Season 1986/87 Jim Henderson replaced Dick Hodgson in the managers chair at the outset of the 86/87 season and appointed former Bristol City and Airdrie player Alan Riley as his assistant. Striker Steve McCormick left to join Fauldhouse United, with the previous terms Cup nemesis Jim Woods coming the other way. Other new arrivals included Richard Morrison from Harthill Royal Bar and Stuart Dunn from Stoneyburn. The season started badly with only one point coming from the opening three league matches. We were also bundled out of the League Cup at the group stages when a 5-3 home defeat by West Calder United proved decisive. The first league victory came at the fourth attempt when Jim Woods scored the only goal of the game against his old club. However, that was to be the last league victory until Dalkeith Thistle were ovecome 3-2 at Murrayfield Park in February, a winless run that ultimately sealed our fate. By this time we had been eliminated from all the Cup competitions, although we did reach the quarter finals of the Radio Forth Cup and also triumphed against Ayrshire side Ardrossan Winton Rovers in the Scottish Junior Cup, only to be brought back down to earth by Cumbernauld United in the next round. Our league position by this stage was irretrievable and eight points from our final eight games were not enough to prevent relegation alongside bottom placed Tranent. Season 1987/88 New arrivals at the club included former Raith Rovers and Whitburn winger Charlie Spence, 18 year-old Stevie McIlhone, a reinstatement from Hibs, and striker Brian Fleming. The campaign started well with three straight league victories and progression to the quarter finals of the League Cup, after defeating reigning East Region Champions Whitburn in a group play-off, only to succumb to a very strong Linlithgow Rose side. By February just two league defeats were suffered although, crucially, they were at the hands of fellow promotion contenders Livingston United and Stoneyburn. By then the quarter final of the MRS Cup had been reached and First Division Broxburn Athletic were edged out 2-1 in a close match. In the April semi-final at Murrayfield Park another top division side in the shape of Fauldhouse United were swept aside 5-1. Meanwhile, the promotion campaign was fizzling out with the failure to record victories against the other top sides being the major contributory factor as we eventually came home in fourth place. The final match of the season then, took place on the 28th May at Albyn Park, Broxburn against Ormiston Primrose in the MRS Cup Final. With the leagues top scorer, Colin Penman (who netted 29 times during the year), in top form hopes of a first Cup success were high. Sadly it was not to be though as Primrose, who had just finished in third spot in the First Division, ran out 2-0 winners. |
Season By Season |
Forward to Following Seasons |
Back to Previous Seasons |
Season 1986/87 Jim Henderson replaced Dick Hodgson in the managers chair at the outset of the 86/87 season and appointed former Bristol City and Airdrie player Alan Riley as his assistant. Striker Steve McCormick left to join Fauldhouse United, with the previous terms Cup nemesis Jim Woods coming the other way. Other new arrivals included Richard Morrison from Harthill Royal Bar and Stuart Dunn from Stoneyburn. The season started badly with only one point coming from the opening three league matches. We were also bundled out of the League Cup at the group stages when a 5-3 home defeat by West Calder United proved decisive. The first league victory came at the fourth attempt when Jim Woods scored the only goal of the game against his old club. However, that was to be the last league victory until Dalkeith Thistle were ovecome 3-2 at Murrayfield Park in February, a winless run that ultimately sealed our fate. By this time we had been eliminated from all the Cup competitions, although we did reach the quarter finals of the Radio Forth Cup and also triumphed against Ayrshire side Ardrossan Winton Rovers in the Scottish Junior Cup, only to be brought back down to earth by Cumbernauld United in the next round. Our league position by this stage was irretrievable and eight points from our final eight games were not enough to prevent relegation alongside bottom placed Tranent. Season 1987/88 New arrivals at the club included former Raith Rovers and Whitburn winger Charlie Spence, 18 year-old Stevie McIlhone, a reinstatement from Hibs, and striker Brian Fleming. The campaign started well with three straight league victories and progression to the quarter finals of the League Cup, after defeating reigning East Region Champions Whitburn in a group play-off, only to succumb to a very strong Linlithgow Rose side. By February just two league defeats were suffered although, crucially, they were at the hands of fellow promotion contenders Livingston United and Stoneyburn. By then the quarter final of the MRS Cup had been reached and First Division Broxburn Athletic were edged out 2-1 in a close match. In the April semi-final at Murrayfield Park another top division side in the shape of Fauldhouse United were swept aside 5-1. Meanwhile, the promotion campaign was fizzling out with the failure to record victories against the other top sides being the major contributory factor as we eventually came home in fourth place. The final match of the season then, took place on the 28th May at Albyn Park, Broxburn against Ormiston Primrose in the MRS Cup Final. With the leagues top scorer, Colin Penman (who netted 29 times during the year), in top form hopes of a first Cup success were high. Sadly it was not to be though as Primrose, who had just finished in third spot in the First Division, ran out 2-0 winners. |
Home |
1986/87 Results |
1986/87 Tables |
1987/88 Results |
1987/88 Tables |
Index |