Lothian sides' success tops Super season

Published on Wednesday 17 June 2009 10:13

AS the dust settles on one of the most extraordinary campaigns ever witnessed in the Junior game, the final report card makes for good reading as far as the Lothians clubs are concerned.

Not only were the two main titles claimed by teams close to the Capital but, thanks to some Houdini-style relegation escapes, the balance of power in the Super League will lie with the teams in the south of the East Region next term.

Seven of the 12 clubs in the top flight will be from the Lothians, meaning that there will be a whole host of tasty derby clashes for Junior fans to look forward to in the 2009/10 campaign.

Without doubt, pride of place in the season that's just finished goes to Bonnyrigg Rose, Alan Miller's men having claimed the Super League crown for the first time and also their first title triumph since Ross Armstrong led the club to glory in 1984.

What made Bonnyrigg's achievement all the more remarkable is that Miller, who had previously been the boss of Edinburgh United, didn't have much time to prepare his side for the campaign, having been appointed virtually on the eve of the new season following the shock departure of Pat Glynn. According to the manager, it was the very first game of the season – at home to Bathgate – that shaped what, in the end, proved to be a memorable campaign for everyone connected with the New Dundas Park club.

"Our opening three fixtures of the season were against Bathgate, the Junior Cup holders, then Lochee and Kelty Hearts, the latter two away," reflected Miller. "My reaction to that was 'oh my god – here we go.'

"And, if we had lost to Bathgate, then potentially things could have gone the other way for us. But we won and, from the day that happened, I've said that was massive for us, especially as we went on to beat Lochee and Kelty as well."

In the end, Bonnyrigg finished six points clear at the top of the table, Camelon losing their final two games when they had a chance to snatch the title at the death on goal difference.

But, according to Miller, his team haven't been given the credit he feels they deserve due to the fact the League was so tight, bottom-of-the-table Lochee having finished up with just 15 points less than the champions.

"People keep talking how it was an unusual season and I suppose it was," he added. "But I am disappointed that we've not been given proper credit for the consistency we showed over the course of the season to emerge as champions."

Miller has already made Kevin McLeish, the former Raith Rovers, Dunfermline and Forfar midfielder, his first capture for the new campaign and has been close to pulling off another couple of significant signings.

"I'm on record as saying I think the best is yet to come out of the squad that won the title and I'm probably looking to get four players to supplement what we have already," said the manager.

"We've lost out on Ryan McGurk (the former Berwick Rangers goalkeeper), who has chosen to join Whitburn over us, while another indication of our level of ambition is the fact we were speaking to a player who was full-time with Raith Rovers but, in the end, he was out of our price range."

By their high standards, Linlithgow had a poor season – they finished third – but, having picked up the Fife & Lothians Cup within his first few weeks in charge, new manager Dave Baikie will be determined to win bigger prizes for the Prestonfield club next term. Having run the rule over the players he inherited, the former Arbroath and East Fife manager will be making some significant new additions over the coming weeks and the one thing Linlithgow officials will be looking for under Baikie is consistency in both performances and results.

For both Bathgate and Whitburn, the season ended in huge sighs of relief as they avoided falling through the relegation trapdoor.

Bathgate, Scottish Junior Cup winners the previous campaign, won their last four matches to stay up but that finishing flourish wasn't enough for Paul Jack to keep his job, the former Airdrie star having been axed last week along with ex-Hearts player Alan Lawrence.

"Paul did well to keep us in the Super League but, at the same time, you could say we shouldn't have been in that position in the first place," said secretary Syd McAlpine. "We are now in the process of looking for a new manager and one of the big carrots we have to dangle is that there will be Super League football at Creamery Park next season."

That will also be the case at Olivebank and New Victoria Park, thanks to the tremendous efforts of Davie McGlynn and Graeme Armstrong and their players at Musselburgh Athletic and Newtongrange Star respectively in the Premier Division, the two clubs being separated by just goal difference at the end of the season.

"In a total of 40 games, we were only beaten four times in 90 minutes, which is a cracking record," noted McGlynn, pictured left, who has clinched the permanent signing of Adam Nelson, who ended last season on loan at Olivebank from Brechin. "We've now picked up five trophies in three seasons, a massive achievement, and while we know what lies ahead in the Super League is going to be tough, the great thing is that we are growing in stature as a team."

Like Musselburgh, Newtongrange also tasted Cup glory and Armstrong admitted: "It was a fantastic season for us, with the only slight regret being that we went out of the Scottish Junior Cup in the quarter-finals as I felt we could go all the way.

"A lot of my players came from under-21 football. I am really pleased with their progress and, hopefully, they'll do well in the Super League."

BO'NESS RING THE CHANGES BUT AITCHISON URGES PATIENCE

BO'NESS UNITED, with former Berwick Rangers boss Alan McGonigal now at the helm, have been the busiest club so far in the Junior transfer market – but fans have been warned that a signing spree won't instantly turn them into world beaters.

McGonigal and Willie Newbigging, the former Oakley United manager, took over from Paul McKinley and Derek Yates at Newtown Park last month, since when they have been linked with a whole host of signings.

Andy Shirra (Stenhousemuir), Fraser Forrest (Alloa Athletic) and Danny Main (Raith Rovers) have been signed already, while Hugh Kerr and Jamie Hay have also been secured on loan from Alloa.

Bo'ness have also been linked with Jim Lister, the Bathgate striker, and, according to club secretary John Aitchison, there's a real buzz about the place.

"Having Alan McGonigal as our manager is quite a draw for players and these are exciting times for the club," he said. "Alan is ahead of the game and, as a result of that, we've been able to get new players signed sooner than we ever have."

However, Aitchison added: "Alan keeps referring to Bo'ness as a sleeping giant and it's time it woke up.

"We hope that's the case but, at the same time, our fans need to have a reality check as a spate of new signings doesn't instantly make you world beaters.

"The Super League was bizarre last season and the fact only six points separated third from 13th proved that no-one had a really strong team.

"Everyone was inconsistent and we are hoping the changes we've made will iron out that inconsistency."