Season 1984/85 The close season almost saw the club die due to continuing financial problems. However, a welcome reprieve came in the shape of the Blackburn Juvenile committee who stepped in and, together with the remaining original committee members, helped stabalise affairs. New manager Alec 'Kitty' Dunnigan didn't have the best of starts when an administrative mix-up saw the retained list being lost, although a number of the players did re-sign. The rest of the playing squad was made up of promising players from the Juvenile side. After a poor run of early results, things started to click and the team went on an incredible run which saw only three defeats in nineteen league games as promotion to the top flight was secured in a late surge that culminated in fellow challengers Sauchie being humbled 3-0 at Murrayfield Park. Along with Sauchie, Bathgate Thistle were also just pipped in the tightest of finishes that took us up to Division A with Armadale Thistle. This sustained spell of success also included a Scottish Junior Cup run which saw Glasgow giants and that season's Cup favourites Yoker Athletic beaten at Murrayfield Park in front of a 600 plus crowd. The next round paired us against an equally strong Blantyre Vics side who were lucky to escape with a 1-1 draw. In the replay at Castle Park we were one up with only two minutes remaining only to see Vics secure a controversial equaliser. In injury time Blantyre struck again against the run of play and our Cup run was at an end. Season 1985/86 'Kitty' brought a few new faces to the club for the start of our first season in the top division. Brothers Steve and Jamie McCormick arrived from Strathbrock Juveniles, midfielder Peter Walker from Boghall Aces and Eric Burton from Stoneyburn all arrived along with 19 year-old Michael Leyden who was farmed out to the club by Falkirk. A better than hoped for start was made with only one defeat coming in the first nine matches, a period that witnessed progression to the Semi-Finals of the League Cup and a mid-table league position. Sadly, this vein of form didn't last and after that semi-final spot had been earned by victory over Preston Athletic on the 28th September, another victory wasn't chalked up until the 1st of February when Haddington Athletic were dumped 2-0 in a home league game. During these four months we were eliminated from all but one Cup competition, including a 6-1 going over by Linlithgow Rose in that League Cup Semi-Final and a 4-1 replay defeat by Fauldhouse United in front of 400 in a Scottish Junior Cup tie after the Park View men had come from two behind in the dying minutes on their own ground. Incidentally, in that replay Jim Woods, who went on to play and manage here at Murrayfield Park for sixteen years, bagged a hat-trick for Fauldhouse. I believe he has never appologised!! In January, 'Kitty' handed the club a shock in the form of his resignation and he was replaced by former Grimsby Town player Dick Hodgson. This turn of events coincided with a good run-in to the end of the league campaign which saw three victories in the last six games ease any lingering relegation worries. A very satisfying 4-3 win was also earned over eventual champions Whitburn at Central Park in April. |
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Season 1984/85 The close season almost saw the club die due to continuing financial problems. However, a welcome reprieve came in the shape of the Blackburn Juvenile committee who stepped in and, together with the remaining original committee members, helped stabalise affairs. New manager Alec 'Kitty' Dunnigan didn't have the best of starts when an administrative mix-up saw the retained list being lost, although a number of the players did re-sign. The rest of the playing squad was made up of promising players from the Juvenile side. After a poor run of early results, things started to click and the team went on an incredible run which saw only three defeats in nineteen league games as promotion to the top flight was secured in a late surge that culminated in fellow challengers Sauchie being humbled 3-0 at Murrayfield Park. Along with Sauchie, Bathgate Thistle were also just pipped in the tightest of finishes that took us up to Division A with Armadale Thistle. This sustained spell of success also included a Scottish Junior Cup run which saw Glasgow giants and that season's Cup favourites Yoker Athletic beaten at Murrayfield Park in front of a 600 plus crowd. The next round paired us against an equally strong Blantyre Vics side who were lucky to escape with a 1-1 draw. In the replay at Castle Park we were one up with only two minutes remaining only to see Vics secure a controversial equaliser. In injury time Blantyre struck again against the run of play and our Cup run was at an end. Season 1985/86 'Kitty' brought a few new faces to the club for the start of our first season in the top division. Brothers Steve and Jamie McCormick arrived from Strathbrock Juveniles, midfielder Peter Walker from Boghall Aces and Eric Burton from Stoneyburn all arrived along with 19 year-old Michael Leyden who was farmed out to the club by Falkirk. A better than hoped for start was made with only one defeat coming in the first nine matches, a period that witnessed progression to the Semi-Finals of the League Cup and a mid-table league position. Sadly, this vein of form didn't last and after that semi-final spot had been earned by victory over Preston Athletic on the 28th September, another victory wasn't chalked up until the 1st of February when Haddington Athletic were dumped 2-0 in a home league game. During these four months we were eliminated from all but one Cup competition, including a 6-1 going over by Linlithgow Rose in that League Cup Semi-Final and a 4-1 replay defeat by Fauldhouse United in front of 400 in a Scottish Junior Cup tie after the Park View men had come from two behind in the dying minutes on their own ground. Incidentally, in that replay Jim Woods, who went on to play and manage here at Murrayfield Park for sixteen years, bagged a hat-trick for Fauldhouse. I believe he has never appologised!! In January, 'Kitty' handed the club a shock in the form of his resignation and he was replaced by former Grimsby Town player Dick Hodgson. This turn of events coincided with a good run-in to the end of the league campaign which saw three victories in the last six games ease any lingering relegation worries. A very satisfying 4-3 win was also earned over eventual champions Whitburn at Central Park in April. |
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