UNCOVERED — Cove Rangers v Albion Rovers 09.10.21 by coverangersfc

Cove Rangers v Albion Rovers

SPFL Trust Trophy

09.10.21 — 2pm KO

Cove Rangers v Albion Rovers Rangers v Albion Rovers SPFL TrustCove Trophy 09.10.21 —SPFL 3pmTrust KO Trophy

09.10.21 — 3pm KO

BALMOR AL GROUP Proud sponsors of BALMORAL STADIUM

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02 03

— Contents Cove Rangers FC Matchday Programme Albion Rovers: 09.10.21 — 2pm KO

Features

ALLOA ATHLETIC MATCH REPORT ALLOA ATHLETIC REACTION FINLAY ROBERTSON INTERVIEW Regulars Upcoming fixtures

Club information

Club partners

View from the dugout

Player and Management sponsorship

Season 2021/22 statistics

Captain’s view

Club honours

Today’s team lines

08 22 24

— Upcoming fixtures

A Sat 16th Oct, 2021

East Fife v Cove Rangers

cinch League One

H Sat 23rd Oct, 2021

Cove Rangers v Clyde

cinch League One

H Sat 30th Oct, 2021

Cove Rangers v Queen’s Park

cinch League One

A Sat 6th Nov, 2021

Montrose v Cove Rangers

cinch League One

— League table cinch League One

PTS

Queen’s Park

Cove Rangers

Falkirk

Airdrieonians

Dumbarton

Montrose

Alloa Athletic

Clyde

-4

Peterhead

East Fife

-15

50/50 WINNER! The 50/50 winning number at the Airdrieonians match was 92412, won by Jim Fettes.

04 05

Together we can make a difference Talking saves lives No matter your club colours, everyone can support Scotland’s second team - FC United to Prevent Suicide. Become a fan

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spfltrust.org.uk/trophy

– 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, Richard Forbes & Gordon Taylor Football Manager - Paul Hartley

Assistant Manager - Gordon Young Fitness Coach - Tam Ritchie

06 07

Goalkeeping Coach - Derek Soutar

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

EXTRA A MONTH

Search ‘Get Sky Sports’ Ends 30 September 2021. 2 for 1 channel offer: Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Football: £18 extra pm for 18 months (then £22pm). Requires Sky Signature (£26pm for 18 months, then £31pm; £20 set-up). New 18 month min. terms. Prices may change during this period. Over 400 games: based on 128 Premier League games; 228 English Football League games (includes 80 red button matches); up to 48 Scottish Professional Football League games; and up to 44 Women’s Super League matches shown across the football season from 31 July 2021 to 29 May 2022. General: Nonstandard set-up may cost extra. Weekend set-up costs £15 extra. Connect to TV using HDMI cable. Sky Q kit is loaned to you at no cost and must be returned at the end of the relevant subscription. You own the Sky dish. Prices may vary if you live in a flat. You must get any consents required (e.g. landlord’s). UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man residential customers only. Email address required so we can keep in touch about your services. Correct at 15 July 2021. Further terms apply.

08 09

cinch League One Saturday October 2nd @ Indodrill Stadium

ALLOA ATHLETIC 1 COVE RANGERS 3

— Alloa Athletic Match Report

penaldo strikes again

10 11

>>>

— Alloa Athletic Match Report

12 13

Rory McAllister’s hat-trick secured a victory that sent us to the top of cinch League One for the first time this term. Alloa, however, deserve huge credit for the way they made us work for the three points after having a player sent off… with just 25 seconds on the clock! Mohamed Niang was the one who got his marching orders, for a reckless tackle on Shay Logan, before many of the 554 fans inside the Indodrill Stadium had time to settle in their seats. It’s not quite a record for the top leagues in Scotland, that belongs to Nigel Pepper, who was sent off after just 17 seconds playing for Aberdeen against Hearts. It won’t have been on the game plan of Wasps boss Barry Ferguson though, so he will have taken comfort from the way his remaining 10 players battled to keep things alive right up until the latter stages. The result might well have been different had Stuart McKenzie not made the best save of the day, just before the interval – and Alloa sub Kevin Cawley had scored instead of rattling the woodwork, when the sides were locked at 1-1. There’s no doubt the better side won though, with our lads rewarded for showing a combination of patience and persistence to eventually win what was our first ever league meeting with The Wasps. The star man – of course – was veteran striker McAllister, who brought his tally for the season to nine with a well taken treble.

— Alloa Athletic Match Report

We showed three changes from the previous game, with Finlay Robertson, coming in for his first start, joined by Blair Yule and Robbie Leitch. Neither of them had touched the ball before Niang saw red for a rough and late tackle on Logan right by the touch line, in front of the Cove dugout. Some referees, given how early in the game it was, may have chosen to only book the Alloa man, but Alan Muir clearly had no doubts because he immediately flashed his red card to Niang. Logan, thankfully, was able to continue after treatment to the injury he suffered… and he would go on to play a key part in our win. In fairness to Alloa’s 10 men, they remained organised and they restricted the amount of chances we were able to create in the remainder of the first 45, despite the fact we were camped almost constantly in their half of the field. Mitch Megginson wasn’t too far off the mark with a low shot, from the edge of the area, as the tone was set after two minutes. Leitch and Megginson then combined to set Harry Milne up for a drive that went across the face of the Alloa goal and wide. Despite regularly switching the ball from one side to the other, we were finding it hard to pick out gaps in the well drilled Alloa rearguard. Iain Vigurs had a go when he took a quick free-kick, in the 14th minute, and found Megginson, but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

14 15

>>>

— Alloa Athletic Match Report

“ McAllister underlined why his team-mates have given him the nickname ‘Penaldo’ by calmly slotting home his fifth spot-kick of the season. ”

16 17

Logan then found space wide on the right to fire over a magnificent cross that just evaded Megginson and Rory McAllister before the ball was knocked behind for another corner. McAllister tried his luck with a 35-yard free-kick, in the 33rd minute, but the ball sped just over the Alloa crossbar. Our best chance of the half came in the 38th minute, when Megginson exchanged passes with Robertson as he advanced into the area and then saw his shot held by home keeper David Hutton. Vigurs then picked out Yule with a cross and his 12yard header was also held by Hutton. Logan sent another great ball in from the right and Yule directed his eight-yard header wide of the front post as we kept up the pressure. Alloa had to depend on hitting us on the break – and they would have taken the lead just before the interval but for a brilliant save from McKenzie. The big keeper dived to his right to beat away a netbound shot from Adam King, which will have given us food for thought during the interval. McKenzie’s crucial contribution was rewarded when we finally broke the deadlock in the 51st minute. Logan got forward yet again on the right and sent a perfectly weighted cross over for McAllister to net at the back post with a diving header, from inside the six-yard box. It’s the second game in a row that a Logan cross has led to us scoring a vital goal.

>>>

— Alloa Athletic Match Report

Robertson and Logan were then both well off target with long range efforts as we looked to increase our advantage. Alloa dug in though and drew level in the 74th minute, from a corner that had been needlessly conceded by us. Stefan Scougall swept the ball over from the right and Steven Boyd appeared to be the one who bundled the ball over the line from close range. Jamie Masson, who had come off the bench just before Alloa scored, missed a great chance to put us back into the lead in the 78th minute. Scott Ross found the midfielder with a fine cross from the right to Masson, who was totally unmarked but could only steer his eight-yard header wide of the target.

18 19

Alloa really gave us a scare in the 82nd minute, when Cawley lashed a tremendous 18-yard shot off the face of McKenzie’s right post. That inspired the perfect response from our lads, because we made it 2-1 within a minute. Milne played the ball down the left to Masson, and he hit the byline before crossing for McAllister to score from a yard out. The victory was sealed when we were awarded a penalty in the 87th minute, after Craig Howie hauled down Megginson, just inside the home area. McAllister underlined why his team-mates have given him the nickname ‘Penaldo’ by calmly slotting home his fifth spot-kick of the season. The goal also meant McAllister is now the joint top scorer, along with Clyde’s David Goodwillie, in all four SPFL divisions.

>>>

— Alloa Athletic Match Report

Alloa Athletic: Hutton, Mendy, Durnham, Taggart, Church (Robertson 65), Gilmour, King (Howie 65), Niang, Scougall, Sammon Cawley 56), Boyd. Subs: Burt, Lamont, Graham, O’Donnell. Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Neill, Milne, Ross, Yule (McIntosh 80), Megginson, McAllister, Vigurs, Robertson (Fyvie 70), Leitch (Masson 70), Logan. Subs: Scully, Strachan, Adeyemo, Gourlay. Referee: Alan Muir.

20 21

— Alloa Athletic Reaction

Rory McAllister brought his tally for the season to nine goals with a hat-trick in our 3-1 cinch League One victory over Alloa Athletic at the Indodrill Stadium.

Rory’s third goal came from the penalty spot, and it was the fifth spot-kick that he has converted in the campaign so far. “I’m pleased with that, I’m always confident I will score when asked to take a penalty,” said Rory, who is also now the joint top scorer in the SPFL, alongside David Goodwillie of Clyde. Jordon Brown (the former Cove Rangers forward who now plays for Peterhead) calls me ‘Penallister’ because of that! I’m sure I can expect another text from him, although I will be quick to mention the other two weren’t penalties. It’s always good to score, no matter how you do it, especially if you win.” Rory, who has also been nicknamed ‘Pen-aldo’ by his Cove teammates, says there is no real secret to his success from the penalty spot. “I just try to judge what the keepers are going to do as I make my run-up then try to put the ball the other way,” he said. “I’ve only ever missed a couple, so it seems to have worked okay so far. Some strikers prefer to decide the way they are going to put the ball before they even step up to take the kick. But not making that decision until the very last minute has served me well for more than a decade now, so I see no reason to change that.” Rory has now matched his total of goals for the whole of last season and is delighted with his form as well as his general fitness. The hat-trick was also the 10th of his career - six of which have been claimed in games played away from home.

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He said: “This is the best I have felt in a lot of years and long may that continue. I’m lucky that I have a lot of younger, energetic, players around me helping to create chances. As long as that is the case, I’m confident I will keep on scoring goals. Playing with Mitch (Megginson) helps a lot too. He’s quality and I feel we work very well together. I’m scoring the goals at the moment, but everyone knows Mitch will get more than his fair share as well over the season.” Alloa made it very difficult for us, despite having Mohamed Niang sent off after just 25 seconds, for a foul on Shay Logan. “We had to work for the win over Alloa, but I feel we deserved it,” continued Rory. “The good thing is, I still think there is a lot more to come from us. Once we do start firing on all cylinders we will be some team to beat. Sometimes we aren’t quite at the races because we are still getting up to speed after being hindered by the affects of the covid pandemic. At least we are winning at the moment, which us what it is all about.” The win also drew us level on points with Queen’s Park in League One, with the Glasgow side sitting on top spot, courtesy of their superior goal difference. Rory said: “We are pleased with that because this is a very tough league. Being where we are is great for our confidence, but we accept we are going to have keep working hard if we want to keep competing at the top end.”

— Finlay Robertson interview

Getting to know...

Finlay Robertson

24 25

Latest signing Finlay Robertson speaks to UnCOVEred about his career so far and why he chose to come to Balmoral Stadium. Finlay, 18, has joined us on loan from Premiership side Dundee until January. A Scotland youth international, he is one of the most highly rated young players at Dens Park - a fact underlined when Finlay was awarded the Isobel Sneddon Young Player of the Year award for season 2019-20. Finlay made his first start for us in last weekend’s 3-1 cinch League One victory away to Alloa Athletic and spoke to Andrew Jamieson after that match.

>>>

— Finlay Robertson interview

Tell us about your career to date. I have been at Dundee since I was a young boy. I played boys club until I was 11 as Dundee didn’t have a team as such at that time as they were going through a bit of trouble, so I was playing for Fairmuir Boy’s Club every Sunday and training with Dundee twice during the week. I officially signed for Dundee Youth Team when I was 11 and progressed through the academy there right the way through. On my sixteenth birthday I signed my first professional contract which I was buzzing with, and then I got my chance in the first team under the gaffer just now (James McPake) against St Mirren in the Premiership at the end of the 2018/19 season. I played the next season and then I fell off a little bit and ended last season by getting an ankle injury which had a big impact on me. I’m now up here at Cove looking to get valuable experience and game time to help me further progress my career. How would you describe your playing style? I’m a midfielder so I like to get on the ball as much as I can and always look to make an option for my teammates. I never like to leave my teammates in trouble or shy away. I work hard and get about the pitch. I always graft hard on the pitch and look to get the rewards for that.

26 27

You will no doubt have many highlights in your career so far, but do you have a favourite moment that stands out from all the others? I would have to say walking out for the first time in the Dundee derby. I remember it very well - It was at Tannadice during the Christmas period. We drew the game 1-1. The atmosphere was incredible! I would say it’s the highlight of my career because since I was a little boy, I had dreamt of starting in the Dundee derby for my childhood club. I was very thankful that I got the opportunity to do that! You got a call up to the Scotland Under 19’s squad, how did that feel? Yes I did - I remember I was sitting in my house and I got a phone call from the gaffer and he informed me that I was getting called up to the national squad. I couldn’t quite believe it to be fair! It was September of my first proper season playing first team football. It was a really good feeling, and it was brilliant to be involved in. We played against Japan in Spain, and I came on off the bench to replace my Dundee teammate at the time, Josh McPake. I was only 16 when I got the call up, so I was very young. I was in the 19’s squad and so I was above my age group, so it was a proud moment for me and I really enjoyed being involved. Hopefully in the future I’ll get the call up to play for Scotland again!

>>>

— Finlay Robertson interview

You played a big part in helping Dundee get promotion into the Premiership last season and will have gained a lot of experience from that; is that something you look to share with your new teammates here at Cove to help push for promotion to the Championship? Yeah hopefully! I’m only young but I have been through a lot in my career already, both the good and the bad, so I will look to help my teammates here both on and off the pitch to win games. It’s a really good squad here with a lot of experienced boys which is crucial. We have boys such as Rory (McAllister) banging in hat-tricks. He’s probably done that plenty of times, and that’s the exact type of player you need when pushing to get as high up the league as possible, as he has a lot of experience. Hopefully I can come in and help to keep the team performing well and push to win as many points as possible whilst I’m here. Do you have any aims or goals for your time here with the Club? I’m just here to enjoy it and to play my best football. I never really set specific targets or goals to accomplish such as goals or assists etc, I just look to go with the flow and see what happens! Finally, if you could play with any player in the world, who would it be and why? It has to be Kevin De Bruyne! His technical ability and work rate is incredible. He is the best midfielder in the world, as he can do a bit of everything in every area of the pitch. I reckon we would make a great midfield partnership!

28 29

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— Club partners

Principal Club Partner

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Official Club Partners

30 31

— View from the dugout

PAUL HARTL I will begin by extending a warm welcome to the players, officials and fans of Albion Rovers to Balmoral Stadium for this afternoon’s SPFL Trust Trophy tie. I can assure you nobody in our camp is underestimating how tough a test this is going to be. Albion are in the lower half of League Two at the moment, but they are well capable of taking advantage if we aren’t at the very top of our game. You have to earn the right to progress in any cup competition, so that is the challenge in front of our players today. We want to go as far as we can in the SPFL Trust Trophy and both of us know the prize for the winners is another home tie in the quarter-finals. It’s a huge incentive as we head into what I expect to be a very competitive cup tie. I’m happy that we are going into the game on the back of our 3-1 cinch League One win away to Alloa Athletic last weekend. The victory drew us level on points with table leaders Queen’s Park. That’s very pleasing because I still don’t think we are firing on full cylinders yet. There’s been a gradual improvement over the last two to three weeks though. The fact we have had bigger numbers involved in training has played a big part in that. It’s been a struggle at times because of players being absent through injury, illness or having to isolate because they were sticking to the covid regulations. If someone had said we would find ourselves where we are in the league now a few weeks ago I would have had my doubts.

>>>

LEY

32 33

— View from the dugout

>>>

We are where we are though because the players have worked hard and shown real determination to make sure we have been able to cope with all the hurdles that were in front of us. They are a great bunch, so they don’t really need me to remind them that the hard work will have to continue as we move through the season. I want to finish by applauding Rory McAllister for netting the 10th hat-trick of his career in the victory over Alloa. Scoring one hattrick in their careers would be amazing for some players — to get 10 is astonishing. It’s a testament to Rory’s professionalism that he’s still going strong at the age of 34. He’s looking better than ever, but that’s only because Rory works hard to make sure he is still able to perform at a high level. It’s often said older players should step off at training a little to keep themselves fresh for matches, but that’s not the case with Rory. He puts everything into every training session and really pushes to keep his fitness levels as high as possible. Rory is a top-class professional who looks after his body and does the right things, as far as diet and recovery are concerned. If he remains injury free, he is capable of delivering at SPFL level for a good number of years yet. I know that’s something Rory wants to do, and he will get every encouragement from us. I chose to stop playing when an injury meant I knew I would be unable to perform at the levels I wanted to. But you don’t really realise how much you loved playing football until you are no longer doing it. It’s why I always encourage senior players to make sure they look after themselves to ensure they can keep going for as long as possible. Once you hang up those boots it can be tough — you only have memories to fill the gap. It’s also fantastic that Rory has taken a wee bit of the responsibility for scoring goals off the shoulders of Mitch Megginson. We have a good group of strikers at the club, who compliment each other and offer us different strengths at the top end of the park. Stay safe and enjoy the game. Paul Hartley

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“ Scoring one hat-trick in their careers would be amazing for some players — to get 10 is astonishing. ”

— Player and management sponsorship

MANAGEMENT Paul Hartley

Gordon Young

Tam Ritchie

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

GOALKEEPERS Stuart McKenzie

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DEFENDERS

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Jevan Anderson

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36 37

MIDFIELDERS

Fraser Fyvie

Connor Scully

Blair Yule

Jamie Masson

Iain Vigurs

Ross Draper

Robbie Leitch

Mitchel Megginson

Leighton McIntosh

Rory McAllister

FORWARDS

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— Season 2021/22 statistics

Date

Fixture

Game H/A

Starting

10/07/2021

Stirling Albion

PSC

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

H.Milne (R.Thomas)

S.Ross

R.Strachan (C.Scully)

B.Watson

B.Yule

R.McAllister (M.Megginson)

R.Draper

13/07/2021

Hearts

PSC

K.Gourlay

M.Neill

H.Milne (R.Thomas)

C.Scully (R.McAllister)

S.Ross (B.Watson)

B.Yule

M.Megginson

L.McIntosh

R.Draper

17/07/2021

Peterhead

PSC

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

C.Scully

S.Ross

B.Yule

M.Megginson1 (L.McIntosh)

D.Higgins (H.Milne)

R.McAllister (B.Watson)

R.Draper

20/07/2021

Inverness CT

PSC

K.Gourlay

M.Neill

H.Milne

C.Scully

B.Yule1

M.Megginson1

L.McIntosh1 (R.McAllister)

R.Draper

I.Vigurs

31/07/2021

Falkirk

SPFL1

K.Gourlay

M.Neill

H.Milne

S.Ross

B.Yule

M.Megginson

R.Draper

I.Vigurs

R.Leitch (C.Scully)

07/08/2021

Queens Park

SPFL1

K.Gourlay

M.Neill (J.Anderson)

H.Milne

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

L.McIntosh (R.McAllister)

I.Vigurs

R.Leitch (C.Scully)

14/08/2021

East Fife

SPFL1

K.Gourlay

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson3 (L.McIntosh)

R.McAllister1 (B.Watson)

I.Vigurs

21/08/2021

Dumbarton

SPFL1

K.Gourlay

M.Neill (J.Anderson)

H.Milne

C.Scully (L.McIntosh)

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson1

R.McAllister1

28/08/2021

Clyde

SPFL1

K.Gourlay

M.Neill

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

R.McAllister1

J.Anderson (J.Masson)

04/09/2021

Stenhousemuir

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

C.Scully

S.Ross

B.Yule

M.Megginson

J.Masson

L.McIntosh (R.Leitch)

R.McAllister

11/09/2021

Montrose

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

C.Scully (H.Milne)

S.Ross

B.Yule

M.Megginson

R.McAllister (L.McIntosh)

I.Vigurs

R.Leitch

18/09/2021

Peterhead

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

M.Megginson

J.Masson (R.Leitch)

R.McAllister1

I.Vigurs

25/09/2021

Airdrieonians

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

M.Neill1

H.Milne

C.Scully (L.McIntosh)

S.Ross

M.Megginson

J.Masson (F.Robertson)

R.McAllister

I.Vigurs

02/10/2021

Alloa Athletic

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

H.Milne

S.Ross

B.Yule (L.McIntosh)

M.Megginson

R.McAllister3

I.Vigurs

F.Robertson (J.Masson)

09/10/2021

Albion Rovers

16/10/2021

East Fife

SPFL1

23/10/2021

Clyde

SPFL1

30/10/2021

Queen’s Park

SPFL1

06/11/2021

Montrose

SPFL1

13/11/2021

Peterhead

SPFL1

20/11/2021

Airdrieonians

SPFL1

04/12/2021

Dumbarton

SPFL1

12/11/2021

Falkirk

SPFL1

18/12/2021

Alloa Athletic

SPFL1

26/12/2021

East Fife

SPFL1

02/01/2022

Peterhead

SPFL1

08/01/2022

Clyde

SPFL1

15/01/2022

Montrose

SPFL1

29/01/2022

Dumbarton

(Cove win 4-2 on penalties)

SPFL1

05/02/2022 Airdrieonians

SPFL1

12/02/2022

Queen’s Park

SPFL1

19/02/2022

Falkirk

SPFL1

26/02/2022 Alloa Athletic

SPFL1

05/03/2022 Peterhead

SPFL1

12/03/2022

Clyde

SPFL1

19/03/2022

Montrose

SPFL1

26/03/2022 Airdrieonians

SPFL1

02/04/2022 Queen’s Park

SPFL1

09/04/2022 Falkirk

SPFL1

16/04/2022

SPFL1

23/04/2022 Dumbarton

SPFL1

30/04/2022 East Fife

SPFL1

Alloa Athletic

38 39

Starting

Sub

Referee

AS1

AS2

ATT

I.Vigurs

F.Fyvie2

C.Scully

M.Megginson

R.Thomas

K.Gourlay

Barry Cook

Craig Ferguson

Harry Bruce

298

I.Vigurs

F.Fyvie

B.Watson

R.McAllister

R.Thomas

S.McKenzie

Colin Steven

David McGeachie

Graham McNeillie

I.Vigurs

R.Leitch (F.Fyvie)

H.Milne

B.Watson

L.McIntosh

F.Fyvie

K.Gourlay

Matthew MacDermid

Ralph Gordon

Graham Chambers

R.Leitch (B.Watson)

F.Fyvie

B.Watson

R.McAllister

S.McKenzie

Chris Graham

Greame Leslie

Chris Hobbs

F.Fyvie (R.McAllister)

S.Logan

C.Scully

R.Strachan

B.Watson

D.Higgins

R.McAllister1

J.Anderson

Alan Newlands

George King

Andy Gamble

F.Fyvie

S.Logan

C.Scully

B.Watson

D.Higgins

R.McAllister

J.Anderson

S.McKenzie

Calum Scott

Scott Anderson

Chris Hughes

R.Leitch1 (J.Masson)

S.Logan

M.Neill

B.Watson

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

J.Anderson

S.McKenzie

Euan Anderson

Steven Traynor

Gordon McCabe

I.Vigurs

R.Leitch1 (J.Masson)

B.Watson

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

J.Anderson

S.McKenzie

Duncan Williams

Graham Chambers

Regan Wallace

I.Vigurs

R.Leitch1 (L.McIntosh)

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

S.McKenzie

Grant Irvine

Stuart Hodge

Duncan Nicolson

F.Fyvie

S.Logan

H.Milne

R.Strachan

R.Leitch

K.Gourlay

Barry Cook

Steve Traynor

Craig Macrae

F.Fyvie

S.Logan

H.Milne

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

O.Adeyemo

K.Gourlay

Matthew MacDermid

Drew Kirkland

Calum Doyle

F.Fyvie (L.McIntosh)

S.Logan

L.McIntosh

O.Adeyemo

R.Leitch

K.Gourlay

Gavin Duncan

Andrew McWilliam

Ian Hart

F.Fyvie (R.Leitch)

S.Logan

R.Strachan

B.Yule

L.McIntosh

O.Adeyemo

F.Robertson

R.Leitch

K.Gourlay

Peter Stuart

Alastair Mather

David McKniff

R.Leitch (F.Fyvie)

S.Logan

C.Scully

R.Strachan

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

O.Adeyemo

F.Fyvie

K.Gourlay

Alan Muir

Andrew McWilliam

George King

506

— Season 2021/22 statistics

#CRFCLIVE

40 41

Name

Appearances

Goals

Position

Yellow

Red

Stuart McKenzie

Kyle Gourlay

Harry Milne

Scott Ross

Ryan Strachan

Morgyn Neill

Jevan Anderson

Shay Logan

Rhys Thomas

Connor Scully

Blair Yule

Jamie Masson

Fraser Fyvie

Iain Vigurs

Finlay Robertson

Ross Draper

Robbie Leitch

Mitchel Megginson

Leighton McIntosh

Rory McAllister

Ole Adeyemo

— Captain’s view

’S VIE

AIN T P A

42 43

“ We are all excited by the prospect of facing Albion Rovers in this afternoon’s SPFL Trust Trophy tie.”

It’s a marvellous opportunity for both sides to get through to the quarter-finals, so we know we are in for a very challenging match. We have really missed the excitement of playing in the latter stages of cup competitions, which was a pretty regular thing in our days in the Highland League. You are in the game to win trophies and I cherish every one of the league and cup medals I have been fortunate to pick up since joining Cove Rangers. It was always going to be tougher to do that once we stepped up into the SPFL because we are up against much higher calibre opposition. We managed to win League Two in our first season, but our record in this competition hasn’t been so great. If we could get through to the last eight today it would at least be a sign that we are making progress on all fronts, although we know that will have to be earned. It’s often said that the cup competitions are a welcome break from the pressures of league football, but I’ve never thought that way. I want to win every game I play in and enjoy the one-off nature of cup ties, when it’s all about who turns up and does the business on the day.

>>>

— Captain’s view

>>>

You know there are no second chances, it’s deliver your best or you are out, so I’m sure there will be plenty of excitement for the fans inside Balmoral Stadium this afternoon. It’s pleasing that we are going into the tie on the back of three cinch League One victories in a row. It’s about a month now since I spoke of how vital it was to try to string a few wins together if we wanted to be competing at the top end of the table. Last week’s 3-1 win away to my former club Alloa Athletic meant we finished the weekend level on points with table leaders Queen’s Park, which is real confidence booster. We have only played nine games in the league though, so we know there is still a lot of hard work ahead if we want to remain in the hunt for the promotion places. I have to finish with more words of praise for my strike partner Rory McAllister, who scored the 10th hat-trick of his amazing career down at Alloa. It underlined just how talented a striker he is and all of us in the home dressing room were delighted to see the old fella get another match ball to add to his collection. Rory is now the joint top scorer in the whole of the country and he is the record league scorer, by some distance, since the creation of the SPFL in 2013. We are obviously grateful he is in our camp because I guarantee you there’s a lot more goals to come from Rory before old age finally catches up with him! CYCR! Mitch Megginson

44 45

— Club honours

Scottish League 2 Winners: 2019-20

Aberdeenshire Cup Winners: 2001-02, 2010-11, 2018-19

Highland League Winners: 2000-01, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2012-13, 201516, 2017-18, 2018-19

Runners-up: 1992-93, 1994-95, 2016-17, 2017-18

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, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2011-12

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

46 47

— Today’s team lines

Cove Rangers FC Manager - Paul Hartley

Albion Rovers FC Manager - Brian Reid

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 8. 9. 10. 11. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 23. 24. 25.

Cammy Binnie (GK) Declan Byrne Ryan Devine Kyle Doherty Kieran Dolan Aldin El-Zubaidi Sean Fagan Paul Fee Adam Fernie Julien Kouame Alan Leslie Jamie Leslie Aron Lynas James McGowan Jamie McVey Jordan Morton Charlie Reilly Scott Roberts Alfie Robinson Luca Sandberg (GK) Chris Smith (GK) Paul Sweeney Adam Watt Callum Wilson David Wilson Lewis Wilson Max Wright

Stuart McKenzie Morgyn Neill Harry Milne Connor Scully Scott Ross Ryan Strachan Blair Yule Mitchel Megginson (C) Jamie Masson Leighton McIntosh Rory McAllister Ross Draper Jevan Anderson Iain Vigurs Ola Adeyemo Finlay Robertson Rhys Thomas Robbie Leitch Balint Demus Kyle Gourlay Fraser Fyvie Shay Logan

Today’s referee - Graham Grainger Today’s assistant referees - Graham McNeillie, Colin McAlpine Team lines sponsor