— Upcoming fixtures
A Sat 9th Jan, 2021 Alloa Athletic v Cove
A Sat 16th Jan, 2021 Partick Thistle v Cove Rangers
A Sat 23rd Jan, 2021 East Fife v Cove Rangers
H Sat 6th Feb, 2021 Cove Rangers v Airdrieonians
— League table
League 1
Cove Rangers FC
Balmoral Stadium
Wellington Circle, Altens
Aberdeen, AB12 3JG
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
Scottish League 1
Saturday Dec 26th @ Station Park
— Forfar match report
A flash of genius from skipper Mitch Megginson was enough to give us a narrow, but deserved, victory over Forfar Athletic in our League One clash at a wind and rain swept Station Park.
Megginson pounced on a Jamie Masson pass in the 64th minute and then left Forfar skipper Gary Irvine bamboozled on the way to claiming the only goal in a game we controlled from start to finish, despite the difficult conditions.
Forfar threw everything at us in the dying minutes but the defence stood firm to ensure we ended our recent difficult run with a victory that takes us back up to third place in the table for the turn of the year.
We made three changes from the previous game, with Rory McAllister, Scott Ross and Ross Graham all in from the start.
Forfar chose to begin the match with the howling gale behind them but it was the always menacing McAllister who made his presence felt with just 35 seconds on the clock.
He raced after a long ball from Ryan Strachan and home keeper Marc McCallum had to dart outside his area to make a brave tackle at the striker’s feet. The loose ball then broke to Masson, but he sent his 25-yard shot off target.
The strong start was maintained with Harry Milne breaking forward in
the second minute to feed the ball to Megginson, who saw his shot from the edge of the area deflected wide.
Masson sent the resulting corner over from the left to Milne and his close range volley was held by McCallum.
We swept forward again with style in the 12th minute in a move that ended with Megginson just failing to get on to the end of Leighton McIntosh’s right wing cross. The ball immediately fell back into the path of McIntosh and his 10-yard shot was scrambled behind for a corner.
Masson also took that one, from the right, and picked out McAllister, whose diving header from the edge of the six yard
box was going in until the ball struck McCallum in the chest and went wide of the front post.
We were desperately unlucky not to go ahead in the 19th minute. Fraser Fyvie played a great pass forward to Masson and his shot beat McCallum but was booted away from the goal-line by Forfar defender Ross Meechan.
Despite all our dominance, Forfar almost pinched the opener a minute later.
McCallum’s long clearance allowed former Cove striker John Robertson to break clear on the right and his shot from a tight angle hit the outside of Stuart McKenzie’s left post, although in fairness
— Forfar match report
to the big keeper he appeared to have the effort covered.
We were soon back on the attack again, with Milne sending Megginson away with a well weighted pass but McIntosh totally missed his kick when the ball was crossed to him.
Milne’s forages down the left were a real problem for the Forfar defence. He created another chance on the 37th minute with a low cross that McAllister somehow managed to scoop over the crossbar from the edge of the six yard box, although the striker appealed in vain to referee David Lowe that his shot had actually taken a deflection off a defender on the way over.
Forfar threatened again in the 38th minute when Florent Hoti’s wind assisted long-range free-kick was beaten away by McKenzie, with the keeper also pushing the rebound away from the in-rushing Robertson. The half ended as it had started, with us applying pressure on the Forfar goal.
Blair Yule had a net-bound effort blocked by Jack Mckenzie before Masson and Megginson combined to get the ball to McIntosh, who lashed his 14-yard shot wide of the target.
McCallum was the Forfar hero again in the 51st minute with what proved to be the best save of the match.
Megginson crossed from the left to McAllister and his close range shot was kept out by an excellent diving save from the home keeper, with Masson then lashing the rebound wide.
Masson went a lot closer three minutes later. His corner from the left looked to be curling in but the ball bounced off the top of the crossbar and went behind.
Megginson also lashed a shot from the edge of the area over before we finally broke the deadlock in the 64th minute.
Masson played a low pass forward to MEGGINSON who showed great skill to cheekily flick the ball through the legs of marker Irvine before nipping around the Forfar skipper and drilling an unstoppable low shot past McCallum from the edge of the six yard box.
It was a goal of sheer beauty and quality - and no more than we had deserved for the way we performed up to that stage.
McAllister had a chance to make it 2-0 from a 25yard free-kick but his poor effort curled way wide of the Forfar goal.
Milne powered forward again in the 71st minute to steer a shot from the edge of the area wide of the goal as we worked to kill off our hosts.
McAllister followed that with better hit shot from 18-yards, but it also failed to go on target.
Forfar threw caution to the wind and forced a few corners late on, but our defence stood defiant. In fact, the match finished as it had begun, with us on the attack.
McIntosh played the ball over from the right to Megginson and he was denied a second goal because McCallum made an excellent save from his powerful 18-yard shot.
But Megginson’s memorable eighth strike - in only eight League One appearances - was enough to deliver some late festive cheer to our fans and earn the three points.
Forfar Athletic: McCallum, Mackintosh, Mackenzie, Meechan, Irvine, Coll (Allan 69), Hoti, Thomas, Robertson (Shepherd 69), Antoniazzi, Barr.
Subs: Dalling, Starrs, Breadner, Hill, Hoban.
Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Milne, Scott Ross, Strachan, Yule Megginson, Masson, McIntosh, McAllister, Graham, Fyvie.
Subs: Scully, Watson, Higgins, Livingstone, Semple, Seb Ross, Demus.
Referee: David Lowe.
As we welcome Peterhead as our first footers to Balmoral Stadium in 2021 it seemed appropriate to turn the spotlight on Mark Perry, who turned out for both clubs during a long and distinguished playing career.
Mark began and ended his playing career with us and also spent four and a half years with the Blue Toon. He also played for Dundee United, Aberdeen, Ross County and Keith.
Mark underlined his affection for Cove by taking part in a sponsored walk between Balmoral Stadium and Dundee United’s Tannadice Park, in aid of the club, during the summer.
He covered the first 31 miles, to Johnshaven, walking alongside former Cove player and coach Roy McBain and supporter Ian Yule, who walked all 63 miles to Dundee. Our media officer Charlie Allan spoke to Mark about his career and the sponsored walk.
— Mark Perry Interview
Everyone at the club was grateful that you took part in that sponsored walk in the summer, why did you decide to do that?
Because I might never have had the career I did were it not for Cove Rangers giving me the chance to start out in the Highland League. I was only 17 and playing for Lads Club and wondering if I might have to look at doing something else when Tommy Cummings (our manager at the time) invited me to Cove to play as a trialist in a match against Forres, I think we won 2-0.
I also played in a 1-1 draw with Dundee. Tommy was impressed enough to sign me that summer and that was me off and running. I’ve always appreciated the fact Tommy and Cove gave me the first step on the road to what ended up being a pretty decent career.
I had trained with Aberdeen as a youngster, on the car park beside Pittodrie, and also played for Scotland schoolboys, at under-18 level. I was actually told I was too little to go on and play as a professional, which was a big disappointment.
Thankfully, I sprouted a fair bit between my 16th and 18th birthdays. I was also thankful that Tommy felt I had something to offer Cove. That led to the offer to sign for Dundee United, so it was a key event in my career. It’s why I was delighted to take part in the sponsored walk. I wanted to give something back to Cove for all that they did for me.
You also ended your career with us, how did that come about?
It just seemed the perfect way to round things off, I made my second debut 25 years after my first, which was pretty special. I wasn’t exactly a regular, I think I only started about five games, but we won the Highland League title, which was a brilliant way to bow out.
Kevin Tindal, who I had played with at Peterhead, was the manager who took me back to Allan Park. He knows how much I appreciated being given that opportunity. I was 43 when I finally hung up my boots and I loved every minute, even the disappointing days.
Helping hand: Mark Perry, left, Roy McBain and Ian Yule took part in a sponsored walk in aid of our club last summer.
—
So what were some of the highlights of the time in between?
I had my share of ups as downs, as the majority of footballers do. But I’m proud to be able to say I had 10 very good years with Dundee United. That was another reason for me being so keen to take part in the sponsored walk, I wanted to give something back to United too.
Jim McLean was the manager who signed me and I appreciated someone as legendary as him showing faith in me. I was also given the honour of captaining United. It was only for the one game, but that really meant a lot to me. It was a brilliant feeling leading them out on to the pitch.
I was also excited to be given the chance to play for Aberdeen, my home town club, even though they weren’t having the best of times. We did at least reach two cup finals but I regret things didn’t go as well as I had hoped when I was at Pittodrie.
I’m still very proud that I played for the Dons - and scored a few goals for them too, including ones at Celtic Park and Ibrox. It meant a lot to me, because they were the side I supported as a youngster.
Images: Mark tussles with Aberdeen’s Chris McGuire during his days with Peterhead, Spending 10 years with United and during his timewith Aberdeen.
So what were some of the highlights of the time in between?
I had my share of ups as downs, as the majority of footballers do. But I’m proud to be able to say I had 10 very good years with Dundee United. That was another reason for me being so keen to take part in the sponsored walk, I wanted to give something back to United too.
Jim McLean was the manager who signed me and I appreciated someone as legendary as him showing faith in me. I was also given the honour of captaining United. It was only for the one game, but that really meant a lot to me. It was a brilliant feeling leading them out on to the pitch.
I was also excited to be given the chance to play for Aberdeen, my home town club, even though they weren’t having the best of times. We did at least reach two cup finals but I regret things didn’t go as well as I had hoped when I was at Pittodrie.
I’m still very proud that I played for the Dons - and scored a few goals for them too, including ones at Celtic Park and Ibrox. It meant a lot to me, because they were the side I supported as a youngster.
What are your memories of your spell at Peterhead?
It’s a great club and I worked with some really good people during my four and a half years there. We won promotion to the Second Division, via the play-offs, in 2005 and I managed to play on a pretty regular basis.
The majority of my team-mates, including Kevin Tindal, have also remained close friends. I’ve really appreciated the fact I’m now able to go back to Peterhead working for OPTA stats. It allows me to catch up with some of my old pals and I get to see every Peterhead home game.
I’ve done the odd Cove game too, it’s just nice to still be involved in football in some manner.
Are you pleased to see Cove and Peterhead are now playing in the same league?
Very much so. Cove are a totally different club now to the one I played for. A lot of people have put in a lot of hard work - and a lot of investment has been made - to get them to where they are today.
And you only need to look at who their manager is now for signs of just how ambitious they are to do well now that they are an SPFL club. Let’s not forget Cove only joined the Highland League in 1986 - they have come a very long way in a relatively short period of time.
It’s great to see there is now a second senior side in Aberdeen and it’s good there is also a second northeast derby for us to enjoy.
On the road: Ian Yule, Roy McBain, Mark Perry and coach Gary Hake during the sponsored walk to Dundee.
— Breaking the news: Mark Perry
Breaking the news that Mark Perry was set to sign for Aberdeen from Dundee United in 1998 led to one of the most bizarre experiences of my 30 years as a sports writer for the Evening Express, writes Charlie Allan.
The morning after the story appeared I received a phone call from then United manager Tommy McLean, who said the story was ‘total rubbish’ and demanded to know who my source was.
When I reminded him journalists never reveal their sources I was told I was banned from attending any future games at Tannadice.
The Evening Express responded by printing full-page Charlie Allan masks and asking fans to help us ‘beat the ban’ by wearing them when the Dons next played at Tannadice.
Free pies were also handed out to any fans wearing them when they arrived at the ground that day.
I actually wore one of the masks to get past the steward at the turnstiles, who was holding a poster with my picture on it to make sure I didn’t get in!
I then sat behind the Dons fans, writing my report on my notepad and phoning my report through to the Green Final. Unfortunately, a group of Dons fans who were then known as the Marischal Bar Reds started pointing up at me and chanting “you’re banned and you know you are!”
That resulted in another steward coming up and asking “are you that Charlie Allan?” When I replied “No” he just thanked me for my time walked away!
The intro to my match report that day was easy - ‘A lot of the faces at Tannadice this afternoon looked strangely familiar!’
Mark did eventually join the Dons that summer. Not long afterwards, I received a brief phone call from Jim McLean, the United chairman, saying the ban had been lifted but I was warned I would be banished for life if I ever annoyed him again.
— Breaking the news: Mark Perry
Mark Perry’s memories of the incident are...
...As soon as the story appeared in the Evening Express I was summoned by Tommy McLean to a meeting in his office.
He was furious and obviously quizzed me about whether I knew how the paper had got their information.
It was three months before I actually went to Pittodrie but we all knew the story was true. Tommy was furious it had come out before either club wanted it to.
He gave me a bit of a hard time but accepted the story had nothing to do with me. When the paper then printed the Charlie Allan masks I got a fair bit of stick from the other lads at United. I actually put one of the masks on for a laugh!
It was a bit strange walking out at Tannadice that day and seeing so many of the Dons fans with the masks on.
I can’t say it made any of them look any better - but it was very funny!
START PLAYING.
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Principal Club Partner
Principal Stadium Partner
PAUL HARTLEY
I would like to begin by wishing every Cove Rangers supporter a very Happy New Year.
I hope you were able to enjoy the festive season as best as you could at the end of what has been a challenging 12 months for all of us.
We certainly couldn’t have asked for a tougher start to the new year than having to entertain Peterhead in this afternoon’s League One clash. They have picked up really well in recent weeks and we know we are going to have to be at our very best if we are to get the result we want.
Unfortunately, the current restrictions mean we are still unable to have fans inside Balmoral Stadium. That’s a real shame because I’m sure there would have been a bumper crowd here for the visit of Peterhead.
I can only thank those of you who have compensated for not being able to attend games in person by taking up subscriptions to watch the live coverage on Cove Rangers TV.
Your support has been much appreciated by everyone at the club and we will obviously be doing our best to give you something to cheer today.
HARTLEY
It’s a boost that we go into this game on the back of a win away Forfar Athletic last weekend. I was very pleased with the team’s performance at Station Park, it was as good a 1-0 victory as you are likely to see.
Despite the difficult conditions, we played some excellent football and created numerous scoring opportunities.
Mitch Megginson’s winning goal was top class. He showed good feet and great skill to create the space he needed to get a shot in, it was impressive. I was also very happy with the way we managed the game after going ahead.
We defended very strongly to ensure we kept a clean sheet and it was good to get a win on the end of what had been a disappointing run of results for us. The fact we are still well placed in the table after having gone five matches without a win shows just how tight this league is, from top to bottom.
If you look back on all of the results so far the majority have been decided by a goal either way. It’s a constant reminder that you really have to earn the three points and we certainly did that at Forfar.
The players know it’s going to be the same in every match we play from here on, but it’s a challenge they are up for.
Stay safe and enjoy the game.
Paul Hartley
“THE FACT WE ARE STILL WELL PLACED IN THE
TABLE AFTER HAVING GONE FIVE MATCHES WITHOUT A WIN SHOWS JUST HOW TIGHT THIS LEAGUE IS, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM”
GOALKEEPERS
DEFENDERS
Stuart McKenzie
Paul Hartley
Gordon Young
Harry Milne
Ryan Strachan
Daniel Higgins
Adam Livingstone
Balint Demas
Ross Graham
Scott Ross
Tom Leighton
Tam Ritchie
Blair Yule
Broque Watson
Jamie Masson
Fraser Fyvie
Seb Ross
Connor Scully
Jamie Semple
Rory McAllister
Mitchel Megginson
Leighton McIntosh
— Season 2020/21 statistics
CAPTAIN’S WEIV
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND I HOPE YOU WERE ABLE TO ENJOY CHRISTMAS AS BEST AS YOU COULD.
Yes, 2020 is a year few of us will care to look back on with affection. From our point of view, it was one that contained a mixture of joy, pride, frustration and - ultimately- concern over where we would all be once the Covid-19 pandemic had run its course.
We certainly began 2020 in an optimistic mood, sitting on top of League Two and feeling confident about our chances of going on to win the title. Even more so when we really turned on the style to win 7-1 away to Stirling Albion in March. It was one of the best team displays I’ve ever been involved in.
As we walked off the pitch in Stirling that day none of us could have known we had just completed our last match for seven months. Concerns about playing football were then overshadowed by more serious ones about people’s well-being as the pandemic brought the whole world to a stop.
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.
— Captain’s view
>>> Sport, quite rightly, was set aside as efforts were stepped up to help the most vulnerable. As the situation began to improve, talk of playing football again resumed too.
We were awarded the League Two title when it was decided last season couldn’t be completed. We would have preferred to complete the job out on the pitch, but there is no doubt we were deserved champions.
After months of training on our own, we were also finally allowed to meet up and begin preparations for our first season in League Two. Unfortunately, we were also told our games would have to be played without you, our fans, in attendance. As much as I have enjoyed playing football again, the lack of spectators has taken a shine off it.
If I could have one New Year wish granted it would be to see Balmoral Stadium packed again to allow us to feed off your backing, as we did last season. As far as our League Two campaign has gone, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag so far.
We began it in style with wins over East Fife, Peterhead and Partick Thistle. But that was followed by not so favourable results against Falkirk, Airdrie, Montrose and Dumbarton.
It’s a reminder that we are now competing in a league that is far more testing than many of us have experienced before. You can be sure Peterhead will come here today hungry to avenge that earlier defeat.
We accept we will have to be at our very best again if we are to get the result that we want. Whatever happens, I can assure you we will be giving our all to try and give you something to cheer after all that has happened over the last few months.
CYCR!
Mitch Megginson
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
— Today’s team lines
Cove Rangers FC
Manager - Paul Hartley
1. Stuart McKenzie
2. Tom Leighton
3. Harry Milne
4. Connor Scully
5. Scott Ross
6. Ryan Strachan
7. Broque Watson
8. Blair Yule
9. Mitchel Megginson (C)
10. Jamie Masson
11. Leighton McIntosh
12. Daniel Higgins
13. Rory McAllister
14. Adam Livingstone
15. Jamie Semple
16. Seb Ross
21. Balint Demus
24. Fraser Fyvie
Team colours
Blue jerseys
Blue Shorts
White Socks
Peterhead FC
Manager - Jim McInally
1. Joshua Rae
2. Kieran Freeman
3. Ryan Conroy
4. Jason Brown
5. Gary MacKenzie
6. Simon Ferry
7. Josh Mulligan
8. Scott Brown (C)
9. Isaac Layne
10. Steven Boyd
11. Ben Armour
12. Andy McCarthy
14. Gary Fraser
15. Alan Cook
16. Derryn Kesson
17. Lyall Cameron
18. Hashim Bakar
21. Lenny Wilson
32. Kyle Bailey
99. Derek Lyle - Jordon Brown
Team colours
White jerseys
Blue shorts
White Socks
Today’s referee - Peter Stuart
Today’s assistant referees - Drew Kirkland, Colin Drummond