The History of Newtongrange Star
2007/08
Star receive new kit and 2006/07 league championship flag
Back: Sneddon (Assistant Manager), Hardie, McCaul, Swaney, MacNamara, Thomson, Burgess, Forbes, Britton, Gielty, Meaney, Morocco (Physio)
Front: Hutchison, Dunn, Dunbar, Buchan, Manson, Curran
STORY OF THE SEASON
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    The Star secured the pre-season Andy Kelly Memorial Cup (left) with a 6-0 win over Whitehill Welfare in a competition that brought together a number of local sides.

    However, a place in the Premier League meant significantly more travel with journeys as far north as Forfar and Montrose required. The Star started poorly, picking up only one point from the first three games. This setback meant the team were forever playing catch-up with the top two, Bo'ness United and Forfar West End. In the end the Star fell one point short of promotion despite scoring significantly more goals than either of the top two.

    Goals also flowed in the Scottish Junior Cup as the Star set a new record score of 14-0 in the second round tie against Bishopmill United. A 2-1 win followed against East Kilbride Thistle with goals from Stuart Roseburgh and Ryan Curran before the Star saw off the challenge of Lochore Welfare 4-0 in the fourth round with goals from Dunbar, Thomson (2) and Wilson. The cup run was halted by an excellent Cumnock side that would eventually reach the final only to lose to Bathgate Thistle.

    The Star also reached the final of the League Cup against Linlithgow Rose. Since both clubs had floodlights, they tossed a coin to decide home advantage. Linlithgow Rose won the toss and ultimately the final by three goals to one.

    There was a testimonial for Steven Hardie as a Star team of current and past players enjoyed a 2-1 win over a Rangers under 19s side.

    Source: The History of Newtongrange Star FC [2010]
WHYTE & MACKAY PREMIER LEAGUE
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Bo'ness United 22 15 3 4 48 28 +20 48
Forfar West End 22 13 5 4 44 23 +21 44
Newtongrange Star 22 12 7 3 65 27 +38 43
Musselburgh Athletic 22 9 7 6 49 39 +10 34
Dundee North End 22 10 4 8 33 40 -7 34
Penicuik Athletic 22 9 3 9 40 38 +2 33
Kinnoull 22 8 8 6 46 38 +8 32
Arniston Rangers 22 8 5 9 33 33 0 29
Dundonald Bluebell 22 7 6 9 33 55 -22 27
Montrose Roselea 22 6 3 13 24 36 -12 21
Armadale Thistle 22 2 6 14 19 44 -25 12
Rosyth 22 2 3 17 29 61 -32 9
Promoted to Superleague: Bo'ness United
Forfar West End
Relegated from Superleague: Carnoustie Panmure
Oakley United
Relegated from Premier League: Montrose Roselea
Armadale Thistle
Rosyth
Promoted to Premier League: Blairgowrie
Fauldhouse United
Ballingry Rovers
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Media
Armadale Thistle H 2 0 Dunbar, Hutchison Burgess, Britton, McNicoll, Hardie, Swaney, Thomson, Dunbar, Hutchison, Manson, Gielty, Wilson. Subs: MacNamara, Buchan, Curran, Roseburgh, Meaney.
A 2 0 Dunbar, Hutchison Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, McNicoll, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Wilson, Hutchison, Roseburgh. Subs: Manson, Curran, Affleck, Britton, MacNamara.
Arniston Rangers H 2 2 Roseburgh, Meaney Carnie, Buchan, Forbes, McNicoll, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, MacNamara, Hutchison, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Manson, Dunn, Swaney, Curran, Burgess.
A 4 0 McNicoll, Thomson 2, Dunbar Burgess, Britton, Swaney, McNicoll, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Hutchison, Manson, Forbes.
Bo'ness United H 2 3 Meaney 2 Carnie, Swaney, Forbes, Buchan, McNicoll, Thomson, Dunbar, Hutchison, Meaney, Manson, Roseburgh. Subs: Gielty, Dunn, Britton, Curran, Burgess.
A 3 0 Gielty, Thomson, Meaney Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Meaney, Hutchison, Roseburgh. Subs: Buchan, MacNamara (for Roseburgh), Curran, Manson (for Meaney), McNicoll.
Dundee North End H 9 1 Manson 2, Swaney, Meaney 3, Hutchison, McManus 2 Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Gielty, Manson, Thomson, Meaney, Hutchison, Roseburgh. Subs: MacNamara, McManus, Affleck, Curran, Wilson.
A 1 1 Manson Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Buchan, Dunbar, MacNamara, Hutchison, Thomson, Wilson. Subs: Manson, Gielty, Curran, Affleck, Meaney.
Dundonald Bluebell H 4 0 Meaney, Manson 2, Hutchison Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Hutchison, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: MacNamara, Wilson, Gielty, McNicoll, Carnie.
A 1 2 Hutchison Burgess, Britton, McCaul, Buchan, Hardie, Gielty, Dunn, Thomson, Meaney, Hutchison, Forbes. Subs: Dunbar, Roseburgh, Swaney, Curran, Carnie.
Forfar West End H 0 1 Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Hutchison, Meaney, Manson, Thomson. Subs: Dunn, McCaul, Buchan, Curran, MacNamara.
A 2 2 Thomson, OG Burgess, Swaney, Buchan, McNicoll, Britton, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Manson, Hutchison, Forbes. Subs: Affleck, Meaney, Wilson, Curran, Hardie.
Kinnoull H 1 1 Manson Burgess, Britton, Roseburgh, Buchan, McNicoll, Gielty, Swaney, Thomson, Manson, Hutchison, Forbes. Subs: Dunbar, Wilson, Curran, Affleck.
A 5 5 Hutchison 3, Thomson, Britton Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton. McNicoll, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Hutchison, Manson, Roseburgh. Subs: Curran, Buchan, MacNamara, McCaul, Carnie.
Montrose Roselea H 4 1 Hutchison 2, Dunbar, Manson Burgess, Swaney, Buchan, Britton, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Hutchison, Wilson, Forbes. Subs: Curran, MacNamara, Manson, McNicoll, Roseburgh.
A 4 1 Dunbar, Hutchison, Meaney, Dunn Carnie, Buchan, Forbes, Britton, McNicoll, MacNamara, Dunbar, Thomson, Meaney, Hutchison, Roseburgh. Subs: Swaney, Gielty, Manson, Dunn, Burgess.
Musselburgh Athletic H 2 2 Manson, Thomson Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, McNicoll, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Manson, Hutchison, Wilson. Subs: Buchan, Curran, MacNamara, Herbert, Roseburgh.
A 2 2 Manson, Dunbar Burgess, Swaney, McCaul, Britton, Hutchison, Gielty, Dunn, Thomson, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Dunbar, MacNamara, Curran, Hardie, McNicoll.
Penicuik Athletic H 6 1 Hutchison, Britton, Roseburgh, Meaney 2, Curran Carnie, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Hutchison, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Curran, McNicoll, MacNamara, Gielty, Burgess.
A 2 1 Manson 2 Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, McNicoll, Thomson, Dunn, Hutchison, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: MacNamara (for Manson), Dunbar (for Meaney), Curran, McCaul, Affleck.
Rosyth H 1 0 (Note: Star awarded a 1-0 victory after Rosyth failed to show without justified explanation)
A 6 1 Hutchison 3, Britton, Dunbar, Thomson Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, MacNamara, Dunbar, Thomson, Wilson, Hutchison, Roseburgh. Subs: Meaney, Manson, Buchan, Gielty, McNicoll.
CITYLINK SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 H Forres Thistle 4 0 Hutchison 2, MacNamara, OG Burgess, Buchan, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Manson, Hutchison, Roseburgh. Subs: Dunn, McNicoll, MacNamara, Curran, Carnie.
2 H Bishopmill United 14 0 Manson 4, Swaney 2, Dunbar 2, Curran 2, Roseburgh, Meaney, Dunn, Thomson Carnie, Swaney, Forbes, MacNamara, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Hutchison, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Dunn, Buchan, Curran, Gielty, Burgess.
3 H East Kilbride Thistle 2 1 Roseburgh, Curran Carnie, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Hutchison, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Manson, MacNamara, Curran, McNicoll, Burgess.
4 A Lochore Welfare 4 0 Dunbar, Thomson 2, Wilson Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Hutchison, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: MacNamara, McNicoll, Gielty (for Meaney), Wilson (for Roseburgh), Paxton.
5 H Cumnock Juniors 0 2 Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Hutchison, Meaney, Wilson. Subs: McNicoll, Curran, MacNamara (for Thomson), Roseburgh (for Wilson), Manson (for Gielty).
JOHN WALKER FIFE & LOTHIANS CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 H St Andrews United 3 0 Roseburgh, Hutchison, Thomson Carnie, Buchan, Forbes, Britton, McNicoll, Gielty, Dunbar, MacNamara, Hutchison, Manson, Roseburgh. Subs: Swaney, Dunn, Meaney, Thomson, Burgess.
2 H Stoneyburn Juniors 11 0 Hutchison 3, Manson 3, Dunbar, Thomson, Gielty, Roseburgh, Meaney Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Buchan, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Manson, Hutchison, Roseburgh. Subs: MacNamara, Meaney, Curran, McNicoll, Carnie.
3 A Penicuik Athletic 2 0 Thomson, Meaney Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, McNicoll, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Meaney, Hutchison, Wilson. Subs: Curran, MacNamara, Buchan, Manson, Hardie.
QF A Linlithgow Rose 1 2 Hutchison
JOHN WALKER EAST OF SCOTLAND CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 H Harthill Royal 5 1 Meaney 2, Dunbar, Manson, Britton Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Thomson, Dunbar, Hutchison, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Curran, MacNamara, Buchan, Gielty, Carnie.
2 A Kelty Hearts 2 2 2 4 Manson, Hutchison Burgess, Britton, Roseburgh, McNicoll, Hardie, Gielty, Swaney, Thomson, Hutchison, Manson, Forbes, Subs: MacNamara, Wilson, Curran.
DEM-MASTER DEMOLITION CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 A Edinburgh United 1 2 Wilson Carnie, Buchan, Forbes, McNicoll, Hardie, Thomson, Wilson, MacNamara, Meaney, Curran, Roseburgh. Subs: Swaney, Hutchison, Manson, Affleck, Burgess.
DECHMONT FORKLIFT CUP
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
1 H Edinburgh United 0 2 Burgess, Buchan, Forbes, McNicoll, Britton, MacNamara, Manson, Thomson, Meaney, Curran, Wilson. Sub: Affleck, Swaney (for Forbes), Gielty (for MacNamara), Dunbar (for Buchan).
SOUTH LEAGUE CUP
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Newtongrange Star 6 6 0 0 18 5 +13 18
Penicuik Athletic 6 4 0 2 20 12 +8 12
Arniston Rangers 6 3 1 2 12 8 +4 10
Musselburgh Athletic 6 3 1 2 16 15 +1 10
Dunbar United 6 2 0 4 7 15 -8 6
Haddington Athletic 6 1 0 5 8 15 -7 3
Tranent Juniors 6 1 0 5 8 19 -11 3
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Media
Musselburgh Athletic H 3 2 Hutchison, Manson 2
Haddington Athletic H 4 1 Hutchison, Roseburgh, Dunbar, OG
Penicuik Athletic A 2 0 Meaney, Dunn Burgess, Britton, Forbes, Buchan, McNicoll, MacNamara, Dunn, Hutchison, Meaney, Dunbar, Roseburgh. Subs: Manson, Thomson (for Hutchison), Curran (for MacNamara).
Arniston Rangers A 2 1 Meaney, Forbes
Dunbar United A 3 0 Manson, Roseburgh, OG Burgess, Britton, Forbes, McNicoll, Hardie, Gielty, Dunn, Thomson, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Dunbar, Swaney, McCaul, MacNamara, Carnie.
Tranent Juniors H 4 1 Hutchison, Swaney, Dunn, Britton
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
SF H Camelon Juniors 3 1 Gielty 2, Meaney
F N Linlithgow Rose 1 3 Hutchison Burgess, Buchan, Forbes, Britton, McNicoll, Gielty, Dunbar, Thomson, Manson, Hutchison, Roseburgh. Subs: MacNamara, Dunn, Curran, McCaul, Carnie.
ANDY KELLY MEMORIAL CUP
Pld W D L F A GD Pts
Newtongrange Star 3 3 0 0 10 4 +6 9
Bonnyrigg Rose 3 2 0 1 8 4 +4 6
Penicuik Athletic 3 1 0 2 5 7 -2 3
Dalkeith Thistle 3 0 0 3 2 10 -8 0
Opponents Venue F A Scorers Team Media
Dalkeith Thistle A 2 1 Hutchison, Manson
Penicuik Athletic A 5 1 Meaney 2, OG, Gielty, Forbes
Bonnyrigg Rose H 3 2 Manson, Meaney, Gielty
Round Venue Opponents F A PenF PenA Scorers Team Media
F N Whitehill Welfare 6 0 Meaney 4, Manson 2 Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Hutchison, Dunn, Gielty, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Affleck, Dunbar, McCaul, Curran, Buchan.
Star receive the Andy Kelly Memorial Cup from Norma Kelly
Match Report
    MEANEY IS STAR CUP FINAL HERO

    By Striker (Advertiser) at Penicuik Park, Penicuik

    Three goals in each half from Newtongrange Star, including a supreme four goal performance from Grant Meaney last Sunday at Penicuik Park, saw the junior football side crush the men from the East of Scotland League in the final of this year's Andy Kelly Memorial Cup, a fitting victory as Star had only just beaten cup holders Super League Bonnyrigg Rose three days before by 3-2 to get to the final.

    This was the second year of this worthy tournament and, bathed in sunshine and watched by a very good crowd, the Midlothian Council sponsored competition was again an enormous success.

    And squeezed between these two results was the Star's Player of the Year last Saturday evening where "Player of the Year of the Players and Committee was Paul Forbes and 33 goal striker Craig Manson was also recognised.

    But last Sunday, Grant Meaney was in unstoppable form grabbing a first half hat-trick which had Whitehill toiling to hear the half-time whistle.

    Any signs of a second half comeback by Whitehill were quickly dispelled as the Star went 4-0 up and who scored? Yes, Grant Meaney.

    It was an even opening quarter of an hour but in 16 minutes a raging shot from Damien Gielty was fumbled by Welfare keeper Ryan McGurk and Meaney was swiftest to react to hit the rebound into the net to put the Star 1-0 ahead.

    Star skipper Steven Hardie played his part in strong defending when necessary but Meaney struck home No.2 in 22 minutes with clever play, keeping possession before beating McGurk for the second time of the afternoon.

    Star were very impressive and in 34 minutes Meaney completed a master class display by completing his hat-trick, again punishing a shaky Rosewell defence and finishing off brilliantly to put Star fans on cloud nine. All this and 10 minutes left before half-time.

    With just three minutes gone in the second half, an inspired 40 yard run by Meaney saw him rip through the Whitehill central defence, slip past the new goalkeeper Graham Young then shoot into the net for an even greater fourth goal.

    Both sides began using substitutes with David Buchan and Richie McCauI coming on for Star as well as Colin Affleck, Joe Dunbar and Ryan Curran. Whitehill gave a full run out to their bench players too as the final was more or less settled.

    It was 5-0 for Newtongrange in 58 minutes when an inch perfect cross from Meaney picked out Craig Manson and his well directed header beat Young into the Welfare net and the misery for Whitehill went on.

    Star continued to dominate with a five goal cushion and to complete the goalscoring a penalty awarded when Manson was pulled back was successfully converted by the said former Whitehill player with some 25 minutes left.

    It just wasn't Whitehill's day — even Star supporter Davie Pryde won the half-time raffle!

    Teams:
    Newtongrange Star: Burgess, Swaney, Forbes, Britton, Hardie, Hutchison, Dunn, Gielty, Manson, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: Affleck, Dunbar, McCaul, Curran, Buchan.

    Whitehill Welfare: McGurk, Wilkes, Lee, Johnston, Woodburn, Cairns, P Devlin, S Devlin, Calvey, Doig, Malone. Subs: Morrison, Swanston, Pusledzki, Arthur, Young, Moffat.

    Ref: P. Reid
SQUAD
  • Michael Burgess
  • Ryan Carnie
  • Scott Swaney
  • Richie McCaul
  • Paul Forbes
  • Steven Hardie
  • Tom Britton
  • Keith McNicoll
  • David Buchan
  • Colin Affleck
  • Martin Murphy
  • Jamie MacNamara
  • Ian McManus
  • Steven Thomson
  • Damien Gielty
  • John Dunn
  • Craig Manson
  • Grant Meaney
  • Alan Wilson
  • Ryan Curran
  • Joe Dunbar
  • Stuart Roseburgh
  • Gareth Hutchison
TOP SCORERS
Gareth Hutchison 26
Craig Manson 23
Grant Meaney 20
TESTIMONIAL


STEVEN HARDIE
Newtongrange Star 2-1 Rangers U/19s