UNCOVERED — Cove Rangers v Clyde 19.12.20

v Clyde Cove Rangers m KO 1 19.12.20 — 3p Scottish League

BALMOR AL GROUP Proud sponsors of BALMORAL STADIUM

Balmoral Comtec Balmoral Tanks Balmoral Business Park ACE Winches BLAZE Manufacturing Solutions Friends of ANCHOR www.balmoral-group.com

02 03

— Contents

Cove Rangers FC Matchday Programme Clyde FC — Saturday December 19th 2020 Features

DUMBARTON MATCH REPORT PLAYER REACTION: MCINTOSH CRAIG BROWN INTERVIEW CRFC TV COMPETITION

06 12 16 26 Regulars

Upcoming fixtures & league table

04

Club information

05

Club partners

25

View from the dugout

28

Player and Management sponsorship

32

Season 2020/21 statistics

34

Captain’s view

36

Club honours

40

Today’s team lines

41

— Upcoming fixtures

A Sat 26th Dec, 2020

Forfar v Cove Rangers

Scottish League 1

H Sat 2nd Jan, 2021

Cove Rangers v Peterhead

Scottish League 1

A Sat 16th Jan, 2021

Partick Thistle v Cove Rangers

Scottish League 1

A Sat 23rd Jan, 2021

Cove Rangers v East Fife

Scottish League 1

— League table

SPFL1

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

Falkirk

8

6

2

0

17

5

12

20

Partick Thistle

8

4

2

2

9

5

4

14

Cove Rangers

8

4

1

3

11

6

5

13

Montrose

8

4

1

3

14

14

0

13

Dumbarton

8

3

2

3

5

6

-1

11

Airdrieonians

8

3

1

4

12

9

3

10

Peterhead

8

3

0

5

8

11

-3

9

East Fife

7

2

1

4

8

12

-4

7

Clyde

6

2

0

4

4

13

-9

6

Forfar Athletic

7

1

2

4

5

12

-7

5

04 05

— Club information

Cove Rangers FC Balmoral Stadium Wellington Circle, Altens Aberdeen, AB12 3JG

T 01224 392111 F 01224 392859 coverangersfc.com Twitter / Facebook / Instagram @coverangersfc

Honorary President Alan McRae Directors Keith Moorhouse - Chairman Graeme Reid - Vice Chairman/Financial Controller Duncan Little - Secretary/Stadium Manager John Sheran - Director of Football Darren Anderson Grant Moorhouse Safety Officers John Morgan & Bill Ogilvie Committee Michael Coull, Mike Pirie, Richard Forbes & Gordon Taylor Football Manager - Paul Hartley

Assistant Manager - Gordon Young Fitness Coach - Tam Ritchie

Goalkeeping Coach - Alan Combe

Head of Youth Development - Gary Hake Performance Analyst - Ryan Docherty

Physios - Donal Gallacher & Eilidh McGregor Kit Manager - Adrian Thomson Club Doctor - David Fowler

Commercial Manager - Angela Bruce Media Officer - Charlie Allan

Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer - Kate Dean Club Chaplain - Dougie Simpson

Club Photographers - Dave Cowe, Richard Forbes

DUMBARTON 1 COVE RANGERS 0 Scottish League 1 Saturday Dec 12th @ C&G Systems Stadium

06 07

— Dumbarton match report

dAbrowski CLOSES OUT cov The woodwork, poor finishing and slack defending at a free-kick denied us the opportunity to look back on our first ever meeting with Dumbarton with any sense of satisfaction.

Polish keeper Kevin Dabrowski — on loan to the Sons from Hibs — pushed a netbound header from Leighton McIntosh on to the upright in the 83rd minute in a hard fought League One encounter at the C&G Systems Stadium.

The big fella also made two cracking saves in the first half, which not surprisingly helped earn him the home sponsors’ man-of-the-match prize. To compound our pain the man who helped to develop Dabrowski during his own time at Easter Road is our goalie coach, Alan Combe.

By the time McIntosh had his stroke of bad luck in front of goal we were chasing the game. Dumbarton midfielder Nat

Wedderburn was given far too much freedom to score what proved to be the only goal, with a close range header, early in the second half.

When Harry Milne failed to connect properly with another header, when the goal was at his mercy two minutes from time, you just knew our chances of avoiding defeat had gone.

A catalogue of other scorned opportunities in and around the Dumbarton goal highlighted how much injured strikers Mitch Megginson and Rory McAllister, who had both been left at home, were missed.

There was a low key start to the game as the players adjusted to attempting to play passes on an uneven pitch rendered even more tricky because of the heavy rain that had soaked into it over the previous 24 hours.

ve

08 09

It was the 10th minute before we created the first chance, when Milne found Broque Watson with a cross from the left, but he could only direct his header from the edge of the six yard box off target.

The Sons responded with Ross Forbes trying his luck from a 30-yard free-kick, but Stuart McKenzie was well positioned and dived to his left to make a comfortable save.

McIntosh and Watson combined well to slice through the home defence in the 21st minute.

The moved ended with striker McIntosh seeing his shot deflected over to Jamie Masson, on the left, and his low drive from a tight angle was pushed wide by Dabrowski. Despite the difficult conditions, we were setting the pace and went close again a minute later when Fraser Fyvie’s shot from distance was blocked into the path of Milne.

The left-back’s low effort from the edge of the area rolled agonisingly wide of Dabrowski’s right post. Blair Yule also saw his 22-yard shot deflected wide for a corner, it really was one-way traffic.

Masson took the corner and picked out Daniel Higgins at the back post and his powerful six yard header was going in until Dabrowski dived to beat the ball to safety.

Dabrowski bettered that save in the 29th minute, after McIntosh had cleverly flicked the ball on to Fyvie, who had made a great run into the Dumbarton area on the right.

>>>

— Dumbarton match report >>>

McIntosh then darted forward to get on the end of Fyvie’s cross and met the ball flush with a diving header inside the six yard box that was kept out by a top class save from the home keeper.

The best save of the first half came at the other end, in the 39th minute, after Rico Quitongo had fired a cross over from the left.

Jaime Wilson caught the ball on the full volley from about eight yards but McKenzie not only stopped the effort, he held the ball, it was excellent goalkeeping. We almost broke the deadlock two minutes after the restart.

Masson curled in a free-kick from 25-yards that Dabrowski appeared to tip wide of his right post, although referee Greg Aitken awarded a goal-kick, much to the annoyance of some of our players. Despite all our efforts so far, it was Dumbarton who took the lead, in the 51st minute.

Forbes fired a free-kick over from wide on the left, about 25-yards out, and wedderburn was unhindered as he rose to power his header home from the edge of the six yard box.

Dumbarton retreated into defence from that point on and we just couldn’t find a way through them, particularly during the hectic finale. Masson tried again from a 20-yard free-kick, with 10 minutes to go, but shot wide of the target.

Dabrowski showed his class again three minutes later when he appeared to get the slightest of touches on a well directed header from McIntosh, that was going in.

The ball then rebounded off the inside of the keeper’s left post and it seemed as if

10 11

things were moving in slow motion as it rolled along the goal-line before it was hastily booted clear.

header too, there was no doubting the big Pole had earned that man-of-the-match award.

Milne had his glorious chance to score the equaliser with two minutes to go.

He was totally unmarked when Fyvie’s cross from the left reached him at the edge of the six yard box but his header lacked power and was gratefully gathered by Dabrowski.

Dumbarton: Dabrowski, Wardrop, Carswell, Neill, Quitongo, Forbes, Wedderburn, Hamilton Jones 88), Church (Crossan 72), Frizzell (McCluskey 82), Wilson (Johnstone 72).

Subs: Trialist (gk), Langan, Morrison.

Higgins blasted a 35-yard shot well off target in the first minute of injury-time.

In the final seconds, Fyvie found McIntosh with another cross but Dabrowski was in the right place to save his eighth yard

Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Milne, Scully (Seb Ross 72), Scott Ross, Strachan, Watson (Semple 72), Yule, Masson, McIntosh, Higgins, Fyvie.

Subs: Livingstone, Brown, Demus.

Referee: Greg Aitken.

— Player reaction: McIntosh

Player reactio MCintosh Dumbarton 12.12.20

>>>

on:

12 13

>>>

— Player reaction: McIntosh

Striker Leighton McIntosh is annoyed we failed to take advantage of the numerous scoring opportunities we created during our 1-0 League One defeat at Dumbarton.

“It was a tough game but we had enough chances to win it. Unfortunately, the ball just wasn’t quite falling the way we needed it to.

Then we went a goal down, just after half-time, which gave them the chance to park the bus and make it even more difficult for us. We kept working hard but in the end, it was all a little too late.

The striker’s frustration was compounded when he saw a 83rd minute header deflected on to the woodwork by Dumbarton’s Polish keeper Kevin Dabrowski.”

14 15

Leighton said: “I was sure it was going in. When I got my head to the ball I don’t think I could have directed it any further into the bottom corner.

The keeper has somehow managed to almost scoop it back on to the post, it certainly looked like he got a touch, and it was then scrambled clear.

After that happened, and after the way we were denied by him earlier in the game, you couldn’t help thinking ‘it’s just not going to be our day.’

It was annoying because I feel we deserved something for the effort we put into the 90 minutes.”

The result made it four league games without a win for us, a run that Leighton is desperate to see halted when we entertain Clyde at Balmoral Stadium today. The striker said: “It’s a new experience for us, we are more used to winning runs with Cove. The onus is now on us to make sure we start taking our chances to put more pressure on our opponents.

I accept that we have played well in spells of the last four games - but at the end of the day it’s all about the results.

We don’t want to just be known as a team that has come up into the league and does well playing pretty football. We would much rather we were also known for grinding out results when we have to.”

— Craig Brown Interview

CRAIG B As we welcome Clyde today on their first visit to the Balmoral Stadium, we felt it was appropriate to turn the spotlight on one of their legends - and great friend of Cove Rangers - Craig Brown.

Former Scotland, Aberdeen, Preston North End and Motherwell manager Craig began his illustrious coaching career with the Bully Wee away back in the 1970s.

Now an ambassador for Aberdeen FC, Craig looks back on his successful spell in charge of this afternoon’s League One opponents, which included leading Clyde to two Second Division titles.

16 17

BROWN Glory day: Craig led Clyde to the Second Division title in his first season in charge.

>>>

— Craig Brown Interview

>>>

What are your thoughts on Cove Rangers and Clyde clashing for the first team at league level?

It’s an exciting prospect. Let’s not forget Cove were still playing in the amateur leagues as recently as the 1980s. They have come a very long way in a short space of time. That only happened because of the hard work and dedication shown by a lot of people at Cove. I’ve witnessed that first hard in recent years when I’ve been fortunate enough to be invited along as a guest to some of their games.

There’s a lot of really good people working at Cove, on the football front as well as behind the scenes. Getting the opportunity to play clubs like Clyde, who are amongst Scotland’s oldest clubs and have such a rich history, on a regular basis is their reward for the effort put in.

I’m also excited by the chance to see two of the country’s best young managers - Paul Hartley and Danny Lennon - locking horns. I have tremendous admiration for both men because I know they are hard workers who have set very high standards for themselves as well as their clubs.

I know from my own experiences that managing a part-time club is a testing process. Paul and Danny have instilled a fulltime mentality and that should ensure today’s game is highly competitive and very high quality.

You managed Clyde from 1977 to 1986, tell us a bit about how that came about?

I have my great friend Billy McNeill to thank for that. We played together for Scottish Schoolboys and had always been good pals, so when Billy left Clyde to become the manager of Aberdeen he recommended me for his old job.

I was working as part-time assistant manager to Willie McLean at Motherwell at the time, so was delighted to be given the opportunity to take charge in my own right, especially at a club like Clyde, who, as I said, have a great history and have always been highly respected.

18 19

Dons man: Craig as Aberdeen Manger with assistant Archie Knox.

Their board of directors, including chairman Tom Clark - whose son Bobby is the legendary former Aberdeen goalkeeper Bobby - had a reputation for fairness and integrity.

I had been forced to retire from playing at the age of 27, so was very inexperienced and I appreciated the Clyde directors showing faith in me. Managing part-time fitted perfectly with my other job in teaching, so everyone was happy.

That was also Clyde’s centenary season and you celebrated by leading them to the second division title, how did you feel about that?

Tremendously proud because I knew it meant a lot everyone at Clyde for us to enjoy success in that year of all years.

The Bully Wee: Craig Brown with his Clyde squad.

We did it with a record number of points, which was particularly pleasing. It took us up into the second tier of Scottish football at that time (The structure in 1978 was Premier Division, First Division, Second Division), and it gave the whole community a lift.

— Craig Brown Interview

>>>

You did it despite having to sell one of your star players - Steve Archibald midway through that season. How did that transfer come about?

Now there’s a story! Clyde prided themselves that they had always been able to balance the books by making profits from transfers. When Mr Clark told me I had to sell a couple of players to ensure that continued I accepted it was part of my duties.

I contacted every club in Scotland’s top division to let them know we were willing to listen to offers for Steve and Joe Wark, who were our best players at that time.

I used to wind Dundee United’s Jim McLean up for saying he wasn’t interested in Steve because he didn’t think he was good enough to make it at a higher level.

Billy obviously knew him from his time in charge of Clyde so came back and said he was keen to sign Steve - as a possible replacement for Willie Miller. Billy said there had been interest from Rangers and clubs in England for Willie.

Steve was a midfielder at Clyde but Billy had also played him at sweeper and was convinced he could be a success playing there for Aberdeen. We couldn’t agree on the fee though, which allowed Ayr United to come in with an offer of £10,000 plus Jim McSherry for Steve ...which we accepted!

We will never know if Steve would still have had the career he did if he had ended up at Somerset Park.

Unfortunately, Jim decided he didn’t want to come to Clyde so the deal fell through.

Willie also chose to remain at Aberdeen but we were happy when Billy came back in with an offer of £25,000, which we accepted.

Unfortunately, there was no such thing as sell-on clauses in those days or agents, deals were done manager to manager and chairman to chairman. It meant Clyde missed out on a share of the £900,000 the Dons got from selling Steve to Spurs — and the £1.2 million they received from his transfer to Barcelona!

But we were happy with the deal we did at that time and that we were still able to go on and win the league title.

Photos left-to-right: Craig Brown, Aberdeen manager Billy McNeill are with Steve Archibald and his

wife on the day the striker signed for the Dons; Football first: Brian Ahern in his BOC sponsored Clyde shirt; Star find: Craig signed future Chelsea and Scotland star Pat Nevin from the amateur ranks.

You were inducted into Clyde’s hall of fame and their tribute makes mention of how good you were at making money from transfers - more than £500,000 from just 11 deals. What do have to say about that?

It’s extremely kind of them to say that because it’s something I’m very proud of.

As I said, it was a crucial part of my job.

We had a great scouting network and picked up some real gems.

Pat Nevin, who went on to play for Chelsea and Scotland, and Tommy McQueen, who was a league winner with Aberdeen, were both spotted playing for amateur sides.

We got £95,000 for Pat and £60,000 for Tommy, a great return for players who cost us nothing.

I got lucky a few times too, like when Alex Ferguson called me and said I should have a look at a young midfielder from East Kilbride that he was about to release from Aberdeen.

Alex said he felt the lad lacked aggression - but he came to us and proved to be a sensational signing. His name is Ian Ferguson, who went on to win the Scottish Cup and star for Rangers!

It’s comforting for us mere mortal managers to know even the best in the business make the odd mistake here and there.

We received £60,000 when Ian went to St Mirren so it was another great deal for the club.

We were fortune to have a good few others, Gerry McCabe, Brian Ahern and Joe Ward, who gave us good service before we received £90,000 from his transfer to Aston Villa.

I was particularly pleased by the deal for McCabe, a former Hibs youth player. He cost us a signing on fee of just £100 when we got him from Toronto Italia FC and we then got £60,000 when he moved to Clydebank.

20 21

— Craig Brown Interview

Trophy Day: Craig Brown presents Mitch Megginson with his man of the match award at Balmoral Stadium last season.

22 23

>>> Clyde’s tribute also mentions the huge part you played in securing the club’s first shirt sponsorship deal ...Tell us more about that please.

Now that’s a funny one! Hibs got the credit for securing the first shirt sponsorship in Scotland, but they cheated a little because all they did was make the logo of their shirt suppliers bigger.

We had the proper first sponsorship from British Oxygen Company. It came about because I was driving to Shawfield Stadium one day and got caught up in a huge traffic jam. It was because there had been a gas explosion at the BOC factory, which was close to the ground.

The locals were up in arms demanding it be shut down because they felt it was unsafe. I thought to myself ‘now there is a company that could do with some good publicity!’.So I went to their offices and suggested the best way to do that would be to sponsor the local teamc Their managing director agreed then asked how much we wanted which caught me out a wee bit because I had never actually discussed any of it with the Clyde directors. “£10,000?” I replied - to which he also said yes.

But when I told the Clyde directors I had secured a sponsor our president, William Dunn, was having none of it and said ‘Our shirts are sacrosanct, they have been worn by Scottish Cup winners, we shall never put the name of a sponsor on them!’ It was at that point one of the other directors asked me how much BOC were offering, to which I replied “£10,000.”

Mr Dunn then said ‘£10,000? I would have BOC printed on to my bare torso for £10,000 - well done manager!’ ...and shook my hand!

Clyde also suffered relegation during your time before winning the title again in, season 81-82. What do you remember about that period?

Mainly about how much I appreciated the continued support of the directors, as I said they were men with great integrity.

They accepted selling our best players and the age of some of the others made it difficult to compete and I needed time to rebuild.

They also understood the challenges we faced because we were a part-time side competing in a full-time division.

It’s something some directors involved today could learn from, there are occasions when you need to take a step back to start going forward again.

The summer before winning the league for the second time was when we managed to bring in the likes of Nevin and McQueen. We set more points (59) and win records (24) while winning the title that season too, which was very pleasing.

I looked on that as the reward to the directors for never wavering when it would have been easy to make a change.

It ensured I can always look back on my nine years at Clyde with affection.

I also do so with gratitude because the lessons learned there served me well throughout the rest of my career in football management.

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24 25

— Club partners

Principal Club Partner

Principal Stadium Partner

Official Club Partners

MARC DARCY

DRAPERS MENSWEAR BRAND OF THE YEAR

— CRFC TV competition

WIN A CRFC TV CHRISTMAS VALUE PASS WORTH £79 You could be in with the chance of securing your football fix for the rest of the season by winning a CRFC TV Christmas Value Pass. Enter your details below and subscribe to our mailing list.

Competition closes on 21st December 2020. visit our website now for more information.

The Club are delighted to be able to stream all our home matches live to our supporters at a time when we are unable to welcome you back to the Balmoral Stadium in person.

You can still join us on our journey as we play our first ever season in League One. Our state-of-the-art camera equipment ensures you can stream all our home fixtures live in HD. Commentary will be delivered by Scott Davie (of BBC Sportsound) to guarantee the full at home supporter package.

You can choose from the following subscription options: Christmas Value Pass (£79) Pay-Per-View (£10 per match)

26 27

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— View from the dugout

PAUL HARTL I will begin by extending a warm welcome to the players, coaching staff and directors of Clyde FC on this, their first visit to Balmoral Stadium.

We are well aware that this afternoon’s League One encounter is going to be very challenging. Our aim, of course, is to bounce back from what has been the first tricky spell we have experienced since stepping up into the SPFL. While we are all disappointed to have collected just one point from our last four games, I would be more concerned if we were also playing badly.

Anyone who has watched the footage of those games would agree the outcomes could have been a lot different had we taken advantage of the spells when we were on top - and put away our chances.

It’s certainly unusual for us not to be clinical in the final third of the pitch but we are at least creating scoring chances. The way those last four games worked out is a reminder of just how much tougher this league is than they one we did so well in last term.

>>>

LEY

28 29

— View from the dugout

>>>

Good teams accept there will spells in campaigns when results aren’t going your way and that you just have to work your way through it - and we are a good team.

I’ve been greatly encouraged by the response from the players in training this week. Confidence has remained high and we are all desperate to do well in what is also our last match at Balmoral ahead of the Christmas and the New Year period.

I would like to end by thanking you, the Cove Rangers fans, for the backing you have given us over the course of what has been a challenging year. Not having you at games this season has been the most disappointing thing of all.

Hopefully that will change in the New Year. Until then, we will doing all that we can to make you proud of your team.

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and hope you are able to spend at least some of it with your families. All the best for the New Year too, let’s hope it’s a good one for you and for Cove Rangers.

Stay safe and enjoy the game.

Paul Hartley

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MIDFIELDERS Connor Scully

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— Season 2020/21 statistics

Date

Fixture

Game

(H/A)

F

A

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starti

10/10/2020

Hibernian

BFC

H

1

2

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

B.Yule

M.Megginson

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

D.Higgins

Brora Rangers

BFC

A

2

2

S.McKenzie

T.Leighton (S.Ross)

H.Milne

C.Scully

B.Watson

D.Higgins

R.McAllister1 (A.Livinsgtone)

A.Livingstone

J.Semple

17/10/2020

East Fife

SPFL1

H

3

1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully (Seb Ross)

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson2 (R.McAllister)

J.Masson

L.McIntos

24/10/2020

Peterhead

SPFL1

A

0

2

S.McKenzie

H.Milne1

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson1 (R.McAllister)

J.Masson

L.McIntos (B.Watso

31/10/2020

Partick Thistle

SPFL1

H

1

0

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson (Seb Ross)

J.Masson

L.McIntos

11/07/2020

Forfar Athletic

SPFL1

H

3

0

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson2

J.Masson

L.McIntos

11/10/2020

Dundee

BFC

A

0

3

S.McKenzie

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson (R.McAllister)

J.Masson

L.McIntosh (B.Watson)

A.Livingstone

J.Semple (R.Graha

14/11/2020

Forfar Athletic

BFC

H

1

0

S.McKenzie

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Watson (J.Semple)

M.Megginson

R.McAllister1

A.Livingstone

Seb Ross

21/11/2020

Falkirk

SPFL1

A

0

1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

L.McIntosh

R.McAllist (B.Watso

28/11/2020

Airdrieonians

SPFL1

A

1

1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

J.Masson1

L.McIntos

12/05/2020

Montrose

SPFL1

H

0

1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

L.McIntosh

R.McAllist (B.Watso

12/12/2020

Dumbarton

SPFL1

A

1

1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

J.Masson1

L.McIntos

19/12/2020

Clyde

SPFL1

H

26/12/2020

Forfar Athletic

SPFL1

A

01/02/2021

Peterhead

SPFL1

H

16/01/2021

Partick Thistle

SPFL1

A

23/01/2021

East Fife

SPFL1

A

02/06/2021

Airdrieonians

SPFL1

H

13/02/2021

Clyde

SPFL1

A

20/02/2021

Dumbarton

SPFL1

H

27/02/2021

Falkirk

SPFL1

H

03/06/2021

Montrose

SPFL1

A

13/03/2021

Peterhead

SPFL1

A

20/03/2021

Partick Thistle

SPFL1

H

27/03/2021

Forfar Athletic

SPFL1

H

04/03/2021

Dumbarton

SPFL1

A

04/10/2021

East Fife

SPFL1

H

17/04/2021

Falkirk

SPFL1

A

20/04/2021

Clyde

SPFL1

H

24/04/2021

Airdrieonians

SPFL1

A

05/01/2021

Montrose

SPFL1

H

13/10/2020

Name

Appearances

Goals

Position

Yellow

Red

Stuart McKenzie

12

0

GK

0

0

Balint Demus

0

0

GK

0

0

Tom Leighton

1

0

DF

0

0

Harry Milne

10

2

DF

2

0

Scott Ross

12

0

DF

2

0

Ryan Strachan

10

0

DF

0

0

Daniel Higgins

7

1

DF

1

0

Adam Livingstone

7

0

DF

1

0

Ross Graham

7

0

DF

1

0

Connor Scully

12

0

MF

1

0

Blair Yule

11

0

MF

2

1

34 35

ing

Starting

Starting

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

Subs

Referee

AS1

AS2

ATT

s1

A.Livingstone (J.Semple)

R.Graham

T.Leighton

B.Watson

R.McAllister

J.Semple

J.Brown

B.Demus

-

-

Euan Anderson

Ross Macleod

Chris Graham

0

e1

J.Brown (B.Yule)

R.Graham

S.Ross

B.Yule

L.McIntosh

B.Demus

-

-

-

-

Duncan Williams

Paul Mcavine

Graham Chambers

-

sh1

D.Higgins

J.Semple (B.Watson)

B.Watson

R.McAllister

A.Livingstone

Seb Ross

J.Brown

R.Graham

B.Demus

-

Gavin Ross

Stuart Hodge

Ian Hart

0

sh on)

D.Higgins

J.Semple (Seb Ross)

B.Watson

J.McAllister

A.Livingstone

Seb Ross

J.Brown

R.Graham

B.Demus

-

Alan Newlands

Michael Banks

Elliott Husband Powton

-

sh

D.Higgins (R.Graham)

A.Livingstone (R.McAllister1)

B.Watson

R.McAllister

J.Semple

Seb Ross

H.Ritchie

J.Brown

R.Graham

B.Demus

D. Lowe

Graham McNeillie

Ross Clark

0

sh

R.McAllister1 (B.Watson)

R.Graham

B.Watson

A.Livingstone

J.Semple

Seb Ross

H.Ritchie

J.Brown

B.Demus

-

Scott Lambie

Michael Banks

Steven MacDonald

0

e am)

Seb Ross (C.Scully)

J.Brown (H.Ritchie)

C.Scully

B.Watson

R.McAllister

H.Ritchie

R.Graham

B.Demus

-

-

Craig Napier

Graham McNeillie

Michael MacDermid

-

s

R.Graham

F.Fyvie (J.Brown)

H.Milne

J.Semple

J.Brown

B.Demus

-

-

-

-

Duncan Williams

Gary Hilland

Eddie Ferguson

0

ter on)

A.Livingstone (J.Semple)

F.Fyvie

B.Watson

J.Semple

Seb Ross

J.Brown

R.Graham

B.Demus

-

-

David Dickinson

Graham Chambers

Kevin McElhinney

-

sh

R.Graham

F.Fyvie

B.Watson

R.McAllister

A.Livingstone

J.Semple

Seb Ross

J.Brown

B.Demus

-

Graham Grainger

Ralph Gordon

Duncan Nicolson

-

ter on)

A.Livingstone (J.Semple)

F.Fyvie

B.Watson

J.Semple

Seb Ross

J.Brown

R.Graham

B.Demus

-

-

Lloyd Wilson

Stuart Stevenson

Keiran Trayner

0

sh

R.Graham

F.Fyvie

B.Watson

R.McAllister

A.Livingstone

J.Semple

Seb Ross

J.Brown

B.Demus

-

Alan Newlands

Michael Banks

Duncan Nicolson

-

David Dickinson

Andy Milne

Alan Proctor

Name

Appearances

Goals

Position

Yellow

Red

Broque Watson

9

0

MF

0

0

Jamie Masson

9

1

MF

3

1

Jordon Brown

3

0

MF

0

0

Fraser Fyvie

5

0

MF

0

0

Jamie Semple

9

1

MF

0

0

Seb Ross

7

0

MF

0

0

Hamish Ritchie

1

0

MF

0

0

Mitchel Megginson

9

5

FW

0

0

Rory McAllister

9

4

FW

0

0

Leighton McIntosh

11

1

FW

2

0

PTAIN

’S VIE

W

CA

— Captain’s view

36 37

ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME WOULD CONFIRM I’M NOT THE WORLD’S BEST FOOTBALL SPECTATOR. I’m obviously hoping I will be fit enough to feature in this afternoon’s League One meeting with Clyde. Anyone who knows me would confirm I’m not the world’s best football spectator. I’ve hated being unable to play in recent weeks because of injury.

They would also confirm I’m my own worst enemy at times because I’ve been known to insist on playing with injuries.

I would do anything to avoid missing games.

On this occasion though, I have taken the advice of the club’s excellent medical staff because I totally respect their opinions and know they have my welfare at heart. I will only return when fully fit again because I know fitness will be crucial if I’m to help the club in what we always knew was going to be a very testing campaign. That is underlined by the fact we are facing Clyde having collected just one point from our previous four games.

It has hurt me not being able to do anything to help in some of those games and I’m sure it has been even worse for those who have played. Having become used to winning on most occasions during our time with Cove it’s something that we don’t want to see becoming a habit. But it also underlines what I have said from the outset - that this was going to be a campaign that is likely to contain as many highs as lows.

>>>

— Captain’s view

>>>

It’s how you react to the more difficult spells that is going to count in the long term. If things had gone a different way in our last four games we could well have ended up with full points.

Unfortunately, the margins between winning - and drawing - in this division are as slim as they can possibly be.

Unlike when we played in League Two and the Highland League, there will be no easy weeks, when you might still sneak a win when not on the top of your game. In this division you have to be right on it, for the full 90 minutes, or you will get punished. That is something we will need to have at the forefront of our minds as we face Clyde, a club with a great history and a squad full of seasoned professionals.

You only need to note they have David Goodwillie, one of the most prolific strikers in Scottish football in recent years, up front to understand just how dangerous a fixture this is for us.

My own eagerness to feature is fuelled by the fact Clyde are the club I scored my first senior goal against, when I was on loan to Arbroath from Aberdeen. I would love to keep that scoring streak going, but accept that won’t be easy against a side that has a reputation for doing well at this level.

I would like to end by wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas when it comes. This has been a difficult year for all of us, for reasons I hardly need to elaborate on here. Hopefully you will at least be able to spend some of the festive season celebrating with your families.

I can promise you will will be doing all that we can today to deliver an early Christmas present to you, in the form of a victory.

CYCR! Mitch Megginson

38 39

— Club honours

Scottish League 2 Winners: 2019-20 Highland League Winners: 2000-01, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2012-13, 201516, 2017-18, 2018-19 Runners-up: 1989-90, 1992-93, 1994-95, 1995-96, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2016-17 Scottish Qualifying Cup (North) Winners: 1990-91, 2000-01 Runners-up: 1988-89, 1991-92, 2001-02, 2003-04 Highland League Cup Winners: 1994-95, 1999-2000, 2004-05, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2018-19 Runners-up: 1990-91, 1992-93, 1995-96, 1997-98, 200506, 2007-08, 2011-12

Aberdeenshire Cup Winners: 2001-02, 2010-11, 2018-19 Runners-up: 1992-93, 1994-95, 2016-17, 2017-18 Aberdeenshire Shield Winners: 1990-91, 2000-01, 2008-09, 2017-18 Runners-up: 1994-95, 2012-13, 2015-16 Aberdeenshire & District League Winners: 2000-01, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15 Runners-up: 2006-07 Aberdeenshire Centenery Cup Runners-up: 1986-87 Inter-League Trophy Winners: 2001-02

40 41

— Today’s team lines

Cove Rangers FC Manager - Paul Hartley

Clyde FC Manager - Danny lennon

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

18.

21.

24.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

Stuart McKenzie Tom Leighton Harry Milne Connor Scully Scott Ross Ryan Strachan Broque Watson Blair Yule Mitchel Megginson (C) Jamie Masson Leighton McIntosh Daniel Higgins Rory McAllister Adam Livingstone Jamie Semple Seb Ross Jordon Brown Balint Demus Fraser Fyvie

Team colours Blue jerseys Blue Shorts White Socks

David Mitchell Jamie Bain Matthew Shiels Martin McNiff Scott Rumsby Barry Cuddihy Kristoffer Syvertsen Mark Lamont David Goodwillie (C) Chris Johnston Ally Love Craig Howie Kevin Nicoll Ross Cunningham Tom Lang Lloyd Robertson Kai McCormack Jay Henderson Cammy Palmer Josh Jack Matej Vajs

Team colours White jerseys Black shorts Red Socks

Today’s referee - David Dickinson Today’s assistant referees - Andy Milne, Alan Proctor