UNCOVERED — Cove Rangers v Alloa Athletic 18.12.21

Cove Rangers v Alloa Athletic cinch League One 18.12.21 — 3pm KO

Cove Rangers v Albion Rovers

SPFL Trust Trophy

09.10.21 — 3pm KO

BALMOR AL GROUP Proud sponsors of BALMORAL STADIUM

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

02 03

— Contents Cove Rangers FC Matchday Programme Alloa Athletic: 18.12.21 — 3pm KO Match sponsor

Matchball sponsor

Ian McIntosh

Runcie Enterprises

Features

FALKIRK MATCH REPORT FALKIRK REACTION HARRY REDKNAPP INTERVIEW Regulars Upcoming fixtures

04

Club information

06

Club partners

33

View from the dugout

34

Player and Management sponsorship

38

Season 2021/22 statistics

40

Captain’s view

44

Club honours

48

Today’s team lines

49

08 20 24

— Upcoming fixtures

H Sun 26th Dec, 2021

Cove Rangers v East Fife

cinch League One

A Sun 2nd Jan, 2022

Peterhead v Cove Rangers

cinch League One

A Sat 9th Jan, 2022

Clyde v Cove Rangers

cinch League One

H Sat 15th Jan, 2022

Cove Rangers v Montrose

cinch League One

— League table cinch League One

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

Cove Rangers

17

10

4

3

34

17

17

34

Montrose

17

8

7

2

30

15

15

31

Queen’s Park

16

6

8

3

31

17

14

26

Airdrieonians

16

8

2

6

25

21

4

26

Falkirk

17

6

4

7

20

26

-6

22

Alloa Athletic

17

5

5

7

25

27

-2

20

Clyde

17

5

5

7

21

32

-11

20

Peterhead

17

5

4

8

25

27

-2

19

Dumbarton

17

5

3

9

23

34

-11

18

East Fife

17

3

4

10

19

37

-18

13

50/50 WINNER! The 50/50 winner at the Dumbarton match was 97276, won by Paul Jardine.

04 05

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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.

FALKIRK 0 COVE RANGERS 3 cinch League One Saturday December 11th @ Falkirk Stadium

08 09

— Falkirk Match Report

falkirk fal

lling

10 11

A screamer of a strike from defender Morgyn Neill sent us on the road to a thrilling and well deserved cinch League One victory at the Falkirk Stadium.

Rory McAllister then claimed his 13th goal of the campaign to ensure we had the three points as good as secured before the interval.

Substitute Leighton McIntosh provided the icing on the cake by lobbing home our third, in the final minute, as we swept aside our full-time hosts in impressive style.

An almost perfect afternoon was spoiled when Shay Logan was shown a red card in injury-time, because one of the match officials apparently claimed they saw the full-back making an unacceptable gesture towards the home crowd.

But even that couldn’t take the shine off what was the latest in a series of outstanding team performances as we made it seven without defeat in the league and maintained our lead over Montrose at the top of the table.

>>>

— Falkirk Match Report

Some of the faces in the crowd will have looked strangely familiar to manager Paul Hartley. That’s because a group of Cove Rangers supporters were wearing masks bearing his image for the clash against one of his former clubs.

They also made their voices heard and were rewarded with a Cove performance that was a treat to the eyes.

In fairness to The Bairns, they were the more threatening side in the early stages. Callumn Morrison shot wide from 18-yards after just four minutes and that was followed by keeper Stuart McKenzie holding a long range effort by Seb Ross.

Aiden Keena got forward in the 17th minute, but McKenzie was well positioned to save his 20-yard effort at goal.

We went ahead in the 19th minute with our first effort on target – and what an effort it was. Neill collected the ball fully 35-yards out from the Falkirk goal and he then gave home keeper Paddy Martin no chance with a stunning drive that flew into the top corner, to the keeper’s right.

We almost built on that when Iain Vigurs played a free-kick short to Fraser Fyvie, wide on the left. The midfielder’s shot, from 10-yards, was going in until the ball hit Nesbitt and went behind for a corner.

McAllister also saw a close range header held by Martin as we stepped up the pace.

12 13

>>>

— Falkirk Match Report

14 15

Neill was the hero in our defensive area in the 33rd minute. Keena looked certain to score after breaking into our penalty area, on the right, but was denied by an outstanding last gasp challenge from Neill at the edge of the six yard box.

The value of that interception was underlined when we made it 2-0 in the 38th minute.

Our first had been spectacular, the second was simply sublime. Harry Milne played the ball on from the left to Mitch Megginson, who then laid the ball perfectly into the path of McAllister.

The veteran striker finished things off in style by controlling the ball with his chest then lashing it into the roof of the net from eight yards.

Connor Scully was unlucky not to score our third, a couple of minutes after the restart, with a powerful 18-yard shot that was defected just wide of Martin’s right post by a home defender.

Megginson then won the ball just inside the Falkirk half and advanced to hit a 20-yard shot that was held by Martin.

Martin made two top class saves to keep us out in the 70th minute. The first was a brilliant block from McAllister’s eight yard shot and the keeper also recovered quickly to touch Scully’s diving header from the rebound wide of his right post.

McKenzie showed his class as a keeper at the other end, in the 75th minute. He did very well to reach Keene’s spectacular effort from 30-yards and push the ball up into the air.

>>>

— Falkirk Match Report

The ball looked to still be dropping in, but McKenzie also managed to back-track quickly to grab hold of it inside his six yard box.

Cove underlined their total superiority in the last minute when Megginson played the ball through to McIntosh and he gave the advancing Martin no chance with a perfectly executed lob from 20-yards.

The match ended with most of the people inside the stadium mystified to see Logan shown a red card, because one of the referee’s assistants had allegedly seen him make a hand gesture towards the section of the Main Stand occupied by Falkirk supporters.

Logan seemed to claim he had held up three fingers to indicate the 3-0 scoreline, but referee Calum Scott stuck to his guns to ensure an unwanted end to an otherwise memorable trip to the Falkirk Stadium for those mask-wearing Cove Rangers supporters.

>>>

16 17

18 19

Falkirk: Martin, Williamson (Ruth 67), Hall, Miller, Morrison, Nesbitt, McCann (McGuffie 75), Ross (Ompreon 55), Keena, Telfer, McKay. Subs: Holt, Krasniqi, Lemon, McDaid.

Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Neill, Milne, Scully, Ross, Yule, Megginson, McAllister (McIntosh 78), Vigurs, Fyvie, Logan.

Subs: Masson, Anderson, Adeyemo, Robertson, Gourlay.

Referee: Calum Scott.

— Falkirk Reaction

20 21

FALKIRK REACTION Cove Rangers defender Morgyn Neill scored a spectacular opening goal in our 3-0 cinch League One victory over Falkirk.

But the 25-year-old admitted he prouder of the two vital defensive interceptions he made - including a last-gasp tackle on Bairns’ striker Aiden Keena in the 33rd minute - before further goals from Rory McAllister and Leighton McIntosh sealed a crucial victory at the Falkirk Stadium.

Morgyn said: “I told the lads in the dressing room after the game that I really couldn’t care less about my goal. That’s because I feel I made the two most important blocks in the game, if I don’t block those shots they are scoring and it could turn out a totally different afternoon for us.

I take more pride in that than my goal because defending is my main job. It’s why I celebrated the block on Keena as if I had just scored a goal. I knew it was important because it was crucial not to offer them any encouragement after taking the lead.”

Morgyn claimed his third goal of the campaign with a breathtaking long range drive that gave Falkirk keeper Paddy Martin no chance.

Morgyn said: “I found myself in a bit of space and thought, why not? I made a perfect connection and could see the ball was going to the top corner, I couldn’t believe the keeper had the cheek to try and get his hand to it.”

>>>

— Falkirk Reaction

“ It’s a joy to be playing for Cove Rangers at the moment.”

Rory made it 2-0 soon afterwards, with Leighton coming off the bench in the second period to make it 3-0 in the last minute.

The win extended our unbeaten run in the league seven matches - and made it 10 without defeat when you include the SPFL Trophy win over Rangers B and two Scottish Cup clashes with Queen of the South.

Morgyn said: “It’s a joy to be playing for Cove Rangers at the moment. The fans seem to be enjoying it and the players certainly are. We are playing with confidence and doing our best to do it with exciting, attacking, football.

Even though we are having to change the team to deal with the amount games we have, we are still managing to play well.

That shows the quality we have, I personally think we have the best squad in the division, even though we are up against three full-time clubs.

We have managed to compete well, particularly over the last few weeks, when we have had some very tough games only a few days apart.

We’ve also had to deal with difficult types of pitches, horrendous weather conditions and travelling long distances - like down to play Queen of the South.

But none of that has bothered us, we have just gone out there and done all that we could to get the results that we wanted.”

22 23

— Harry Redknapp Interview

HARRY RE Football legend Harry Redknapp was the star attraction at the latest Cove Rangers Festive Lunch, which was held at The Marcliffe Hotel & Spa on December 3.

It was the second time the former West Ham, Spurs and Portsmouth manager - and King of the Jungle in the 2018 series of television’s ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’ - has been the guest speaker at our showpiece fundraiser.

After his last visit to Aberdeen - in 2016 - Cove Rangers were suddenly hogging national headlines in the media thanks to an innocent tweet posted by Harry, saying he was hoping we would do well in a Scottish Cup tie against Motherwell.

We spoke to Harry and began by reminding him of all the fuss his much appreciated support caused north of the border six years ago.

>>>

EDKNAPP

24 25

— Harry Redknapp Interview

>>>

Your tweet after your 2016 visit resulted in a lot of publicity for the club, on Sky Sports as well as in the Scottish media. Were you aware of that?

Very much so, hopefully the club saw that as a good thing. I had a great time when Cove Rangers first invited me to Aberdeen and I have genuinely kept an eye on their results ever since. I said I had adopted them as my Scottish club — and I meant it.

26 27

>>>

Some media outlets reacted by suggesting your support was an indication that you were looking to become the Cove Rangers manager… and even considering buying the club. What were your thoughts on that?

It was crazy, but I’ve got used to stuff like that appearing over the years with my name connected to it. It was all nonsense, of course, I’m sure Keith Moorhouse (our chairman) would have had something to say about me buying the club!

As I said, all I was doing was expressing my admiration for the excellent work Keith and all the other people I had met at Cove Rangers were doing.

What the club has done since I came up in 2016 is amazing - they have been on a fantastic run. That’s all credit to Keith and the people he has working alongside him. The atmosphere created behind the scenes by people like them can either make or break a club.

It’s clear everyone is pulling together at Cove Rangers and that’s while they have made such rapid progress since I was last here. To go from where they were in 2016 to where they are right now is simply unbelievable.

— Harry Redknapp Interview

We were still a Highland League club in 2016 and you said then that you were disappointed there was no direct route into the SPFL from the lower divisions at that time.

Are you pleased we have since managed to gain promotion via the pyramid system?

Of course, because it’s important clubs who show ambition have the chance to progress. I’ve kept a close eye on how Cove Rangers have got on since they were promoted.

It’s brilliant that they were promoted again in their first season and are sitting on top of the division they are in now. It’s been a great story for them so far, and it’s one I’m sure will run and run.

You were particularly kind with the comments you made about our chairman, what is it about him that impresses you the most?

Having a chairman who loves his club and is dedicated to seeing it become successful is very important. It’s even better when that person is a local one who understands the club and has connections to the community and supporters.

We have seen more and more foreign owners take charge of clubs down in England, which isn’t always a good thing.

It has happened in Scotland too. It’s the clubs who have businessmen from their area at the helm who to tend to do better.

28 29

A prime example of that was the great Jack Walker, who did so many amazing things to bring success to Blackburn Rovers. Back in my days playing for West Ham our chairman owned the local wood yard, at the end of Green Street, close to Upton Park.

It’s a totally different level, but there are similarities to what Keith is doing at Cove Rangers.

You also had people like Bob Lord, who was a successful butcher and was chairman of his local team, Burnley.

>>>

Jack is probably the most famous of them, what he did with Blackburn is legendary. He put a lot of his own money in to build them up to the level where they were good enough to become the champions in England. Jack did that because he was a fan and loved his club.

Keith and I have communicated a lot over the last few years and it’s obvious he is a man who will do anything he possibly can to help Cove Rangers be successful.

— Harry Redknapp Interview

You worked with a lot of chairman over the years, how important is the relationship between him and the manager?

I’ve always said it’s the most crucial at a club. You need a good manager of course, and Cove Rangers certainly have that in Paul Hartley.

I was really impressed by his encyclopedic knowledge of football and what he has already done, with a part-time club, underlines how talented he is.

But the manager won’t succeed if he doesn’t receive the full backing of his chairman and directors. When you look at the quality of the players Paul has been allowed to bring in during his time as manager, it’s obvious he is getting that.

You were close to returning to speak at our 2018 dinner, but had to pull out because you were asked to go on ‘I’m a Celebrity’ instead. What has your life been like since you were crowned ‘King of the Jungle’?

It has totally changed my life - but in a good way. I had never even seen the programme before, all I ever tend to watch on television is sport. I wasn’t keen to begin with, but they made me an offer that was simply too good to refuse.

Before going in I was told people were voted out by the public, so I was expecting to be the first sent back home, which would have made it a decent bit of business. It didn’t work out that way, but I’m not complaining.

Since coming home from Australia, where the show was filmed, it’s been virtually non-stop for me. I really enjoyed doing the show, it was a totally different experience at a stage of my life when I had maybe become a bit set in my ways.

It has opened a lot of doors for me, ones that might not have been there had I only been known for my career in football.

Do you ever see yourself returning to football management?

No, because I’m really enjoying what I do now. I’ve never been one for sitting at home doing nothing. I can’t play golf every day and my wife Sandra wouldn’t be happy if I sat in the house every day watching the horse racing.

It’s great that I can get out to do things, like speak at events, and meet all sorts of different people. I get the chance to mix with a lot of football people too, like the ones at Cove Rangers. People who love their clubs and are the lifeblood of the game.

30 31

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— Club partners

Principal Club Partner

Principal Stadium Partner

Official Club Partners

32 33

— View from the dugout

PAUL HARTL I want to begin by applauding the efforts of everyone at the club - fans, players, coaches, directors and all of our support staff have put in to help us get to where we are at the moment.

Our campaign, for a variety of reasons, began in a bit of a stopstart fashion, which meant our results were a little inconsistent.

However, the players in particular took that in their stride and stuck in to eventually hit the run of great form that has helped us get to the top of cinch League One. I must give the players extra praise for their performances in our last two games, which were both away from home, to Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup and against Falkirk, in the league.

They had to cope with extremely difficult weather conditions down in Dumfries, which made it a classic game of two halves.

In the first we played some excellent football and used the tough conditions to our advantage, in the second the players managed the game brilliantly to cope with the elements while also going on to score two goals to seal a pleasing 3-0 victory.

We were excellent at Falkirk too.

We scored three outstanding goals against full-time opponents and played some fine football. Our supporters did their bit at both of those games, they made themselves heard and you could see from the way the players performed that their backing is important.

I said in the summer that having our fans back at games would have a positive effect on the team and it has proved to be the case.

>>>

LEY

34 35

— View from the dugout

>>>

We really appreciate the efforts all of you have made, often at great cost, to show how much Cove Rangers mean to you.

My coaching team have also been excellent in the manner that they have dealt with the disruptions that illness and injuries have caused to our preparations for games and training.

They have just got on with it and mucked in to make sure the players who were available are prepared properly for every game.

I would also like to thank our directors for ensuring we have everything required to continue working safely and for giving us full support on the back of what was one of the most testing spells ever for our club because of the covid pandemic.

Our support staff, which includes the army of volunteers who work at Balmoral Stadium on match days, have also done their bit, so must also share the credit for us being in the position we are in right now.

The season doesn’t end here though, today’s meeting with Alloa Athletic sees us reach only the half-way point in our league campaign. We have all enjoyed the last few weeks, but we also want to get pleasure out of what lies ahead of us as we move towards the New Year.

That will mean more hard work from all of us. We managed to beat Alloa down at their place earlier in the season, but a very early red card shown to one of their players ruined the game.

Today’s meeting will be different because Alloa, on their day, are capable of beating anyone in our league.

We are going to have to maintain high standards if we want to continue the feel-good factor surrounding our club at the moment. I will conclude by wishing all of you a happy - and safe - Christmas when it comes.

Enjoy the game.

Paul Hartley

36 37

“ We have all enjoyed the last few weeks, but we also want to get pleasure out of what lies ahead of us as we move towards the New Year.”

— Player and management sponsorship

MANAGEMENT Paul Hartley

Gordon Young

Tam Ritchie

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

GOALKEEPERS Stuart McKenzie

Kyle Gourlay

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

Harry Milne

Scott Ross

Ryan Strachan

LOCAL , NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ROAD HAULAGE

ABERDEEN 01224 – 781698

DEFENDERS

WWW.MGSLOGISTICS.CO.UK

Jevan Anderson

Shay Logan

Morgyn Neill

38 39

MIDFIELDERS

Fraser Fyvie

Connor Scully

Blair Yule

Iain Vigurs

Robbie Leitch

Mitchel Megginson

Leighton McIntosh

Jamie Masson

FORWARDS

CRFC offer excellent advertising opportunities to organisations who are looking to share marketing messages, or to build their brand via one or more of our channels. Get in touch with our commercial team for further information.

To register Interest for sponsorship, contact: Angela Bruce - abruce@coverangersfc.com

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)

30/10/2021

Queen’s Park

SPFL1

H

3

3

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

C.Scully (H.Milne)

R.Strachan

M.Megginson1

J.Masson (L.McIntosh)

R.McAllister1

I.Vigurs

F.Robertson

06/11/2021

Montrose

SPFL1

A

0

0

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

H.Milne

S.Ross

R.Strachan

M.Megginson

J.Masson

R.McAllister (O.Adeyemo)

I.Vigurs

13/11/2021

Peterhead

SPFL1

H

3

0

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

H.Milne

S.Ross

R.Strachan1

B.Yule

M.Megginson2

J.Masson (R.Leitch)

R.McAllister (L.McIntosh)

20/11/2021

Airdrieonians

SPFL1

A

2

0

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

H.Milne

C.Scully

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson1 (F.Robertson)

J.Masson (F.Fyvie)

R.McAllister (L.McIntosh)

27/11/2021

Queen of the South SC

H

2

2

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

H.Milne (J.Masson)

C.Scully

S.Ross

B.Yule

M.Megginson

L.McIntosh (R.McAllister)

J.Anderson (S.Logan)

30/11/2021

Rangers B

CC

H

5

1

K.Gourlay

M.Neill

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross (R.Strachan)

B.Yule

M.Megginson1 (O.Adeyemo)

J.Masson1 (L.McIntosh)

I.Vigurs

04/12/2021

Dumbarton

SPFL1

H

2

0

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

C.Scully

S.Ross (J.Masson)

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson (L.McIntosh)

R.McAllister (F.Robertson)

I.Vigurs1

07/12/2021

Queen of the South SC

A

3

0

K.Gourlay

M.Neill

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson2 ( J.Anderson)

J.Masson (O.Adeyemo)

12/11/2021

Falkirk

SPFL1

A

3

0

S.McKenzie

M.Neill1

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

B.Yule

M.Megginson

R.McAllister1 (L.McIntosh)

I.Vigurs

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

(Cove win 4-2 on penalties)

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

SPFL1

H

23/04/2022 Dumbarton

SPFL1

H

30/04/2022 East Fife

SPFL1

A

Alloa Athletic

C.Scully

)

)

40 41

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.Leitch1

K.Gourlay

-

-

-

Barry Cook

Craig Ferguson

Brian Christie

F.Fyvie

S.Logan (B.Yule)

H.Milne

S.Ross

B.Yule

L.McIntosh

O.Adeyemo

R.Leitch

K.Gourlay

-

-

Graham Grainger

Steven Traynor

Paul McAvinue

F.Robertson (B.Yule)

F.Fyvie (R.Leitch)

C.Scully

B.Yule

L.McIntosh

J.Anderson

O.Adeyemo

R.Leitch

K.Gourlay

-

-

Grant Irvine

Andy Milne

Gary Hilland

I.Vigurs

S.Logan (C.Scully)

C.Scully

L.McIntosh

J.Anderson

O.Adeyemo

F.Robertson

R.Leitch

K.Gourlay

-

-

Calum Scott

Graham McNeillie

Brian Christie

J.Anderson

I.Vigurs

L.McIntosh

O.Adeyemo

F.Robertson

F.Fyvie1

K.Gourlay

-

-

-

-

Craig Napier

Graham Chambers

Barry Reid

I.Vigurs1

F.Fyvie

J.Masson

R.McAllister1

O.Adeyemo

S.Logan

K.Gourlay

-

-

-

-

Scott Lambie

Steven Traynor

Gordon McCabe

F.Fyvie1

S.Logan

R.Strachan

L.McIntosh1

O.Adeyemo

S.Logan

-

-

-

-

-

Mike Roncone

Andy Milne

Paul McAvinue

F.Fyvie2

S.Logan

H.Milne

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

O.Adeyemo

F.Robertson

K.Gourlay

-

-

-

Chris Fordyce

Gary Hilland

Ross Nelson

S.Logan

F.Fyvie1

R.McAllister

J.Anderson

O.Adeyemo

-

-

-

-

-

-

Scott Lambie

Steven Traynor

Gordon McCabe

F.Fyvie

S.Logan

J.Masson

L.McIntosh1

J.Anderson

O.Adeyemo

F.Robertson

K.Gourlay

-

-

-

Calum Scott

Graham McNeillie

Chris Newman

506

— Season 2021/22 statistics

#CRFCLIVE

42 43

Name

Appearances

Goals

Position

Yellow

Red

Stuart McKenzie

16

0

GK

0

0

Kyle Gourlay

10

0

GK

0

0

Harry Milne

21

0

DF

4

1

Scott Ross

21

0

DF

5

0

Ryan Strachan

14

1

DF

1

0

Morgyn Neill

25

3

DF

2

0

Jevan Anderson

6

0

DF

0

0

Shay Logan

16

0

DF

0

1

Rhys Thomas

2

0

DF

0

0

Connor Scully

24

1

MF

2

0

Blair Yule

23

1

MF

2

1

Jamie Masson

18

3

MF

2

0

Fraser Fyvie

22

7

MF

4

1

Iain Vigurs

23

2

MF

7

0

Finlay Robertson

8

0

MF

0

0

Ross Draper

5

0

MF

1

0

Robbie Leitch

17

4

MF

1

0

Mitchel Megginson

26

14

FW

5

0

Leighton McIntosh

21

3

FW

0

0

Rory McAllister

25

14

FW

3

0

Ola Adeyemo

0

0

FW

0

0

— Captain’s view

W

C

’S VIE

AIN T P A

44 45

“ It would be appreciated if our barmy army could pump up the volume again at Balmoral Stadium today”

I will begin by giving special praise to the Cove Rangers fans who made the effort to be at our last two games, away to Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup and to Falkirk in cinch League One. It was a massive boost to see and hear you when we walked out for both games. The weather was absolutely atrocious when we played the cup replay down in Dumfries, with a lot of us fearing Storm Barra might cause the game to be postponed at a late stage.

The travelling conditions were also terrible, so those fans who still made the long trek to Palmerston Park deserve every plaudit going.

I also have to applaud you all for the sheer volume of the backing you gave us, I reckon it was the noisiest backing I’ve heard from Cove Rangers fans at any away game I’ve played in for the club. We were all delighted we were able to reward you with a 3-0 win that sets up another big away day for you in the cup, when we play Hibs at Easter Road next month.

Our fans were out in force again at the Falkirk Stadium, for what we all knew was going to be another tough match. It was great to see many of you wearing Paul Hartley masks and the backing you gave us was, once again, exceptional.

>>>

— Captain’s view

>>>

It’s no coincidence that we were again able to come away with a 3-0 win, which was no mean feat against full-time opponents who are rightly expected to be challenging for promotion from our division this season.

It would be appreciated if our barmy army could pump up the volume again at Balmoral Stadium today for our clash against Alloa Athletic, one of my former clubs.

We have learned very quickly that you can never take anything for granted in this league, which seems to throw up surprise results every week.

If you turn up and play to your best then you can have great days, like the one we had down at Falkirk.

But the clubs in the division are so evenly matched it’s just as easy to suffer a bad result if you drop standards, even by the smallest of margins.

We will need to guard against that this afternoon if we want to maintain our lead at the top of the table as we move towards some equally challenging league fixtures before we face that big cup tie with Hibs.

Backing similar to what we got down in Dumfries and Falkirk would be a massive help. This is my final column before Christmas, so I would like to end by wishing you and your families the very best for the festive period.

Stay safe too and hopefully we will see you back at Balmoral Stadium on Boxing Day.

CYCR! Mitch Megginson

46 47

— 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

48 49

— Today’s team lines

Cove Rangers FC Manager - Paul Hartley

Alloa Athletic FC Manager - Barry Ferguson

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

8.

9.

10.

11.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

23.

24.

25.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

31.

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

Scott Taggart Daniel Church Craig Howie Andy Graham (C) Mark Durnan Kevin Cawley Jon Robertson Ben Armour Alan Trouten Steven Boyd Stefan Scougall Mark Lamont Charlie Gilmour Adam King Jordan Armstrong Conor Sammon Mouhamed Niang Cameron O’Donnell Keir Burt (GK) Euan Henderson Fernandy Mendy Lucas Williamson Tom Leighton Liam Evans David Hutton (GK)

Today’s referee - Steven Reid Today’s assistant referees - Drew Kirkland, Jordan Cousland Team lines sponsor