UNCOVERED — Cove Rangers v Queen's Park 30.10.21

Cove Rangers v Queen’s Park cinch League One 30.10.21 — 3pm KO

Cove Rangers v Albion Rovers

SPFL Trust 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 Queen’s Park: 30.10.21 — 3pm KO Match sponsor

Matchball sponsor

Features

CLYDE MATCH REPORT CLYDE REACTION JAMIE MASSON INTERVIEW

08 16 20

Regulars Upcoming fixtures

04

Club information

06

Club partners

27

View from the dugout

28

Player and Management sponsorship

32

Season 2021/22 statistics

34

Captain’s view

38

Club honours

42

Today’s team lines

43

— Upcoming fixtures

A Sat 6th Nov, 2021

Montrose v Cove Rangers

cinch League One

H Sat 13th Nov, 2021

Cove Rangers v Peterhead

cinch League One

A Sat 20th Nov, 2021

Airdrieonians v Cove Rangers

cinch League One

H Sat 27th Nov, 2021

Cove Rangers v Queen of the South

Scottish Cup

— League table cinch League One

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

Queen’s Park

11

5

5

1

20

11

9

20

Cove Rangers

11

6

2

3

21

14

7

20

Airdrieonians

11

6

2

3

19

14

5

20

Montrose

11

5

4

2

22

11

11

19

Falkirk

11

4

3

4

13

14

-1

15

Alloa Athletic

11

4

2

5

18

19

-1

14

Dumbarton

11

4

2

5

18

22

-4

14

Peterhead

11

4

1

6

19

17

2

13

Clyde

11

3

2

6

13

25

-12

11

East Fife

11

2

1

8

13

29

-16

7

50/50 WINNER! The 50/50 winning number at the Clyde match was 94853, won by Karren Pirie.

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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– 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.

cinch League One Saturday October 23rd @ Balmoral Stadium

CLYDE 0 COVE RANGERS 3

08 09

— Clyde Match Report

COVE BRING THE GRAFT An impressive, thoroughly professional, performance was enough to see off a stuffy Clyde side and ensure we ended the afternoon level on points with Queen’s Park, who play tomorrow, at the top of cinch League One. Connor Scully’s last league goal for the club came against Clyde, back in April, so it was fitting that he netted again to ensure we were ahead at the end of a pretty evenly contested first half.

We took control after that and sealed the win thanks to Jamie Masson’s first league goal since getting injured at Ibrox last season and a late strike from substitute Robbie Leitch.

The strong wind swirling around Balmoral Stadium made it difficult for both sets of players to pass the ball as well as they would have liked in the first period.

It was Clyde who went closest to scoring in the first part of the half, when David Goodwillie left our crossbar shaking after lashing in a cracker of a shot, from 25 yards, in the 17th minute.

Scott Rumsby was booked for a foul on Masson in the 26th minute.

>>>

10 11

— Clyde Match Report

12 13

The midfielder recovered to take the free-kick, but his effort from close to 30-yards went wide of Clyde keeper Neil Parry’s left post.

The Bully Wee threatened again on the half hour, although Stuart McKenzie had little problem gathering Ross Cunningham’s low shot from the edge of the area.

We stepped things up after that and went close to scoring twice before eventually taking the lead, in the last minute of the half.

Masson played a swift one-two with Fin Robertson then lashed in a powerful shot that was beaten away

by Parry. Masson then set up Fraser Fyvie for a 16yard shot, from a tight angle on the right, that Parry pushed wide of the post for a corner.

Ian Vigurs took that kick and when the ball eventually broke back to him, almost on the byline on the right, he cut it back perfectly for Scully do drill home from 10 yards.

Our second goal, in the 50th minute, was an absolute cracker. Fyvie’s cross from the right was cleverly dummied by Rory McAllister so that the ball could get to Mitch Megginson.

The skipper then slipped it back into the path of Masson and his curling shot, from just inside the area, gave Parry no chance.

We remained in total command from that point, with Shay Logan, who was named man-of-the-match by sponsors Henderson & Dick, earning a loud ovation for an impressive run forward, past three opponents, before sending in a cross that just evaded McAllister, inside the six-yard box.

>>>

— Clyde Match Report

McAllister then crossed from the right to Megginson and his cheeky flick, from 14-yards, went wide of the target.

McAllister and Megginson combined again, in the 76th minute, and Rumsby did well to block the latter’s net-bound shot from 16-yards.

It was Megginson’s turn to be the provider when he picked out Leitch, who had come on for the tiring Masson, and Parry made an excellent save from the midfielder’s powerful 12-yard shot.

Leitch kept at it though and was rewarded for his persistence when made it 3-0 in the final minute.

Parry did well to stop the midfielder’s first shot, from 16-yards, but Leitch followed up to nod the rebound over the keeper into the net – to set things up perfectly for next week’s top-of-the-table home clash with The Spiders.

Cove Rangers: McKenzie Neill, Scully, Strachan, Megginson, Masson (Leitch 73), McAllister, Vigurs, Robertson (Yule 77), Fyvie, Logan.

Subs: Milne, Anderson, Adeyemo, Gourlay.

Clyde: Parry, Rumsby, Elsdon, Munro, Nicol (Jones 65), Gomis, Love (Kennedy 46), Livingstone, Splaine (Deveny 65), Cunningham, Goodwillie.

Subs: Hurst, Balatoni, Docherty, Page.

Referee: Barry Cook.

14 15

— Clyde Reaction

16 17

Long serving Connor Scully was delighted to get back on the goal trail in our 3-0 cinch League One victory over Clyde at Balmoral Stadium.

Connor found the net, just before the interval, when he latched on to a cut-back from Iain Vigurs and drilled a low shot past visiting keeper Neil Parry. Connor’s last strike for the club was also scored against Clyde, when we drew 1-1 with them at Broadwood Stadium, back in April.

Connor said: “I mentioned that to Morgyn (Neill) right after it happened. The ball just landed at the right place for me and I took a swing at it, with my right foot, and luckily it went in. The gaffer had been saying more of us needed to be scoring to take the pressure off the front players a bit, so I’m pleased I was able to respond to that.

The game was pretty evenly contested in the first half, with Clyde going close to taking the lead early on, when David Goodwillie’s long range shot came back off our crossbar.”

Connor, 29, said: “It was a tough game, although wind was playing a part in that. It was coming right across the park, so it was hard to judge how the ball would drop down at times because it was swirling about so much.

In the first couple of minutes, a ball was coming over the top of me and I was thinking I was going to clear it easily, but the wind blew and it came off my foot and out for a throw. It was a real game of two halves because of that, but I feel we coped best over the course of the game and deserved to get the three points.

We weren’t at the races when we lost to East Fife the previous week, so it was important to react positively this time out.

Playing at home helped, we normally win the majority of our games at Balmoral. It’s good that we got the win we wanted and kept a clean sheet too.”

>>>

— Clyde Reaction

“ It’s a tough league and you know if you aren’t on the top of your game it can cost you.”

Connor admitted it was also crucial to get back on the winning trail in the lead-up to this afternoon’s meeting with table leaders Queen’s Park.

He said: “It’s a huge game and you want to be in good form going into those. These are the sort of matches you really look forward to. You want to test yourself against the top players and top teams and you tend to be doing that every week in this league.

It’s a tough league and you know if you aren’t on the top of your game it can cost you.”

Connor, a product of our youth system who has spent his entire career at Cove Rangers, normally plays in midfield, but found himself employed as an emergency left-back against Clyde, because regular choice Harry Milne had been out injured, although he was able to make the bench this time around.

“It’s not my strongest position, but I’m happy to play anywhere as long as it means I’m getting a game,” said Connor.

“I probably could have done better in some circumstances, but the manager knows I will do my best to put aw shift in and always give 100% to help the team.”

18 19

— Jamie Masson Interview

Jamie M

20 21

Masson Jamie Masson is excited by the prospect of facing Queen’s Park in this afternoon’s top-of-the-table cinch League One clash at Balmoral Stadium.

“These are the sort of matches every player wants to be a part of,” said Jamie. It’s a massive three points if you’re able to get a victory.

You also know you are in for one of the most testing matches of the whole season because Queen’s Park have some quality players.”

>>>

— Jamie Masson Interview

Midfielder Jamie is pleased we are facing The Spiders on the back of a 3-0 league win over Clyde at Balmoral last weekend.

“We were more like ourselves in that game,” said Jamie. “We pressed as a team and played a lot of good football, in very windy conditions. It’s the way we played for the majority of last season and how we prefer to play. Despite the scoreline, it was a very tough game.

David Goodwillie gave us a reminder of why you always have to watch out for him by nearly scoring with a cracking shot. He is a great player and had scored a few against us before, so we were pleased that was the only time he posed any sort of threat.

The guys at the back deserve a lot of praise for the way they handled him and set us up to go on and win the three points.

Hopefully we can kick on now and are able to maintain those sort of standards. We will certainly need to because you really need to be on your game every week in this league. As we found out against East Fife, it doesn’t matter where your opponents actually are in the league table, you have to be up for it, or you will get punished.”

Jamie scored our second goal against Clyde. It was his first in the league this term - and only the second Jamie has claimed since recovering from the serious ankle injury suffered during last season’s Scottish Cup tie with Rangers at Ibrox.

He contributed an impressive 17 goals from midfield in our first season competing at SPFL level, but the injury had obviously robbed Jamie of the opportunity to improve on that.

“That goal was just what I needed to get my confidence up after being out for so long,” said Jamie, whose other strike this term came in the 4-1 win over Albion Rovers in the SPFL Trust Trophy.

“It’s been a bit tougher than I had expected to get my fitness levels back up, but I’m feeling stronger and sharper with each passing week. I have really appreciated the help I’ve got from our coaching and medical teams since finally being able to train again.

Scoring in the league was another important step forward, hopefully I will be able to get a few more between now and the end of the season.”

22 23

>>>

— Jamie Masson Interview

Jamie was quick to praise his team-mates for leaving him with what he described as an “easy finish.” The goal came from a cross by Fraser Fyvie, which was cleverly dummied by Rory McAllister before Mitch Megginson laid the ball back into the path of Jamie.

He said: “It was a good move and we had a few of them in the game. The pass was perfect, so all I needed to do was make sure I got the shot on target. I’m glad I did because it meant there was little chance of Clyde coming back from two down.”

24 25

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— Club partners

Principal Club Partner

Principal Stadium Partner

Official Club Partners

26 27

— View from the dugout

PAUL HARTL I will begin by welcoming the players and staff of Queen’s Park to Balmoral Stadium for what is without doubt the game-of-theday in cinch League One. It’s the sort of match I used to relish in my own playing days, a top-of-the-table clash that is certain to test you in every way.

We are up against full-time opponents, who have made a good start to the season, so our lads know they will need to be at their very best if we are to get the result we would like.

As tough as it’s going to be, we will be well prepared and are up for it. You only need to take a glance at the league table to see just how competitive it is this season.

I’ve said from the first day that the battle for the top positions is likely to go to the very last day because every side is capable of beating everyone else on their day.

I’m pleased we are going into this afternoon’s meeting on the back of beating Clyde 3-0 at Balmoral Stadium last weekend.

It was a great team performance from us, against opponents who had caused us problems in the past.

We also managed to spread the goals about, which was something I had mentioned to the players at training in the lead-up to last weekend. The group of strikers we have at the club are excellent, but there will be spells when they maybe aren’t getting the breaks they need in front of goal.

>>>

LEY

28 29

— View from the dugout

>>>

Those are the times when you need everybody else - defenders, wide players and those in the middle of the pitch - chipping in.

It was nice to see that happing against Clyde and hopefully it’s something we will be able to continue doing in the weeks ahead.

I would like to finish by adding to the tributes paid to Walter Smith, who sadly passed away earlier this week, aged 73.

Walter was the Scotland manager when I was awarded the first of my 25 international caps, which is something I will always appreciate.

Making my debut, against Italy at the San Siro Stadium, was one of the highlights of my playing career. Walter was a marvellous football manager, but also a terrific person. One of his many strengths was being a master at motivating players.

His record of success underlines just how good he was at that.

Walter also placed a lot of importance on ensuring he had the right people working around him, at club and international level.

I picked up many things from the way he went about his business and have tried to use those to my benefit since becoming a coach.

My thoughts, of course, are with Walter’s closest family and friends, at what is a difficult time for them.

He will be sadly missed.

Stay safe and enjoy the game.

Paul Hartley

30 31

“ Walter was a marvellous football manager, but also a terrific person.”

— Player and management sponsorship

MANAGEMENT Paul Hartley

Gordon Young

Tam Ritchie

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

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DEFENDERS

WWW.MGSLOGISTICS.CO.UK

Jevan Anderson

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32 33

MIDFIELDERS

Fraser Fyvie

Connor Scully

Blair Yule

Iain Vigurs

Robbie Leitch

Mitchel Megginson

Leighton McIntosh

Jamie Masson

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Rory McAllister

— Season 2021/22 statistics

Date

Fixture

Game H/A

F

A

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

10/07/2021

Stirling Albion

PSC

H

2

3

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

A

0

3

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

A

1

3

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

H

3

1

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

A

1

1

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

A

0

2

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

H

5

2

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

A

3

1

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

A

1

2

K.Gourlay

M.Neill

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

R.McAllister1

J.Anderson (J.Masson)

04/09/2021

Stenhousemuir

CC

H

0

0

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

H

1

1

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

A

1

0

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

H

1

0

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

A

3

1

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

CC

H

4

1

K.Gourlay

M.Neill

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

B.Yule

M.Megginson1

L.McIntosh (O.Adeyemo)

R.McAllister2

16/10/2021

East Fife

SPFL1

A

2

4

S.McKenzie

M.Neill1

C.Scully

S.Ross (R.Strachan)

M.Megginson

J.Masson (O.Adeyemo)

R.McAllister

I.Vigurs

R.Leitch1 (F.Robertson)

23/10/2021

Clyde

SPFL1

H

3

0

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

C.Scully1

R.Strachan

M.Megginson

J.Masson1 (R.Leitch1)

R.McAllister

I.Vigurs

F.Robertson (B.Yule)

H

(Cove win 4-2 on penalties)

30/10/2021

Queen’s Park

SPFL1

06/11/2021

Montrose

SPFL1

A

13/11/2021

Peterhead

SPFL1

H

20/11/2021

Airdrieonians

SPFL1

27/11/2021

Queen of the South SC

A H

30/11/2021

Rangers B

CC

H

04/12/2021

Dumbarton

SPFL1

H

12/11/2021

Falkirk

SPFL1

A

18/12/2021

Alloa Athletic

SPFL1

H H

26/12/2021

East Fife

SPFL1

02/01/2022

Peterhead

SPFL1

A

08/01/2022

Clyde

SPFL1

A H

15/01/2022

Montrose

SPFL1

29/01/2022

Dumbarton

SPFL1

A

SPFL1

H

05/02/2022 Airdrieonians 12/02/2022

Queen’s Park

SPFL1

A

19/02/2022

Falkirk

SPFL1

H

26/02/2022 Alloa Athletic

SPFL1

A

05/03/2022 Peterhead

SPFL1

H H

12/03/2022

Clyde

SPFL1

19/03/2022

Montrose

SPFL1

A

26/03/2022 Airdrieonians

SPFL1

A

02/04/2022 Queen’s Park

SPFL1

H

09/04/2022 Falkirk

SPFL1

A

16/04/2022

SPFL1

H

23/04/2022 Dumbarton

SPFL1

H

30/04/2022 East Fife

SPFL1

A

Alloa Athletic

)

34 35

Starting

Starting

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

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

R.Leitch (J.Masson)

F.Fyvie

J.Masson1

J.Anderson

O.Adeyemo

S.McKenzie

-

-

-

-

-

Graham Grainger

Graham McNeillie

Colin McAlpine

F.Fyvie

S.Logan

R.Strachan

J.Anderson

O.Adeyemo

L.McIntosh

F.Robertson

K.Gourlay

-

-

-

Scott Lambie

Gordon Crawford

Cameron Telfer

F.Fyvie

S.Logan

H.Milne

B.Yule

J.Anderson

O.Adeyemo

R.Leitch

K.Gourlay

-

-

-

Barry Cook

Craig Ferguson

Brian Christie

506

— Season 2021/22 statistics

#CRFCLIVE

36 37

Name

Appearances

Goals

Position

Yellow

Red

Stuart McKenzie

9

0

GK

0

0

Kyle Gourlay

8

0

GK

0

0

Harry Milne

13

0

DF

3

0

Scott Ross

14

0

DF

3

0

Ryan Strachan

7

0

DF

0

0

Morgyn Neill

16

2

DF

2

0

Jevan Anderson

3

0

DF

0

0

Shay Logan

10

0

DF

0

0

Rhys Thomas

2

0

DF

0

0

Connor Scully

16

0

MF

1

0

Blair Yule

14

1

MF

1

1

Jamie Masson

10

2

MF

1

0

Fraser Fyvie

14

2

MF

3

1

Iain Vigurs

15

0

MF

5

0

Finlay Robertson

4

0

MF

0

0

Ross Draper

5

0

MF

1

0

Robbie Leitch

15

4

MF

1

0

Mitchel Megginson

17

7

FW

4

0

Leighton McIntosh

13

1

FW

0

0

Rory McAllister

17

11

FW

1

0

Ole Adeyemo

0

0

FW

0

0

— Captain’s view

W

C

’S VIE

AIN T P A

38 39

“ We are all excited by the prospect of playing in what is without doubt the game of the day in cinch League One.”

Testing yourself against the best teams and players is what you are in the game to do and that’s certainly what you get playing against Queen’s Park.

As one of the full-time sides in our division, they have rightly been placed among the favourites to win our division, so we know only our best will do if we are to enjoy our day.

You, the Cove Rangers fans, have a huge part to play. Queen’s Park will take a noisy band of supporters with them to Balmoral Stadium, who will do their best to inspire their side. But our record at Balmoral so far has been terrific and our Blue and White barmy army have been a big part of that.

You always make yourselves heard and it really does give us a lift when we are out there on the pitch. Hopefully you will be in good voice again this afternoon because this is one of those games where unity between the team and the fans will count for a lot.

It’s pleasing we are facing Queen’s Park on the back of a 3-0 victory over Clyde. I reckon that was our best team display of the season. We defended well as unit, in what were at times testing conditions because of the strong wind swirling around Balmoral. We also created plenty of chances - and scored our goals at just the right times.

>>>

— Captain’s view

>>>

It was great to see the scoring honours going to Connor Scully, Jamie Masson and Robbie Leitch.

Everyone knows if you were to cut Connor open he would bleed blue blood, he is a Cove boy with a genuine passion for our club.

He is also a real team player, Connor has been asked to play in a variety of positions already this season but has done so without complaint because he always does what is best for the club.

All of us were delighted to see Connor grabbing a wee bit of extra glory for a change by scoring the opener against Clyde.

We were just as pleased to see Jamie scoring the second, although I have to say the quality of the layoff (did I mention it came from me!) made it easy for him. It was Jamie’s first league goal since suffering a bad injury last season and a welcome reward for how hard he has worked to get back to fitness.

Robbie is another who is seen as a bit of an unsung hero by the rest of the squad. Whether he is on from the start or comes off the bench, Robbie always makes an impact - as he proved by scoring our third late-on.

I have to finish by also praising the back four and keeper Stuart McKenzie for recording another clean sheet as well, despite the fact Clyde’s lineup included David Goodwillie, one of the most dangerous strikers in the whole of the SPFL, never mind just League One. Like I said, that win was thanks to a real team effort and that’s something we will need more of today.

CYCR! Mitch Megginson

40 41

— 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

42 43

— Today’s team lines

Cove Rangers FC Manager - Paul Hartley

Queen’s Park FC Head Coach - Laurie Ellis

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48.

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

Wullie Muir (GK) Jake Davidson Tommy Robson Lee Kilday Peter Grant Stuart Morrison Louis Longridge Darren Lyon Bob McHugh Liam Brown Jai Quitongo Calum Ferrie (GK) Lewis Moore Max Gillies Callum Yeats Jacques Heraghy (GK) Calum Biggar Charlie Fox Will Baynham Grant Gillespie Jack Thomson Simon Murray Michael Doyle (C) Alex Bannon Gregor Nicol Connor Smith Luis Longstaff Luca Connell

Today’s referee - Graham Grianger Today’s assistant referees - Steven Traynor, Paul McAvinue Team lines sponsor