The History of Newtongrange Star
1988/89
Back: P. Ramsay, M. Meechan, A. Carswell, J. Coughlin
Middle: J. Cockerell, S. Richardson, T. O'Hara, C. Lumsdaine, R. Finlay, S. Prior, G. Wilson, T. Cropley (Trainer)
Front: S. Brown, K. McColl, L. Dunn (Manager), G. Fraser, J. Mitchell
STORY OF THE SEASON
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    This was a season of change. There had been a large turnover of players from the previous season's side that reached the Scottish Junior Cup semi-final and won the Radio Forth Cup. From the Scottish Junior Cup semi-final team, the close season saw the departure of goalkeeper Dougie McNab, Colin Tait, Stewart Purves, John Hughes, Bobby Flavell and Jimmy Aird. In came Allan Carswell, Mike Meechan, Steven Prior, Steven Richardson, Rab Finlay, John Mitchell, Craig Lumsdaine and the return of Steph Brown. Manager Lawrie Dunn also resigned only a few weeks into the season due to family commitments. He was replaced by former Bonnyrigg Rose player John Buckley.

    The league campaign was steady with little prospect of challenging for the title due to an inability to defeat any of the teams in the top four. The relegation situation had also changed. A 26 game league season was proving to be too much so four teams were to face relegation and only two promoted. Despite not challenging for the league title, there were enough points secured to assure that the Star were not one of the four unfortunate teams to go down. Unfortunately for Arniston Rangers and Dalkeith Thistle, they did face relegation. Bonnyrigg Rose only survived by a point.

    The Scottish Junior Cup campaign ended at the third round stage. Goals from Finlay and Cockerell in the second round 2-1 victory over Port Glasgow had led Star to a clash with Glasgow side Vale of Clyde. Three matches were required to separate the teams before the Star eventually lost 2-0 at the neutral venue of Newtown Park, Bo'ness. Ormiston Primrose would go all the way to the final before losing 1-0 to Cumnock.

    In the other cup competitions, there were two semi-final appearances. Firstly in the League Cup, the Star succumbed 2-1 to Whitburn in a replayed tie. The Star also lost the semi-final of the East of Scotland Cup in a replayed match, this time to Broxburn Athletic.

    After so many changes to the management and playing personnel, the season was clearly one of consolidation.

    Source: The History of Newtongrange Star FC [2010]
LAIDLAW LEAGUE 'A' DIVISION
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Whitburn Juniors 26 15 9 2 63 27 +36 39
Linlithgow Rose 26 14 8 4 35 24 +11 36
Tranent Juniors 26 13 8 5 38 34 +4 34
Fauldhouse United 26 13 6 7 48 40 +8 32
Ormiston Primrose 26 10 8 8 38 28 +10 28
Newtongrange Star 26 10 7 9 39 33 +6 27
Bathgate Thistle 26 7 11 8 35 35 0 25
Bo'ness United 26 8 7 11 34 43 -9 23
Bonnyrigg Rose 26 5 12 9 30 33 -3 22
Edinburgh United 26 6 9 11 30 31 -1 21
Arniston Rangers 26 7 7 12 35 44 -9 21
Livingston United 26 5 9 12 38 48 -10 19
Dalkeith Thistle 26 5 9 12 23 45 -22 19
Broxburn Athletic 26 5 8 13 30 50 -20 18
Relegated from 'A' Division: Arniston Rangers
Livingston United
Dalkeith Thistle
Broxburn Athletic
Promoted to 'A' Division: Armadale Thistle
Camelon Juniors
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Media
Arniston Rangers H 3 0 Cockerell, Ramsay, Finlay Carswell, Wilson, Fraser, Brown, McColl, Richardson, Ramsay, Finlay, Fitzsimmons, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: Cockerell, Meechan.
A 1 4 Brown Carswell, Wilson, Fraser, Richardson, McColl, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Finlay, Brown, Lyall, Prior. Subs: Mitchell, Meechan.
Bathgate Thistle H 2 1 McMenamin, Mitchell Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, McColl, Wilson, McMeniman, Prior, Finlay, Mitchell, Cockerell. Subs: Buckley, Brown.
A 1 0 Prior Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, McColl, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Finlay, Ramsay, Prior, O'Hara. Subs: Brown, Mitchell.
Bo'ness United H 3 1 Ramsay 2, Buckley Carswell, Wilson, Fraser, Brown, Prior, Richardson, McColl, Finlay, Cockerell, Ramsay, Trialist, Subs: Meechan, Buckley.
A 1 2 McMenamin Carswell, Wilson, Fraser, Finlay, Trialist, McColl, Brown, Cockerell, McColl, Mitchell, McColl. Subs: McMeniman, Meechan.
Bonnyrigg Rose H 1 1 Cockerell Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, Prior, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Finlay, Ramsay, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: Brown, Lyall.
A 1 4 Coughlin Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, Prior, Richardson, Ramsay, McColl, Cockerell, Lumsdaine, Brown. Subs: Mitchell, McMeniman.
Broxburn Athletic H 4 1 O'Hara 2, Cockerell 2 Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Lumsdaine, McColl, Wilson, Brown, Richardson, Cockerell, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: McMeniman, Prior.
A 6 0 Finlay, Ramsay, O'Hara, Cockerell 2, Brown Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, Prior, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Finlay, Ramsay, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: Brown, Wilson.
Dalkeith Thistle H 3 1 Prior, Brown, Cockerell Carswell, Coughlin, Richardson, Prior, Wilson, McColl, Brown, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: Ramsay, McMeniman.
A 2 2 O'Hara, McColl Carswell, Wilson, Mitchell, Richardson, Prior, Finlay, Brown, McColl, Cockerell, Fitzsimmons, O'Hara. Subs: Lumsdaine, Meechan.
Edinburgh United H 2 1 Cockerell, O'Hara
A 0 2
Fauldhouse United H 0 0 Meechan, Coughlin, Fraser, Lumsdaine, McColl, Richardson, Cockerell, Prior, O'Hara, Mitchell, Ramsay. Subs: Brown, Wilson.
A 1 3 Fitzsimmons Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, McColl, Cockerell, Finlay, O'Hara, Fitzsimmons, Lumsdaine, Brown. Subs: Ramsay, Buckley.
Linlithgow Rose H 0 1 Carswell, Wilson, Richardson, McColl, Prior, Finlay, Brown, Lumsdaine, Ramsay, Fitzsimmons, O'Hara. Subs: Cockerell, Meechan.
A 1 1 Ramsay Meechan, Coughlin, Fraser, Finlay, Richardson, McColl, McMeniman, Lumsdaine, Ramsay, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: Cockerell, Wilson.
Livingston United H 3 1 Cockerell, Buckley, Wilson Carswell, Wilson, Fraser, Trialist, McColl, Richardson, Ramsay, Finlay, Cockerell, Brown, O'Hara. Subs: Buckley, Meechan.
A 2 2 Cockerell, Prior Meechan, Coughlin, Fraser, Lumsdaine, McColl, Richardson, Cockerell, Prior, O'Hara, Mitchell, Ramsay. Subs: Finlay, Wilson.
Ormiston Primrose H 1 1 Ramsay Carswell, Finlay, Fraser, Brown, McColl, Wilson, Ramsay, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Trialist, O'Hara. Subs: Buckley, Meechan.
A 1 0 Brown Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Wilson, McColl, Richardson, Prior, Lumsdaine, Fitzsimmons, Brown, O'Hara. Subs: Cockerell, Ramsay.
Tranent Juniors H 0 1 Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, McColl, Wilson, Brown, Ramsay, Cockerell, Prior, Fitzsimmons. Subs: Finlay, Lumsdaine.
A 0 2 Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, McColl, Wilson, McMeniman, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Mitchell, Ramsay. Subs: Brown, O'Hara.
Whitburn Juniors H 0 1 Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, McColl, Wilson, Brown, Prior, Cockerell, Mitchell, Ramsay. Subs: McMeniman, Finlay.
A 0 0 Carswell, Wilson, Fraser, Trialist, Prior, Richardson, Brown, Finlay, Cockerell, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: Ramsay, Buckley.
OVD SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 Bye
2 H Port Glasgow Juniors 2 1 Finlay, Cockerell Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Lumsdaine, Richardson, McColl, Cockerell, Ramsay, Finlay, O'Hara, Mitchell. Subs: Wilson, Brown.
3 A Vale of Clyde 1 1 Cockerell Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Finlay, Prior, Richardson, Brown, McColl, Ramsay, Cockerell, Mitchell. Subs: Lumsdaine, McMeniman.
H Vale of Clyde 0 0 Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Finlay, Prior, Richardson, Brown, McColl, Ramsay, Cockerell, Mitchell. Subs: Lumsdaine, McMeniman.
N Vale of Clyde 0 2 Meechan, Coughlin, Fraser, Prior, Richardson, McColl, Brown, Finlay, Cockerell, Ramsay, Mitchell. Subs: Wilson, Carswell.
FIFE & LOTHIANS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 Bye
1 H Dundonald Bluebell 6 1 Richardson, Cockerell, Finlay, O'Hara, Ramsay 2 Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Lumsdaine, Richardson, McColl, Brown, Ramsay, Finlay, O'Hara, Mitchell. Subs: Wilson, Cockerell.
2 H Bo'ness United 0 1 Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, McColl, Wilson, McMeniman, Prior, Finlay, Cockerell, Mitchell. Subs: Ramsay, Meechan.
ALLOA BREWERIES EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 H Preston Athletic 6 1 O'Hara 2, Ramsay, Mitchell 3 Meechan, Coughlin, Fraser, Lumsdaine, Wilson, Richardson, McMeniman, Finlay, Ramsay, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: Cockerell, Brown.
2 H Bo'ness United 1 0 Prior Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Prior, Richardson, McColl, Brown, Ramsay, Finlay, O'Hara, Mitchell. Subs: Cockerell, Wilson.
QF H Arniston Rangers 1 0 Prior Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, McColl, Wilson, Prior, Lumsdaine, Ramsay, Brown, O'Hara. Subs: Cockerell, Meechan.
SF H Broxburn Athletic 0 0 Carswell, Wilson, Fraser, Brown, McColl, Richardson, Ramsay, Finlay, Cockerell, Mitchell, O'Hara. Sub: Meechan.
A Broxburn Athletic 0 1 Carswell, Wilson, Fraser, Brown, McColl, Richardson, Ramsay, Finlay, Cockerell, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: Meechan, Buckley.
ROBERTSON HOMES CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Info
1 H Bo'ness United 1 1 Lumsdaine Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, McColl, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Finlay, Ramsay, Prior, O'Hara. Subs: Brown, Wilson.
A Bo'ness United 1 2 Richardson Meechan, Coughlin, Fraser, Lumsdaine, McColl, Richardson, Cockerell, Brown, O'Hara, Mitchell, Finlay. Subs: Ramsay, Wilson. AET
M.R.S. CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 Bye
2 A Blackburn United 0 0 Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Finlay, McColl, Wilson, Ramsay, Prior, Cockerell, Mitchell, Richardson. Subs: McMeniman, Lumsdaine.
H Blackburn United 4 0 Cockerell 2, McColl, Lumsdaine Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Lumsdaine, Wilson, McColl, Prior, McMeniman, Cockerell, Ramsay, Richardson. Subs: Brown, Mitchell.
QF A Camelon Juniors 2 2 Ramsay 2 Carswell, Finlay, Fraser, Ramsay, McColl, Wilson, Brown, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Prior, O'Hara. Subs: Buckley, Meechan.
H Camelon Juniors 0 2 Meechan, Coughlin, Fraser, Finlay, McColl, Richardson, Wilson, Ramsay, Cockerell, Lumsdaine, O'Hara. Subs: Prior, Mitchell.
SKOL LEAGUE CUP
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Newtongrange Star 4 3 0 1 8 4 +4 6
Dalkeith Thistle 4 1 1 2 4 5 -1 3
Musselburgh Athletic 4 1 1 2 5 8 -3 3
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Media
Dalkeith Thistle H 1 2 Cockerell Carswell, Wilson, Fraser, Richardson, McColl, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Finlay, Ramsay, Lyall, Brown. Subs: Prior, Mitchell.
A 1 0 Cockerell Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, Prior, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Finlay, Ramsay, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: Brown, Wilson.
Musselburgh Athletic H 3 1 Cockerell 2, Coughlin Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, Prior, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Finlay, Ramsay, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: Brown, Wilson.
A 3 1 Richardson, Fraser, Cockerell Carswell, Wilson, Fraser, Richardson, McColl, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Finlay, Brown, Prior, Mitchell. Subs: Meechan, Dunn.
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
QF A Tranent Juniors 5 1 O'Hara 2, Finlay, Mitchell, Ramsay Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, Prior, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Finlay, Ramsay, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: Brown, Lyall.
SF A Whitburn Juniors 0 0 Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, Prior, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Finlay, Ramsay, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: Brown, McColl.
H Whitburn Juniors 1 2 Cockerell Carswell, Coughlin, Fraser, Richardson, Prior, Lumsdaine, Cockerell, Finlay, Ramsay, Mitchell, O'Hara. Subs: McColl, Brown.
SQUAD
  • Allan Carswell
  • Mike Meechan
  • John Coughlin
  • Gordon Fraser
  • Stevie Richardson
  • Kevin McColl
  • Rab Finlay
  • John Mitchell
  • Stevie Prior
  • Tony O'Hara
  • Paul Ramsay
  • John Cockerell
  • Craig Lumsdaine
  • Steph Brown
  • Gordon Wilson
  • McMenamin
  • Kenny Lyall
  • John Buckley
  • George Fitzsimmons
TOP SCORERS
John Cockerell 20
Paul Ramsay 12
Tony O'Hara 10