— Upcoming fixtures
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
H Tue 30th Nov, 2021 Cove Rangers v Rangers B SPFL Trust Trophy
H Sat 4th Dec, 2021 Cove Rangers v Dumbarton cinch League One
— League table
50/50 WINNER!
The 50/50 winning number at the Montrose match was 95679, won by Richard Clowney.
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, Richard Forbes & Gordon Taylor
Football Manager - Paul Hartley
Assistant Manager - Gordon Young
Fitness Coach - Tam Ritchie
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
cinch League One
Saturday November 6th @ Links Park
MONTROSE 0 COVE RANGERS 0
High winds blow away chances of a win
The wind was the only winner as both sides did their best in a cinch League One clash that was totally ruined by the howling gale that swept the length of Links Park.
It was a day when defences needed to be top and that was certainly the case with ours.
Ryan Strachan and Morgyn Neill made countless well-timed clearances, with full-backs Scott Ross and Harry Milne also doing their bit to ensure we at least came away with a point.
Keeper Stuart McKenzie also deserves praise for making two crucial saves in the first half as both sets of players huffed and puffed without really getting anywhere because the ball was whirling about like a beach ball in tornado.
— Montrose Match Report
Home keeper Aaron Lennox also made a vital save in the second period, so a draw was a fair result on an afternoon when there was no chance of the encounter living up to its match-of-the-day billing.
We made two changes to the side that started against Queen’s Park the week before, with Milne and Ross the ones to come in.
Montrose at least had the wind at their backs in the first half and thought they had taken the lead in the fourth minute, when Graham Webster swept the ball into the net from eight yards.
The striker was clearly offside though, so the effort was ruled out by referee Grant Irvine.
Kerr Waddell then tried his luck with a 35-yard freekick, but the effort was easily gathered by McKenzie.
We threatened in the 24th minute, when Fraser Fyvie’s pass over the home defence reached Rory McAllister, but his volley from inside the six-yard box was blocked by Aiden Quinn.
Montrose had a great chance when Cammy Ballantyne broke clear, on the right, just before the half hour.
The full-back was gearing up to shoot at McKenzie, but was denied by a perfectly timed tackle by Milne inside the penalty area.
Montrose broke forward again and Mark Whatley should have done better than lash his 15-yard shot over the crossbar.
McKenzie’s first crucial stop came in the 38th minute.
>>>
Webster broke clear on the right for Montrose, but the big keeper was positioned perfectly to beat the striker’s 10-yard shot away.
McKenzie’s second save, in the 44th minute, was top drawer.
Lewis Milne hoisted a long throw over from the right and when the ball came back out to Whatley his rocket shot was going in until McKenzie stretched and deflected the ball over the bar with his finger tips.
The wind was blowing even stronger after the restart, which it made it even more difficult to play even the simplest of passes.
We at least got forward a bit more and Iain Vigurs was unlucky to see his 22-yard shot, after latching on to a lay-off from McAllister, speed wide of the target.
Harry Milne underlined his class again in the 62nd minute, when he raced back to clear Whatley’s netbound effort from inside the six-yard box.
Our best chance of the game came two minutes later, after a slip by home defender Kerr Waddell gave Fin Robertson the chance to break clear.
The midfielder then hit an excellent shot from 20-yards that would have gone in if home keeper Lennox hadn’t dived full-length to his right to push the ball wide of his post.
We had a penalty claim turned away in the 66th minute, after Cammy F Ballantyne appeared to handle the ball as he cleared it away from McAllister.
Milne got forward on the left and his cross was heading to McAllister until Lennox punched the ball clear from edge of his six-yard box.
McAllister stepped up to take a long range free-kick in the 72nd minute, but his effort flew well over the Montrose goal.
McAllister made up for that two minutes later with a clever nod on to send Mitch Megginson clear through the middle.
The striker then attempted to lob the advancing Lennox from the edge of the area, but the howling gale helped carry the ball over the crossbar.
Montrose had the best of the chances in the latter stages, after Scott Ross had done well to intercept Webster’s dangerous cross from the right wing.
The rebound went straight to Terry Masson, but he blasted his shot from 10-yards over to ensure both sides at least got something for the effort they had put in to cope with the elements.
Montrose: Lennox, C Ballantyne, Steeves, Waddell, Quinn, Masson, Webster, CF Ballantyne (Lyons 86), Keatings (Johnston 66) Milne, Whatley.
Subs: Allan, Campbell, Brown, Antoniazzi, Fleming.
Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Neill, Milne, Ross, Strachan, Megginson, Masson, McAllister (Adeyemo 80), Vigurs, Robertson (Yule 70), Fyvie (Leitch 80).
Subs: Scully, McIntosh, Anderson, Gourlay.
Referee: Grant Irvine.
MONTROSE REACTION
Cove Rangers defender Scott Ross believes a point-a-piece was a fair outcome from our wind-battered cinch League One clash with Montrose at Links Park.
The wild weather conditions meant there were few chances for the 711 fans to enjoy in a match that ended 0-0.
Scott said: “Links Park is always a tough venue to go to, so I suppose we have to treat it as a good point on the road. Even more so because of the conditions. There was very little football played and few chances, it was a defiantly a game for defenders to shine in.
The two sets of centre-backs had the most touches because it was all about dealing with high balls into the box that had been influenced by the wind.
It’s a real shame because - on a better day - you would have been watching two of the best passing sides in the league, who always go out to play attacking football. But there was no way that was ever going to happen with that wind - and we had the sun low in our faces in the first half as well.
It was horrendous, the sort of conditions no players enjoy. But it’s a sign of how far we have come as a team in the last three years that we were coming away from Montrose disappointed to have only picked up a point. To be fair, they will have been disappointed too.
“It was a match neither side could honestly say they deserved to win — but neither of us would have deserved to lose either.”
It was a match neither side could honestly say they deserved to win — but neither of us would have deserved to lose either. It was a very poor game, but the possession was probably 50-50 and we had about the same number of half chances, so a draw was fair.
It was still a positive result for us though because we got a point away from home against one of the top sides in our division.”
Scott praised keeper Stuart McKenzie for the excellent save, late in the first half, that ensured Montrose didn’t break the deadlock.
“Stuart is always there when we need him the most,” said Scott. “He pulls off saves other goalies wouldn’t all of the time, but they often aren’t spoken about because we have gone on win the games comfortably. It was quiet for him otherwise, but when called upon Stuart did what was required of him.”
Next up is today’s cinch League One meeting against Scott’s former club Peterhead.
He said: “It’s one I always look forward to because I know a lot of the guys at Peterhead very well. It’s seen as our derby, even though there’s a fair distance between us, but games are always competitive and good one plays in.”
COLIN MILNE
Colin Milne played for Cove Rangers and today’s visitors to Balmoral Stadium, Peterhead. A prolific striker in his day, Colin began his career with Aberdeen before enjoying a trophy-laden spell with the Blue Toon - and averaged 20 goals a season.
Colin ended his playing career with Cove Rangers but then enjoyed spells working as first team coach and assistant manager, when we were still based at Allan Park.
UnCOVEred asked Colin, now aged 47, to look back on his career as a preview to this afternoon’s cinch League One clash between his two former clubs.
Image supplied by DC Thomson
Before we speak about Peterhead and Cove Rangers, tell us about your time at Pittodrie.
I joined the Dons in 1990, straight from school. I had been playing for Albion Rangers and it was an exciting opportunity for a Bridge of Don boy. Alex Smith, Jocky Scott and Drew Jarvie were the management team and they were great towards me.
Unfortunately, I was up against some household names when it came to trying to get into the first team. Hans Gillhaus and Charlie Nicholas were the two first choices and Aberdeen also had Eoin Jess and Scott Booth breaking through, so it’s no shame to admit I found it hard to get regular opportunities to play up front! But I will always treasure the four years I had at Aberdeen.
It was a thrill to train with so many top class players, which included Willie Miller, who retired during the my time at Pittodrie, as well as Alex McLeish. It was the best eduction any young player could ask for.
Where do you go after Aberdeen?
I was delighted to get the opportunity to sign for Montrose, who were managed by John Holt and Andy Dornan. Montrose were in the old Division One, there were only three divisions at that time so it was great to get the chance to play regularly in what was the second tier of Scottish
football. Montrose is a great club and I really enjoyed my two seasons with them.
I then signed by Ross County in 1995 for £20,000 - a record fee for them at that time! They had just stepped up League Two from the Highland League and I was described as their first major singing, so no pressure!
It was difficult to start with because I was also one of the first players from outside Dingwall to become a regular in the first team. I ended up scoring 17 goals that first season though, which helped win the fans over.
How did the move to Peterhead come about?
I made no secret of the fact I was finding it tough to cope with all the travelling back and forth between Aberdeen and Dingwall to train and play. Peterhead had kindly allowed me to train with them some nights and I really enjoyed their sessions and working with manager Dave Watson.
You could also see that Peterhead were an ambitious club, eager to play at a much higher level than the Highland League.
I was delighted when Dave sorted out a deal to sign me because my four years in the Blue Toon were the most enjoyable of my career. The undoubted highlight was ending Huntly’s five year domination by winning the Highland League title in 1998.
I scored twice in the victory over Nairn that clinched what was Peterhead’s first league title for 11 years.
We won every other trophy possible at that time as well, except for the Highland League Cup. Like I said, I loved playing for Dave, he really knew how to get the best out of me.
I also enjoyed working under Ronnie Brown and Ian Wilson during their spells as manager.
We moved to Balmoor Stadium during my time there and it was clear the club was equipped to play at the top level and I’m delighted they finally got that opportunity.
You then joined Elgin City, tell us a little about the spell at Borough Briggs.
That was another exciting opportunity for me because Elgin City had just been accepted into Division Three. As was the case when I went to Ross County, I was their record signing.
Elgin even agreed to make me team captain to persuade me to leave Peterhead - and I repaid them by helping them finish bottom of the league in that first season!
I still enjoyed my time there although. Unfortunately my father was very ill at that time and was too unwell to travel to Elgin to see me playing, which he always
loved to do. If that hadn’t been the case I might have stayed at Elgin a lot longer.
Finally, we get to youir days with Cove Rangers, tell us how that move came about.
I enjoyed a season playing Junior Football, with Formartine United, then a short spell with Buckie Thistle before finally receiving the call from Cove manager John Sheran. I was delighted because it gave me the opportunity to complete the full set of medals in the Highland League when we won the Highland League Cup (with a 2-0 final victory over Deveronvale in 2005).
Unfortunately, I was really struggling to fit my work commitments in with what you needed to give to do well for a club like Cove Rangers, so I chose to hang up my boots.
I was out of the game for something like 18 months when I received another call from John asking me if I would be willing to come back because they were having real problems with injuries. I jumped at the chance, nobody likes to let John down because he’s a fantastic person as well as an excellent coach. It was always only going to be temporary, though, because I knew I was past my best by that time.
How did the return to Allan Park as a coach come about?
It wasn’t something I really had ambitions to do, when I stopped playing I spent most of my time on the golf course.
But I then got a call from Kevin Tindal, who I played alongside at Cove Rangers and who was now the manager, inviting me to become his first team coach.
I saw it as the ideal opportunity to give something back to the club and the game in general for all the pleasure it had given me over the years.
Jerry O’Driscoll was Kevin’s assistant and they are two very strong characters, so I acted as a bit of a go-between for the players.
When Jerry left I was asked to step up to assistant manager, which I was delighted to do. I will always appreciate the opportunities Cove Rangers gave me, on and off the park.
What are your thoughts about seeing Cove Rangers and Peterhead now competing against each other at League One level?
It’s easy for me to claim it now, but it’s something I always expected to eventually see happening. Peterhead were preparing to make the step up when I played for them and everyone at Cove Rangers was speaking about doing the same when I was there.
It’s brilliant that it has happened because both clubs have been like a breath of fresh air in the SPFL. The bulk of the credit for that has to go to the men at the helm of the two clubs. Roger Taylor and Roger Morrison invested a lot of time, and their own money, into ensuring Peterhead were more than ready to cope with the demands of playing at SPFL level.
It’s the same with Keith Moorhouse at Cove Rangers. He spent years laying the foundations for what we are all seeing happening at Cove now.
My hope now is that we will eventually see them competing against each other in the Championship, you can be sure Roger and Keith would love to see that too.
So who is going to win this latest clash between your old clubs?
I would rather sit on the fence on that one please, although Cove are at home, which will be a huge advantage.
Unfortunately, I won’t be there because my wife is due to give birth next week, so we are being careful about going out and about to ensure all goes well. But I will be watching the action on Cove Rangers TV and I’m sure it will be a great game.
MCALLISTER
Cove Rangers striker Rory McAllister has dedicated his cinch League One playerof-the-month award for October to his team-mates.
League sponsors cinch rewarded Rory for a memorable month that included scoring his 10th career hat-trick, in our 3-1 win away to Alloa Athletic, on October 2.
The 34-year-old also netted in our 3-3 topof-the-table clash with Queen’s Park and scored another two in our 4-1 SPFL Trust Challenge Cup victory over Albion Rovers.
Rory was presented with his award at Balmoral Stadium earlier this week and immediately gave full-credit to his teammates for the parts they played helping him win it.
Rory said: “I’ve always said strikers are only as good as the team around them. Even more so when you get to the stage of career that I’m at now.”
— Rory McAllister Player-of-the-month
“I’ve always said strikers are only as good as the team around them.”
“When I was a younger it was far easier to go on long runs and the like to maybe create my own goals. Now I depend on others to do most of the running for me, which allows me to focus on being in the right place at the right time to take advantage of any chances that come my way.
I’m really lucky to be playing alongside some top class players at this players, who do their best every week to help me get among the goals.
The coaching staff have also played a huge part because of the way they encourage us to play - and for the work they have done to help me get back to the sort of fitness levels I was at when I was younger.
My Cove career had been a bit stop-start because of Covid and all of the other things that made it difficult to get going as well as I would have liked. Things have really picked up this season though - I feel cracking now and can’t wait for the next game to come along.”
START PLAYING.
Rip-roaring power. Spellbinding control. Jaw-dropping accuracy. The new Mitre Delta Max SPFL. Prepare to mesmerise.
PAUL HARTLEY
I will begin by welcoming the players and staff of Peterhead to Balmoral Stadium for what is sure to be another intriguing cinch League One encounter.
Every game in this league is interesting because there is absolutely nothing to choose between any of the sides in it.
It’s so tight and competitive you can never predict how the results are going to go from week to week. It also means you have to aim to maintain high standards if you want to be in the mix for the promotion places when we are heading into the last couple of weeks of the campaign.
Players don’t really need too much motivation when they are in a league like this one. They know themselves they can’t afford too many slip ups, it’s all about building momentum and digging deep to win as many games as you can to see where that takes you to. And if you can’t win then the target has to be to make sure you don’t lose, which is why I said the point we took away to Montrose last weekend was a good one for us. Every point picked up on the road could prove invaluable.
It’s also vital that you do all you can to take full advantage when you are playing at home. You know if you have an off day you won’t win, but if you are on it from the very start then there is a better chance you will come out on top. We will certainly need to be on it this afternoon.
HARTLEY
— View from the dugout
I have great admiration for Peterhead manager Jim McInally and his team. They are always well organised and also have a young team this year, one full of running and energy.
It will be another tough test for us, but as I said you expect that every week in this league.
I will finish by congratulating Rory McAllister for being named the League One player-of-the-month for October. It’s an honour he deserves for all the hard work he has put in over the course of the season so far, not just last month.
Rory puts in an astonishing amount of effort, in games and in training, while at the same time also managing how he treats his body to ensure he is able to perform at his best when required.
He’s at the stage of his career when doing the right things is the only way you will ever be able to keep competing at the level we are at now.
Rory has spoken often enough about his desire to keep on playing for as long as he can, but the older you get the harder it becomes. Rory has recognised that and his experience has taught him when he needs to train hard and when it might be best to step off things a little. It means we are reaping the benefits of having a player who is performing as well as he probably has at any stage of his career.
I’m not just talking about the goals Rory scores. His link-up play is first class too and Rory can often be seen chasing back to help out in defensive situations when needed.
It was nice to see him give credit to his team-mates for helping him win the award - but he is very much a team player too.
Stay safe and enjoy the game.
Paul Hartley
“Rory puts in an astonishing amount of effort, in games and in training...”
MANAGEMENT
GOALKEEPERS
DEFENDERS
Paul Hartley
Gordon Young
Harry Milne
Ryan Strachan
Shay Logan Morgyn Neill
Scott Ross
Ritchie
Stuart McKenzie
Kyle Gourlay
Jevan Anderson
FORWARDS
MIDFIELDERS
To
Blair Yule
Jamie Masson
Fraser Fyvie
Connor Scully
Rory McAllister
Mitchel Megginson
Leighton McIntosh
Iain Vigurs
Robbie Leitch
— Season 2021/22 statistics
13/11/2021 Peterhead SPFL1 H 20/11/2021 Airdrieonians SPFL1 A 27/11/2021 Queen of the South SC 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 26/12/2021 East Fife SPFL1 H 02/01/2022 Peterhead SPFL1 A 08/01/2022 Clyde SPFL1 A 15/01/2022 Montrose SPFL1 H 29/01/2022 Dumbarton SPFL1 A 05/02/2022 Airdrieonians SPFL1 H 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 12/03/2022 Clyde SPFL1 H 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 Alloa Athletic SPFL1 H 23/04/2022 Dumbarton SPFL1 H 30/04/2022 East Fife SPFL1 A
#CRFCLIVE
CAPTAIN’S WEIV
“I want to begin by congratulating Rory McAllister for picking up the cinch League One player-of-the-month award for October.”
It was a deserved recognition for his goals and overall contribution during that month. Everyone at the club is absolutely delighted for him.
The older Rory gets the better he seems to get. That’s because Rory is an extremely clever player as well as a top class striker.
At the age of 34, he has adjusted the way he plays so that he can still compete at the highest levels, even though he is now lacking a little of the pace he had in his younger years.
Rory is the classic team player too. He scores goals but he also brings the best out of those around him thanks to his unselfish running off the ball, his hold-up play and excellent lay-offs, whether they be with his head or feet.
Rory is also a real character in our dressing room, nobody is safe from his wind-ups, which is something every successful side needs as well. He is a vital part of our team and it’s great to see that being recognised by people outside of our club.
Winning the award will have given Rory a boost ahead of today’s game, not that he would have been looking for one against his former club.
— Captain’s view
>>> It’s an exciting game for all of us because meetings with Peterhead are seen as a derby for Cove. Montrose is about the same distance away from Cove, but clashes with the lads from up in the Blue Toon definitely have more of a derby feel to them.
The fact most of us have friends who play for Peterhead plays a part in that. Facing up to your mates, or former team-mates, always add a bit extra to games. It means we will go into it knowing we are going to have to be on the very top of our game if we are to come away with anything.
Hopefully, the weather will be a bit kinder that it was when we played Montrose last weekend. The high winds at Links Park destroyed what I’m sure would have been a cracking game between two sides known for playing attacking, passing football.
It’s hard to explain just how difficult it was to play and pass the ball in the conditions. It was pleasing to come away with a point when you take all of that into consideration.
It’s a point that could end up proving invaluable in what is clearly the most competitive of all four SPFL divisions.
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, 2005-06, 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
—
Cove Rangers FC Manager - Paul Hartley
1. Stuart McKenzie
2. Morgyn Neill
3. Harry Milne 4. Connor Scully
5. Scott Ross
6. Ryan Strachan
8. Blair Yule
9. Mitchel Megginson (C)
10. Jamie Masson
11. Leighton McIntosh
13. Rory McAllister
14. Ross Draper
15. Jevan Anderson
16. Iain Vigurs
17. Ola Adeyemo
18. Finlay Robertson
19. Rhys Thomas
20. Robbie Leitch
21. Balint Demus
23. Kyle Gourlay
24. Fraser Fyvie
25. Shay Logan
Peterhead FC Manager - Jim Mcinally
1. Brett Long (GK)
2. Josh Mulligan
3. Ryan Conroy
4. Andrew McDonald
5. Jason Brown 6. Simon Ferry
7. Hamish Ritchie
8. Scott Brown (C)
9. Russell Mclean 10. Lyall Cameron 11. Alan Cook 12. Andy McCarthy 14. Niah Payne 15. Danny Strachan 17. David Wilson
18. Jordon Brown
21. Grant Savoury
27. Lenny Wilson (GK)
32. Flynn Duffy
99. Derek Lyle
Today’s referee - Calum Scott
Today’s assistant referees - Calum Spence, Brian Christie
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