors 1 2 Roseburgh Carnie, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, McCaul, Gielty, Dunbar, Buchan, Meaney, Dunn, Roseburgh. Subs: Murphy, Affleck, Manson, MacNamara, Thomson.
JOHN WALKER EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 A Arbroath Victoria 3 0 Manson, Dunn, Thomson Paxton, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, McCaul, Gielty, Dunn, Thomson, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Affleck, Dunbar, Buchan, Murphy.
2 H Bo'ness United 0 3 Carnie, Buchan, Swaney, Britton, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Dunn, Forbes, Roseburgh. Subs: Murphy, Affleck, Curran, McCaul, Paxton.
DEM-MASTER DEMOLITION CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 H Pumpherston Juniors 4 0 Manson 2, Roseburgh, Dunbar Paxton, Swaney, Forbes, Buchan, Britton, Affleck, Dunbar, Dunn, Manson, Murphy, Roseburgh. Subs: Meaney, Gielty, Thomson, McCaul, MacNamara.
2 H Stoneyburn Juniors 2 0 Meaney 2
QF H Armadale Thistle 0 0 2 4 Paxton, Murphy, Gielty, McNicoll, Hardie, Barclay, McManus, Affleck, Curran, MacNamara, Dunn. Subs: Swaney, Britton, Manson, Meaney, Carnie.
DECHMONT FORKLIFT CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 A Fauldhouse United 3 2 Bernardi, Dunn, Dunbar Paxton, Swaney, McCaul, McNicoll, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Dunn, Bernardi, Auld, Forbes. Subs: Thomson, Roseburgh, Buchan, Coogan, Carnie.
2 H Armadale Thistle 2 0 Manson, Curran
QF A Edinburgh United 2 1 Dunn, Curran
SF A Bonnyrigg Rose 0 2 Carnie, Buchan, McCaul, McNicoll, Hardie, Forbes, Dunn, Gielty, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Thomson, Curran, Affleck, Swaney, Paxton.
SOUTH LEAGUE CUP
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Newtongrange Star 4 2 1 1 9 7 +2 7
Penicuik Athletic 4 2 0 2 7 8 -1 6
Arniston Rangers 4 1 1 2 7 8 -1 4
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Media
Arniston Rangers H 1 1 Manson Paxton, Murphy, McCaul, McNicoll, Hardie, Thomson, Buchan, Stanton, Manson, Dunn, Gay. Subs: Auld, Dunbar, Affleck, Trialist, Carnie.
A 4 2 Auld, Manson, Bernardi, Dunn Carnie, Buchan, McCaul, McNicoll, Hardie, Dunbar, Dunn, Manson, Auld, Roseburgh. Subs: Stanton, Curran, Bernardi, Gay, Paxton.
Penicuik Athletic H 2 0 Manson, Bernardi Carnie, Swaney, McCaul, McNicoll, Hardie, Thomson, Roseburgh, Dunn, Manson, Dunbar. Subs: Bernardi, Affleck, Meaney, Curran, Paxton.
A 2 4 Gay, McCaul Paxton, Buchan, McCaul, Affleck, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Stanton, Manson, Dunn, Gay. Subs: Curran, Roseburgh (for Gay), Bernardi (for Dunn), Carnie.
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
QF A Armadale Thistle 1 1 3 4 Manson Carnie, Swaney, Forbes, Hardie, McCaul, Thomson, Gielty, Meaney, Manson, Buchan, Dunbar. Subs: Auld, Dunn, Affleck, Paxton.
ANDY KELLY MEMORIAL CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 H Bonnyrigg Rose 1 4 Roseburgh
SQUAD
  • Ryan Carnie
  • Bruce Paxton
  • Scott Swaney
  • Richie McCaul
  • Paul Forbes
  • Steven Hardie
  • Tom Britton
  • Keith McNicoll
  • David Buchan
  • Colin Affleck
  • Martin Murphy
  • Jamie MacNamara
  • Ryan Gay
  • Ian McManus
  • Craig Barclay
  • Steven Thomson
  • Damien Gielty
  • John Dunn
  • Craig Manson
  • Grant Meaney
  • John Coogan
  • Ryan Curran
  • Joe Dunbar
  • Stuart Roseburgh
  • John Stanton
  • Keith Auld
  • Graeme Bernardi
TOP SCORERS
Craig Manson 37
Grant Meaney 17
John Dunn 15