The History of Newtongrange Star
2025/26
Nelson, Leiper, McKenzie, Bradley, Reid, Sutherland, Jones, Laidlaw, Turner, Neave, Connor.
Photo: Mark Falconer Photography
STORY OF THE SEASON
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    Promotion to the East of Scotland League Premier Division meant a significant step up in the quality of opposition. The Lowland League, the league immediately above the East of Scotland League, was expanding in season 2026/27 and two, possibly three, promotion spaces were on offer. For Star though, the focus of the season quickly became one of avoiding relegation rather then looking at promotion. The challenge was evident in the fact Star took 12 matches to register a first league victory. Despite struggling to pick up points against teams in the top half of the league, Star became adept at gaining points against teams nearer the bottom end, which did much to improve the team's league position and meant relegation soon became of little risk.

    The Scottish Cup did bring one memorable moment. Star were drawn away to West of Scotland League Premier Division side Rutherglen Glencairn. A tough trip to Glasgow seemed like delivering disappointment when Star fell two goals behind by half time. However, a goal just after the interval raised hopes. Star though were still behind as the closing moments of the match approached. Those last minutes would see a three goal burst that would secure Star a dramatic victory and a place in the first round. East Stirlingshire from the Lowland League would be the opponents at New Victoria Park in the following round and would end Star's Scottish Cup run after a 3-1 defeat.

    The win over Rutherglen Glencairn would turn out to be Star's only win across all cup competitions. In the South Challenge Cup, Star lost narrowly after a trip west to Renfrewshire side Neilston in the second round. The East of Scotland Qualifying Cup was even more painful after losing on penalties to Linton Hotspur who played their football two leagues below Star. Finally, the League Cup, with Star going down at home to Sauchie Juniors.

    At the end of the season, Club Captain Adam Nelson retired after 7 seasons with the Star.

    One final bit of sad news that came in November 2025 was the sudden passing of Star President Archie Lockhart who died at the age of 62.
EAST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE - PREMIER DIVISION
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Hill of Beath Hawthorn 30 22 1 7 87 36 51 67
Musselburgh Athletic 30 21 3 6 58 23 35 66
Dunipace 30 20 5 5 74 29 45 65
Camelon Juniors 30 19 5 6 71 34 37 62
Jeanfield Swifts 30 18 5 7 68 31 37 62
Bo'ness Athletic 30 15 6 9 51 41 10 51
Haddington Athletic 30 14 6 10 51 33 18 48
Dunbar United 30 13 5 12 37 35 2 44
Penicuik Athletic 30 14 2 14 46 48 -2 44
St Andrews United 30 13 4 13 52 55 -3 43
Newtongrange Star 30 9 3 18 42 63 -21 30
Whitburn 30 8 5 17 53 69 -16 29
Dundonald Bluebell 30 8 5 17 31 64 -33 29
Sauchie Juniors 30 5 6 19 32 77 -45 21
Glenrothes 30 4 3 23 33 64 -31 15
Hutchison Vale 30 4 2 24 22 106 -84 11
Promoted to Lowland League East: Hill of Beath Hawthorn
Musselburgh Athletic
Dunipace
Relegated from Lowland League: None
Relegated from Premier Division: Glenrothes
Hutchison Vale
Promoted to Premier Division: Armadale Thistle
Thornton Hibs
Edinburgh South
Preston Athletic
Blackburn United
Bo'ness Athletic folded at the end of the season.
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Info
Bo'ness Athletic H 1 2 Laidlaw Leiper, McKenzie, Reid, Conlon, Nelson, Barrowman, Turner, McGovern, Connor, Guiney, Laidlaw. Subs: Moffat, Brogan, S. Buchanan, Carson, Bentley, Jones, Sutherland.
A 2 4 Laidlaw, Robertson Leiper, Brogan, McKenzie, Reid, Turner, Nelson, Connor, Neave, Jones, Barrowman, Laidlaw. Subs: McQueen, S. Buchanan, Guiney, Bradley, Hutton, Robertson, Sutherland.
Camelon Juniors H 0 3 Leiper, McKenzie, Reid, Bradley, Nelson, Sutherland, Neave, Turner, Connor, Jones, Laidlaw. Subs: McQueen, Brogan, Guiney, Hutton, Conlon, Logan, Robertson.
A 0 3 Leiper, Brogan, S. Buchanan, Reid, Bradley, Conlon, Sutherland, Barrowman, Connor, Jones, Laidlaw. Subs: Thomson, McKenzie, Nelson, Neave, Turner, Carson.
Dunbar United H 3 1 Laidlaw 2, McKenzie McQueen, McKenzie, Reid, Conlon, Nelson, Sutherland, Turner, Connor, Guiney, Jones, Laidlaw. Subs: Leiper, Brogan, Bradley, Hutton, Bentley, Barrowman, McGovern.
A 1 4 McGovern Leiper, McKenzie, Reid, Conlon, Nelson, Sutherland, Barrowman, Turner, Connor, Jones, Laidlaw. Subs: Moffat, Brogan, S. Buchanan, Bentley, Guiney, McGovern.
Dundonald Bluebell H 0 2 Leiper, Brogan, S. Buchanan, Reid, Conlon, Sutherland, Barrowman, Turner, Bentley, Carson, Connor. Subs: Thomson, Guiney, Nelson, Jones, McGovern, Laidlaw.
A 0 2 McQueen, Brogan, Reid, Bradley, Conlon, Neave, Turner, Connor, Guiney, Jones, Laidlaw. Subs: Leiper, Nelson, Hutton, J. Buchanan, Sutherland, McGovern, Sands.
Dunipace H 0 2 McQueen, McKenzie, Reid, Nelson, Sutherland, Neave, Barrowman, Turner, Connor, Guiney, Laidlaw. Subs: Leiper, Brogan, Carson, S. Buchanan, Bradley, Conlon, McGovern.
A 0 1 Leiper, Brogan, McKenzie, Reid, S. Buchanan, Neave, Hutton, Jones, Laidlaw, Robertson, Sutherland. Subs: Guiney, Bradley, Carson, Turner (for Sutherland), Nelson, Wallace (for Laidlaw), Logan (for S. Buchanan).
Glenrothes H 2 2 McGovern, Conlon Leiper, Brogan, S. Buchanan, Reid, Nelson, Barrowman, Bentley, Connor, Guiney, Jones, Laidlaw. Subs: Moffat, Turner, Conlon, Anderson, Sutherland, McGovern.
A 2 1 Laidlaw, Reid McQueen, McKenzie, Guiney, Reid, Barrowman, Nelson, Conlon, Turner, Bentley, Sutherland, Laidlaw. Subs: Leiper, Brogan, Bradley, Neave, S. Buchanan, Beveridge, McGovern.
Haddington Athletic H 1 2 Robertson Leiper, Brogan, McKenzie, Reid, Turner, Neave, Connor, Hutton, Jones, Robertson, Laidlaw. Subs: McQueen, S. Buchanan (for Robertson), Bradley (for Brogan), Guiney, Nelson (for Neave), Barrowman (for Connor), Sutherland (for Laidlaw).
A 3 1 Laidlaw 2, McGovern Leiper, McKenzie, Reid, Conlon, Nelson, Barrowman, Turner, McGovern, Connor, Guiney, Laidlaw. Subs: Moffat, Anderson, Brogan, S. Buchanan, Carson, Jones, Sutherland.
Hill of Beath Hawthorn H 1 3 Laidlaw McQueen, McKenzie, Reid, Bradley, Nelson, Sutherland, Barrowman, Turner, Connor, Guiney, Laidlaw. Subs: Leiper, Brogan, S. Buchanan, Neave, Conlon, Hutton, McGovern.
A 1 2 Connor Leiper, Bradley, McKenzie, Reid, Turner, Nelson, Connor, Hutton, Sutherland, Robertson, Laidlaw. Subs: Brogan, Guiney, Carson, S. Buchanan. Conlon, Jones, Barrowman.
Hutchison Vale H 4 1 Laidlaw, Bentley, Sutherland, Reid McQueen, McKenzie, Reid, Nelson, Sutherland, Neave, Barrowman, Turner, Bentley, Guiney, Laidlaw. Subs: Brogan, Carson, S. Buchanan, Connor, Beveridge, McGovern.
A 2 1 Barrowman, Nelson Moffat, Brogan, S. Buchanan, Reid, Nelson, Barrowman, Bentley, Connor, Guiney, Jones, Laidlaw. Subs: Leiper, Turner, Sutherland, Anderson, Davidson, Petty.
Jeanfield Swifts H 0 2 Leiper, McKenzie, Reid, Bradley, Conlon, Sutherland, Barrowman, Turner, Bentley, Connor, Jones. Subs: Brogan, S. Buchanan, Carson, Davidson, McGovern.
A 1 6 Sutherland Leiper, Brogan, McKenzie, Reid, S. Buchanan, Nelson, Turner, Hutton, Barrowman, Sutherland, Laidlaw. Subs: McQueen, Carson, Conlon, Jones, Logan.
Musselburgh Athletic H 1 0 Turner Leiper, S. Buchanan, Reid, Bradley, Conlon, Sutherland, Barrowman, Turner, Bentley, Carson, Connor. Subs: Brogan, Davidson, Jones, McGovern, Laidlaw.
A 0 3 Leiper, Guiney, McKenzie, Reid, Turner, Nelson, Hutton, Neave, Jones, Robertson, Laidlaw. Subs: McQueen, S. Buchanan, Brogan, Bradley, Connor, Barrowman, Sutherland.
Penicuik Athletic H 3 5 Reid, Jones, Laidlaw Leiper, Bradley, McKenzie, Reid, Turner, Nelson, Connor, Hutton, Sutherland, Barrowman, Laidlaw. Subs: McQueen, Brogan, Guiney, S. Buchanan, Conlon, Jones, Logan.
A 1 2 Sutherland McQueen, McKenzie, Guiney, Reid, Brogan, Nelson, Neave, Barrowman, Turner, Sutherland, Laidlaw. Subs: Leiper, S. Buchanan, Carson, J. Buchanan, Conlon, McGovern.
Sauchie Juniors H 1 1 Laidlaw Leiper, Bradley, McKenzie, Reid, Turner, Nelson, Hutton, Jones, Barrowman, Sutherland, Laidlaw. Subs: McQueen, S. Buchanan (for Barrowman), Brogan, Neave (for Nelson) , Connor (for Hutton), Robertson (for Sutherland), Wallace (for Laidlaw).
A 2 1 McKenzie 2 Leiper, McKenzie, Reid, Bradley, Neave, Barrowman, Turner, Carson, Connor, Jones, Lailaw. Subs: Brogan, Nelson, S. Buchanan, Sands, Sutherland, McKie, Anderson.
St Andrews United H 1 1 Turner Leiper, Bradley, Reid, Guiney, S. Buchanan, Nelson, Connor, Turner, Barrowman, Sutherland, Laidlaw. Subs: McQueen, Brogan, McKenzie, Conlon, Neave, Bentley, Robertson.
A 2 3 Bentley, Laidlaw Leiper, McKenzie, Reid, Conlon, Nelson, Sutherland, Barrowman, Turner, Bentley, Jones, Laidlaw. Subs: Moffat, Brogan, S. Buchanan, Connor, Guiney, McGovern.
Whitburn H 5 1 Jones 2, McGovern, Turner, Barrowman Leiper, Brogan, Reid, Bradley, Conlon, Barrowman, Turner, McGovern, Connor, Jones, Laidlaw. Subs: Carson, S. Buchanan, Neave, Sutherland, McKie, Sadat.
A 2 1 Laidlaw, Brogan McQueen, Brogan, S. Buchanan, McKenzie, Reid, Conlon, Neave, Barrowman, Connor, Jones, Laidlaw. Subs: Leiper, Bradley, Guiney, Turner, Nelson, Sutherland, McGovern.
SCOTTISH GAS SCOTTISH CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
Prelim 1 Bye
Prelim 2 A Rutherglen Glencairn 4 2 Conlon, Sutherland, Jones, Laidlaw Leiper, Brogan, McKenzie, Reid, Turner, Nelson, Conlon, Connor, Barrowman, Robertson, Laidlaw. Subs: McQueen, Guiney, Bradley (for Brogan), Carson, S. Buchanan (for Turner), Hutton (for Conlon), Jones (for Connor), Logan, Sutherland (for Barrowman).
1 H East Stirlingshire 1 3 Bentley Leiper, Bradley, Reid, Guiney, S. Buchanan, Nelson, Connor, Turner, Barrowman, Sutherland, Laidlaw. Subs: McQueen, Brogan, Carson, Conlon, Neave, Bentley, Jones, Logan, Robertson.
FINEST CAR MATS SOUTH CHALLENGE CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 Bye
2 A Neilston 1 2 Sutherland Leiper, Brogan, McKenzie, Carson, S. Buchanan, Connor, Turner, Bentley, Jones, Barrowman, Sutherland. Subs: Thomson, Bradley, Hutton, J. Buchanan, Logan, Laidlaw.
EAST OF SCOTLAND QUALIFYING CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 Bye
2 A Linton Hotspur 3 3 3 4 Brogan, Sutherland, Robertson McQueen, Brogan, Guiney, Carson, S. Buchanan, Conlon, Connor, J. Buchanan, Logan, Wallace, Robertson. Subs: Thomson, Barrowman, Turner, Nelson, Allan, Bradley, Sutherland.
RJM SPORTS LEAGUE CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 H Sauchie Juniors 1 3 OG Leiper, McKenzie, Reid, Bradley, Sutherland, Barrowman, Turner, Carson, Connor, Jones, Laidlaw. Subs: Stables, Brogan, Nelson, S. Buchanan, Conlon, Bentley, McGovern.
APPEARANCES/GOALS
  Starts Sub Goals
Ross Anderson 0 2 0
Aidan Barrowman 27 4 2
Mitchell Bentley 9 5 3
Josh Beveridge 0 2 0
Jayden Bradley 14 5 0
Scott Brogan 15 14 2
Josh Buchanan 1 3 0
Sam Buchanan 12 18 0
Riley Carson 6 3 0
Shaun Conlon 15 10 2
Finlay Connor 27 4 1
Michael Davidson 0 2 0
Sean Guiney 15 4 0
Richard Hutton 7 6 0
Michael Jones 19 9 4
Arran Laidlaw 30 3 14
Kyle Leiper 26 0 0
Andrew Logan 1 5 0
Mark McGovern 4 13 4
Ciaran McKenzie 25 2 3
James McQueen 8 0 0
Harry Moffat 1 0 0
Fraser Neave 11 5 0
Adam Nelson 22 6 1
Johnny Petty 0 1 0
Liam Reid 33 0 3
Chris Robertson 7 4 3
Frazer Sutherland 22 13 6
Ryan Turner 29 6 3
Jamie Wallace 1 2 0
Own Goals 1
Total Goals 52