— Upcoming fixtures
A Sat 24th Oct, 2020 Peterhead v Cove Rangers Scottish League 1
H Sat 31st Oct 2020 Cove Rangers v Partick Thistle Scottish League 1
H Sat 7th Nov, 2020 Cove Rangers v Forfar Athletic Scottish League 1
A Tue 10th Nov, 2020 Dundee v Cove Rangers
— Club Information
Cove Rangers F.C.
Balmoral Stadium
Wellington Circle, Altens Aberdeen, AB12 3JG
Te 01224 392111 Fax 01224 392859 www.coverangersfc.com
Twitter @coverangersfc Facebook @coverangersfc Instagram @coverangersfc
Honorary President - Alan McRae
Directors
Keith Moorhouse - Chairman
Graeme Reid - Vice Chairman/Financial
Controller
Duncan Little - Secretary/Stadium Manager
Darren Anderson
Grant Moorhouse
Betfred League Cup
Safety Officers - John Morgan & Bill Ogilvie
Committee - Michael Coull, Mike Pirie, Richard Forbes & Gordon Taylor
Director of Football - John Sheran
Football Manager - Paul Hartley
Assistant Manager - Gordon Young
Fitness Coach - Tam Ritchie
Goalkeeping Coach - Alan Combe
Head of Youth Development- Gary Hake
Performance Analyst - Ryan Docherty
Physios - Donal Gallacher & Eilidh McGregor
Kit Manager - Vacancy
Club Doctor - David Fowler
Commercial Manager - Angela Bruce
Media Officer - Charlie Allan
Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer - Kate Dean
Club Chaplain - Dougie Simpson
ALAN MCRAE OBE
Honorary club president Alan McRae says he is ‘proud but also shocked’ to have been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s Birthday honours list.
Everyone at Cove Rangers sends their congratulations to Alan, who has been associated with the club for more than half a century, for what is well deserved recognition of his services to football, from grassroots to the very highest levels.
Former club player and chairman - and Scottish Football Association President - Alan celebrated on the day his OBE was officially confirmed by going to Balmoral Stadium to see us lose 2-1 to Premiership side Hibs in the Betfred League Cup.
Alan was also happy to do an interview for the website, which took place in the stand at the Balmoral Stadium that was named after him to mark the hard work he did to send us on the long road that eventually led to playing at SPFL level.
When asked how he feels about being awarded the OBE, Alan replied: “I’m obviously very proud and feel extremely privileged to have been recognised in this manner during the exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in this moment because of the coronavirus. It’s extremely humbling along with the more than 400 people, from the likes of the NHS, who have also been recognised for the fantastic work they have done in recent times.”
Alan first played for Cove Rangers in 1969, at amateur level, before becoming club chairman and leading us through the Junior ranks and up into the Highland League before handing the reins to present chairman Keith Moorhouse.
Alan was also chairman of the Highland League from 1994 to 1997 and was appointed president of the SFA in 2015, a post he held until his retirement in the summer of last year.
“WHETHER IT BE FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, PLAYERS OR FANS, I KNOW I WOULD NEVER HAVE RECEIVED THE OBE WITHOUT THEM.”
Alan was quick to give credit to - and thank - his family and what he described as “the countless people” who supported him throughout his long and successful career as a football administrator. “So many people come immediately to mind when something as special as this happens,” added Alan.
“I obviously have to thank my family, they put up with a lot and made so many sacrifices, through some difficult times, to allow me to follow my passion with football.
“I would never have enjoyed such a memorable career without their support. On the football side, it would be impossible to name everyone that I’m indebted to. It’s been a long, long, journey and there’s been a lot of people helping me along the way. Whether it be friends, colleagues, players or fans, I know I would never have received the OBE without them.”
Despite his high profile roles with the SFA - and with UEFA as a match delegate - Alan continued to support Cove and was heavily involved in the planning and construction of Balmoral Stadium. Now that he is retired he plans to spend a fair amount of his spare time watching his beloved Cove in action, when he isn’t out on the golf course!
“Watching us run Hibs as close as we did was a reminder of just how amazing a journey the club has made over the years. When we first left the amateur leagues there was always the dream that we would eventually go up through the leagues and be involved at as high a level as possible.
I’m already on record praising the efforts that Keith, the board and so many people behind the scenes made to eventually turn that dream into a reality.
I tried to go to as many games as I could last season because Cove were exciting to watch and showed that the ambition that was there when we started on the long road to the SPFL is still as strong, if not stronger.”
“I’m really looking forward to witnessing us trying to take that next step foward, despite the fact these are very difficult times because fans aren’t able to attend games. Hopefully that will change soon, we really need to get fans back into stadiums because that’s what football is about. Until then, if I’m allowed, I will be there as always backing Cove and available to help them if they need me.”
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PAUL HARTLEY
The excitement felt by all of us about finally returning to league action is tempered by the knowledge there won’t be any fans inside Balmoral Stadium to watch the game. It’s simply not football without supporters in the stands.
You only need cast your mind back to what it was like when we played Edinburgh City in our first League Two fixture last year to understand what I mean.
The atmosphere inside the stadium that day was incredible and helped to inspire our lads to mark our first ever game at SPFL level in memorable fashion. Unfortunately, that fan power won’t be there as we start another great adventure for our club by entertaining East Fife in our first game at League One level.
But we know many of our fans will still be here in spirit and also watching us via the live coverage on the club’s television channel. We will will do everything in our powers to get a positive result for you.
It would be great if we could begin our League One campaign as impressively as we did our League Two one. But we must remember we have moved up a division, which naturally means we are going to be up against far tougher opponentsevery week. I’m sure we shall see plenty evidence of that in the meeting with East Fife.
HARTLEY
— View from the dugout
Some of you reading this will remember their manager Darren Young from his days as captain of Aberdeen. Darren was also my skipper when I managed Alloa Athletic, so I know him very well. He has done a fantastic job at East Fife over the last couple of years. They will give us the sternest of tests in what I’m expecting to be one of the toughest matches we will face at Balmoral Stadium this term.
We are going to have to be up for that challenge if we want to maintain our amazing home record at SPFL level. We won all 14 of our home matches last term - but that was then, in the division beneath this one. The players know only their very best will do if we hope to continue that perfect record.
The build-up we’ve had to the campaign means we are facing East Fife in a confident frame of mind. I’m happy with how our recruitment went during the summer. We still have a tight squad, but strong competition in every area. The players also deserve credit for returning to work - after a longer than desired summer break - in great shape and for the effort they have put in during what was a short, but intense, pre-season. I was pleased with what they gave us in the seven games we have played to date, which included the two Betfred League Cup ties against Hibs and Brora Rangers.
It was good to have two such contrasting competitive fixtures immediately before beginning our league campaign. The games offered different sorts of challenges and were perfect preparation for what lies ahead of us this afternoon.
The players took encouragement from how they were able to push one of the leading sides in the Premiership all the way in the first match. They then had to dig deep to come out on top, albeit on penalties, against Brora. We are in excellent shape for what I have always maintained is the priority, the league campaign.
Stay safe ...and enjoy the game.
Paul Hartley
“IT’S SIMPLY NOT FOOTBALL WITHOUT SUPPORTERS IN THE STANDS”
MATCH REPORT
COVE RANGERS FC 1
HIBERNIAN FC 2
Betfred League Cup
Saturday Oct 10th @ Balmoral Stadium
COMPETITIVE FOOTBALL RETURNS TO BALMORAL
Competitive football finally returned to an almost empty Balmoral Stadium when we narrowly lost out to Hibs in a thrilling opener to our Betfred League Cup Group B campaign.
The Edinburgh side, who are currently third in the Scottish Premiership, edged it 2-1 but it took an astonishing last minute save from their keeper Dillon Barnes to deny Jamie Semple the equaliser that could have sent the tie into the drama of a penalty shoot-out to claim an extra point.
Defender Daniel Higgins had fired us ahead in the first half with a stunning free-kick but Hibs responded with second half strikes by Jamie Gullan and Kevin Nisbet to edge the first ever meeting between the clubs.
Only the players, officials and media were allowed inside the ground to see our first competitive outing since March. But the Cove fans tuned in to the live screening on Premier TV - and the small group who watched from the public pathway overlooking Balmoral Stadium - will have been pleased with the way we pushed our fulltime opponents, who were playing their 12th competitive match of the season, all the way in our first meaningful game for 211 days.
We were forced to go without injured trio Fraser Fyvie - a former Hibee - Ryan Strachan and Seb Ross, but took the game to our visitors from the off. Strong running down the left from Adam Livingstone and a dangerous cross from the other wing by Mitch Megginson saw us force a couple of corners inside as many minutes.
Jamie Masson took the second one and found Scott Ross, who was unlucky to direct his 12 yard header off target. Leighton McIntosh then got in behind the Hibs defence on the right but his cross back over from the byline just evaded Megginson at the edge of the six yard box before the ball was booted clear.
Hibs responded by almost taking the lead in the 10th minute from their first real attack. Martin Boyle crossed the ball in from the right and Christian Doidge was unfortunate to see his downward header bounce back up off the pitch and strike the Cove crossbar before the ball was cleared.
We went ahead in the 17th minute after David Gray was penalised for fouling Masson 22 yards out. HIGGINS took the free-kick and curled an unstoppable effort around the Hibs defensive wall and into the bottom corner, to the right of diving visiting keeper Barnes.
It could have been 2-0 in the 20th minute when Masson found Megginson from a freekick but the Cove skipper’s 16-yard shot was well saved by Barnes. Cove keeper Stuart McKenzie matched that with an outstanding save from a close range shot by Boyle on the half hour.
Hibs midfielder Stephen Mallan also fired a 25-yard free-kick wide a couple of minutes later but there was no doubt Cove deserved to be ahead at the interval. The visitors brought Gullan on for Drey Wright before the restart and the Hibs sub made an immediate impact by equalising in the 49th minute. A swift passing move from Hibs ended with Boyle squaring the ball from the right for GULLAN to fire home from seven yards.
Cove immediately went in search of a second though. Masson wasn’t too far off target with a 20-yard free-kick before Megginson sent his shot just wide after collecting a neat lay-off from McIntosh. Hibs went ahead the hour in controversial circumstances. Higgins appeared to be fouled midway through the Cove half but referee Euan Anderson awarded the freekick to Hibs.
They took it quickly, before the Cove back line could reorganise and when the ball reached Melker Hallberg on the right his cross was expertly volleyed home from 15 yards by NISBET.
We were unlucky again in the 68th minute when Megginson and McIntosh carved open the Hibs defence with a quick exchange of passes. The Cove captain was only inches away from getting on the return ball from
his strike partner. Hibs also brought on Kyle Magennis and his shot from a tight angle in the right was beaten away to safety by the diving McKenzie.
It needed a top drawer save from Hibs keeper Barnes to deny Cove substitute Semple a dramatic 89th minute equaliser. The midfielder, who is with us on loan from Motherwell, perfectly hit an acrobatic volley from the outside edge of the Hibs area that was going in until Barnes stretched to deflect the ball over the crossbar with his fingertips.
The Cove players were unhappy referee Anderson failed to spot Megginson was being held as he attempted to get on the end of the resulting corner. Higgins also appeared to be fouled in the Hibs area deep into injury-time but the referee again waved play on as the Premiership side held out for their narrow win.
Cove Rangers McKenzie, Scott Ross, Milne, Graham, Higgins, Yule, Scully, Masson, McIntosh, Megginson, Livingstone (Semple 71).
Subs: Leighton, Watson, McAllister, Brown, Demus.
Hibernian Barnes, Gray, Wright (Gullan 46), Doidge, Boyle, Mallan, Nisbet, Stevenson, Hallberg, McGinn (Magennis 58), McGregor.
Subs: Samson, Mackie, Shanley, Elder.
Referee: Euan Anderson.
GOALKEEPERS
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DEFENDERS
Paul Hartley
Ryan Strachan
Gordon Young
Tom Leighton
Stuart McKenzie
Harry Milne
Adam Livingstone
Balint Demas
Scott Ross
Ross Graham
Broque
MEET THE NEW VOICE OF COVE RANGERS TV!
Former BBC Scotland Radio and TV broadcaster Scott Davie will be the man on the mic delivering the live commentary at our League One opener against East Fifeand all of our games at Balmoral Stadium this season.
We decided to put football fanatic - and Raith Rovers fan - Scott on the spot ahead of his first official outing for Cove Rangers.
SCOTT DAVIE
— The new voice of Cove Rangers TV
Are you looking forward to your debut as match day commentator for Cove Rangers?
Very much so. I’m honoured and privileged to have been chosen to be part of this exciting new venture for the club. Everyone knows about the huge strides Cove have taken in recent years and launching their own television channel was a logical next step.
It’s what all the ambitious clubs have done to forge stronger links with their fans and offer them another way to see their team, which is even more important at this time, when fans are unable to actually attend games.
So what can viewers of Cove Rangers TV expect from you?
I like to think I will be able to give them added value for the money they have paid to watch games. While doing radio commentaries for the BBC I was aware of the need to be descriptive because you are acting as the eyes for the listeners. Television commentary is different though, the fans can already see what is going on.
My job is more about filling the gaps, say during stoppages in play, by delivering interesting facts and maybe speaking about why key incidents in the game might have happened. That will involve hours of preparation, gathering statistics about both sets of players, club form and history of previous meetings, a whole load of things. The aim is to come up with something that will be of interest to our viewers and have them thinking ‘I can’t believe I didn’t know that!’
How would you describe your style of commentary - are you like Archie McPherson or any of the other well known Scottish ones?
I’m certainly nothing like Archie, I don’t have the hair, although mine is fast disappearing. I like to think I have my own style, I haven’t consciously tried to mimic any of the ones who were about when I was younger.
The only one I really paid much attention to was Peter Jones, who did a lot of the games in England for the BBC when I was growing up. His delivery was clear and precise, if anything that’s the one thing I have tried to match when I’m doing my commentaries.
What was it that made you want to become a match commentator?
I’m mad about football but hopeless as a player, so this was the next best route to being involved in some manner. I started out covering Raith Rovers games for hospital radio In Kirkcaldy, where I’m from, at the age of 16.
I’ve been a Rovers fan all of my life, my father Bob is 87 and still a season ticket holder, so getting to actually cover their games was my dream job. It meant I got to interview manager Gordon Wallace, who was my childhood hero. I didn’t think life could get any much better when that happened. That led to doing reports for Radio Tay - with the first coming from Dens Park in 1983 when Dundee United beat Dundee to clinch winning the Premier League title.
We weren’t allowed to actually commentate on the whole match because the BBC had the rights. But we were allowed to cover the final 20 minutes and all the celebrations. I was even allowed to travel on the open topped bus with the United players the next day, it was an amazing experience.
How did you end up working for the BBC?
I have Richard Gordon, the BBC’s star football presenter now, to thank for that. I moved up to Aberdeen in 1990 to work as a freelance newspaper reporter, supplying copy on the Dons to a number of national newspapers. The BBC were looking for someone to also provide radio reports from games and Richard kindly put my name forward and I got the job. That led to doing actual commentaries, including travelling to 27 countries to cover European ties. I have a lot to be grateful to Richard for.
What has been the most memorable match you have commentated on?
I wish it could have been the Bayern Munich v Raith Rovers UEFA Cup match in Germany in 1995 but I was only there as a newspaper reporter. Looking up at the scoreboard at half-time and seeing it read Bayern 0, Raith 1 was something I will never forget. But the game I actually commented on that stands out was Aberdeen’s 2-2 draw with Bayern at Pittodrie in 2008.
There was an amazing atmosphere that night and it was hard not to get caught up in all of the excitement. I also enjoyed the
experience of commenting on the second leg from Allianz Arena, even though the Dons lost. The draw with Dnipro, when Darren Mackie scored what become known as the £1 million goal, was also memorable, that was a great European adventure for Aberdeen under the management of Jimmy Calderwood, who was really good fun to deal with.
Who is the best co-commentator you have worked with?
I worked with so many, so it would be unkind to single anyone out. The one I worked with the most was Aberdeen legend Willie Miller. He is very knowledgeable and has a very dry sense of humour, so it was always great fun. I also worked with Cove Rangers manager Paul Hartley, he was the co-commentator when the Dons played a European tie in Cyprus a couple of years ago.
Paul was also very professional, but then you would expect me to say that if I want my spell working for Cove Rangers to last any length of time! Hopefully I will get away with that one, I’ve known Paul since he was a youngster playing for my beloved Raith.
Listen to Scott on CRFC TV — Subscribe now at an introductory price of £99 for a season pass or PPV for £10.
— Season 2020/21 statistics
J.Semple1
MITCH MEGGINSON
WE ARE ALL BUZZING WITH ANTICIPATION BECAUSE WE ARE FINALLY ABOUT TO RETURN TO LEAGUE ACTION...
...It has been a long seven months! It would obviously have been better if our fans were allowed inside Balmoral Stadium to see us make our League One debut.
I will never forget walking out last year to a packed stadium for our League Two opener against Edinburgh City. The Cove Rangers fans were incredible that afternoon and played a huge part in what was a comprehensive victory over one of the main title challengers.
That win installed real belief in us and I wish we were able to tap into the energy and enthusiasm shown by our supporters on that historic day for the club again. Unfortunately, for the moment, we can’t.
It means we are going to have to create our own atmosphere, find our own ways of compensating for not having our fans cheering us on, until the time comes when they are finally allowed back in to watch.
—
The importance of this particular clash - the club’s first at this level too - will be more than enough to do that. As will the thrill of being returning to league action after months of wondering if we would ever get to play football at all.
Many of the Cove Rangers fans who would have been at the game will instead be watching the action live on our new television channel. We have already spoken about how eager we are to do well for all of you. The knowledge we are up against an East Fife side well established at League One level will also keep us on our toes.
They were in the mix for a play-off spot, and still in contention for the title itself, when the coronavirus virus brought last season to a premature close. I know their manager Darren Young from our spell together playing for Alloa Athletic. He has been well praised for what he has done so far at East Fife.
I also know a lot of their players, such as Scott Agnew, who was my teammate at Dumbarton. It’s clear we are going to have to be right on our game from the first whistle if we are to have any hope of competing with them this afternoon.
We have waited a long time for the opportunity to finally play in League One. It’s here now and I can promise you we will be giving everything we have to show we are good enough to compete at this level.
CYCR!
Mitch Megginson
Labrokes League Division 2 Winners: 2019-20
Highland League Winners: 2000-01, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2012-13, 2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19
Runners-up: 1989-90, 1992-93, 1994-95, 199596, 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 Runnersup: 1986-87
Inter-League Trophy Winners: 2001-02
Cove Rangers FC
Manager - Paul Hartley
1. Stuart McKenzie.
2. Tom Leighton
3. Harry Milne
4. Connor Scully
5. Scott Ross
6. Ryan Strachan
7. Broque Watson
8. Blair Yule
9. Mitchel Megginson (C)
10. Jamie Masson
11. Leighton McIntosh
12. Daniel Higgins
13. Rory McAllister
14. Adam Livingstone
15. Jamie Semple
16. Seb Ross
18. Jordon Brown
21. Balint Demus
24. Fraser Fyvie
Team colours
Blue & white jerseys
Blue Shorts
White Socks
Today’s referee: Gavin Ross
East Fife FC
Manager - Darren Young
1. Brett Long
2. Aaron Dunsmore
3. Chris Higgins
4. Stewart Murdoch
5. Ross Dunlop
6. Craig Watson
7. Danny Denholm
8. Patrick Slattery
9. Ryan Wallace 10. Kevin Smith (C)
11. Scott Agnew 12. Danny Swanson 14. Liam Watt 15. Jack Hamilton
16. Ross Davidson
17. Josh McConville
18. Liam Newton 19. Thomas Collins
20. Aiden McLaughlin
21. Jordan Hart
Team colours
White and red jerseys
Red shorts
White Socks
Today’s assistant referees: Stuart Hodge, Ian Hart