02 UPCOMING FIXTURES
03 MATCHDAY 50/50 TICKETS
The half-time 50/50 tickets are available from the 50/50 Stand beside the Home Pie Hut!
Not only will you be in with a chance to win a cash prize, but your ticket also gives you 10% off at Sea Salt + Sole –valid on matchday onl
50/50 DRAW WINNER
The half-time draw at the inverness Caledonian Thistle match was claimed by Gary Wilson with winning ticket number 171948
04 FIXTURES ROUND-UP
The search for our first League One win of the season goes on after back-to-back defeats since the last match programme.
In the first of those, we matched promotion favourites Caley Thistle pretty much all of the way with a disciplined defensive performance, only to lose out to a deflected strike midway through the second half. Paul Hartley’s selection options had been further limited for that one with Blair Yule missing through illness and joining Fraser Fyvie and Arron Darge on the sidelines.
Declan Glass had returned but was forced to limp off after just seventeen minutes, meaning Mitch Megginson had to drop back into the heart of the midfield.
Seven days later we were at The Indodrill and despite creating a few chances early on, went in 2-0 behind as Alloa threatened to run riot. The manager changed formation with less than half an hour on the clock, which helped us settle, and the team went on to dominate after the interval. Megginson’s fine strike gave us hope, and there were a number of opportunities for the boys to snatch a leveller, but the home side held out to claim the points.
In midweek, we resumed our KDM Evolution Trophy campaign, but despite a dominant attacking display, the team had to settle for a draw. They fell behind after the interval, Ryan Harrington levelling the game with a powerful header, and although they continued to put the pressure on, and created numerous chances, were unable to find a winner.
06 FIXTURES ROUND-UP
Sept 13 INV CAL THIS 0-1
(3-5-2) Mutch; J. Eguaibor, Doyle (c), Parker; Bisland, Glass (Mylchreest 17), Strachan, O’Donnell, Harrington; Megginson, D. Eguaibor
Substitutes: Demus, Ochmanski, Donaldson, Milnes
Sept 20 ALLOA ATH. 1-2 Megginson (69)
(3-5-2) Mutch; J. Eguaibor (Mylchreest 29), Doyle (c), Parker; Bisland, Strachan (Ochmanski 65), Yule, O’Donnell, Harrington; Megginson, D. Eguaibor Substitutes: Demus, Donaldson, Milnes
Sept 23 HIBERNIAN B 1-1 Harrington (73)
(4-2-3-1) Demus; Bisland, J. Eguaibor, Parker, Ochmanski; Strachan (Yule 63), O’Donnell; Mylchreest, Milnes (Donaldson 63), Harrington (c); D. Eguaibor
Substitutes: Mutch
08 KELTY HEARTS HEAD TO HEAD
We take on Kelty Hearts on Saturday in what will be just a tenth meeting of the sides. The first encounter was a League Cup tie in July 2022 when our visitors raced into a 2-0 lead and went on to secure the points with a 3-2 victory, despite goals from Fraser Fyvie and Robbie Leitch
The eight fixtures since have followed a bizarre pattern with the four games at Balmoral ending in draws – three of them finishing 2-2 – and Cove emerging successful from all four trips to New Central Park.
The initial league head-to-head came in September 2023, and having won just once in our opening five matches, we found ourselves two behind after just thirty-five minutes. Mitch Megginson hauled us back into it before the break, and grabbed his second from the penalty spot to set up a dominant half, but we were unable to find the winner. That draw did however set up an eleven game unbeaten run.
Our first ever trip to Kelty ended in a 1-0 victory, Rumarn Burrell grabbing the only goal in November, and two months later the Fife side secured another 2-2 draw at Balmoral, but this
Burrell and Megginson had us coasting, 2-0 up at the interval, but Alfie Bavidge reduced the arrears and Adam Corbett netted the leveller soon after
We were back in Kelty in March 2024, and again Mitch Megginson scored against the Fifers, expertly guiding home an inch-perfect Fyvie free-kick to clinch the victory early in the second half.
Six months later, the side earned a 3-1 success down there Mitch again netted, bundling home the opener, but Ross Cunningham levelled, and the game looked to be heading for a draw when Blair Yule unleashed a rocket into the top corner. Findlay Marshall’s fine finish minutes later was the icing on the cake.
The next meeting, in December 2024, was a drab goalless affair, but when we ventured south the following March, it was anything but, the team romping to a 4-0 stroll Mitch Megginson maintained his fine record against Kelty, heading home what was his 100th league goal for the club in the SPFL. Fraser Fyvie netted twice after the break and Adam Emslie notched his tenth of the season, rubber-stamping a win which moved us second in the table.
The most recent encounter was back in April at Balmoral, and it followed what has become a familiar pattern This time it was Cove who went 2-0 ahead, Emslie opening the scoring and Mitch netting for the sixth time in eight league meetings to double our advantage. The visitors hit back after the break, Johnston and Cunningham securing yet another 2-2 draw.
10 LEWIS O’DONNELL
We were delighted earlier this month to announce the signing of highly-rated Dundee United midfielder Lewis O’Donnell, who joined us on loan, initially until January.
Lewis was well known to Cove Rangers fans, having played regularly against us for both Kelty Hearts and Queen of the South during loan spells in each of the past couple of seasons. He now has more than sixty first team games under his belt and made his United debut in the Premier Sports Cup in July 2024.
Having had to be patient in the transfer market this summer, Paul Hartley was delighted to have bolstered his squad:
“Lewis was a player I have been tracking since his Kelty days, he caught my eye then and always did well against us, so I’m really pleased to have finally got him here.
“He’s a box-to-box midfielder who will fit in really well with the way we want to play, and I have no doubt he has the talent to make a big impression with us. On top of that, he has picked up a fair bit of experience now and knows the league and the teams we’ll be playing against, which is a big help.”
Lewis, who has taken the number twenty-two shirt, has already made a real impact in the four games he has so far played, and said he was keen to make the move as soon as he heard Cove were interested:
“Definitely, I remember playing against Cove in the past and they played some really good football, which suits me, so I was delighted, and it’s been great getting back out on the pitch again.
“You grow in confidence the more games you play, and this will be my third year in League One and it’s a very good level in my opinion. I will be doing what I can to try to help push the team back up the league table.”
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16 25/26 SEASON STATS
Date
15/07/2025
19/07/2025
22/07/2025
26/07/2025
02/08/2025
09/08/2025
12/08/2025
16/08/2025
23/08/2025
26/08/2025
30/08/2025
06/09/2025
13/09/2025
20/09/2025
23/09/2025
27/09/2025
04/10/2025
11/10/2025
18/10/2025
25/10/2025
01/11/2025
08/11/2025
11/11/2025
Fixture
TheSpartans
Falkirk
Brechin
Queen’sPark
QueenoftheSouth
Stenhousemuir
TheSpartans
Montrose
Peterhead
DundeeB
HamiltonAcademical
Elgin
InvernessCThistle
AlloaAthletic
HibernianB
KeltyHearts
EastFife
DundeeUtdB
Stenhousemuir
Montrose
Peterhead
InvernessCThistle
Forfar
KDMTrophy
KDMTrophy
SPFL1 SPFL1
KDMTrophy
SPFL1
SPFL1
SPFL1
SPFL1
KDMTrophy
Date
15/11/2025
22/11/2025
06/12/2025
13/12/2025
20/12/2025
27/12/2025
03/01/2026
10/01/2026
24/01/2026
31/01/2026
07/02/2026
14/02/2026
21/02/2026
28/02/2026
07/03/2026
14/03/2026
21/03/2026
28/03/2026
04/04/2026 11/04/2026
18/04/2026
25/04/2026
02/05/2026 Fixture
HamiltonAcademical
AlloaAthletic
QueenoftheSouth
HamiltonAcademical
AlloaAthetlic
QueenoftheSouth
Stenhousemuir
Peterhead InvernessCT
HamiltonAcademical
Management Sponsors
Player Sponsors
20 SPONSORSHIPS
22.LewisO’Donnell
21 UPCOMING EVENTS
22 A VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
GoodafternoonandwelcometoBalmoral Stadiumforwhatpromisestobeahuge matchforusagainstKeltyHearts.
Givenhowtheleaguetablestands,even thisearlyitlookslikebeinganimportant ninetyminutesforbothsides,andifwe canfinallysecureourfirstleaguewinof thecampaignitwouldbeamassiveboost foreveryone.
There’snogettingawayfromit,it’sabig game.
We’reinapositionwedon’twanttobein, butthat’swhereweare,andwe’reallinit togetherfightinghard.
Thefocusallweekhasbeenonrestingthe players,keepingthemniceandfresh,and gettingitrightagainstKelty,andweneed togointothegamewiththeright mentality.
Wedosohavingplayedsomereallygood footballoverthepastgameandahalf.
Itwaspleasingtorecoverinthewaywe diddownatAlloalastweek,whenwe mighteasilyhavesnatchedadrawfrom 2-0down,anddespitebeingunderstrength,theteamcarriedthatintothe midweekcup-tie.
Therewasalotofgoodplay,andwe createdsomanychances;nowit’s aboutturningthatintogoals.We needtobeabitmoreruthlessinthe finalthird,andthatwouldhelpto breedconfidence.Itmightbea scrappygoalthatsetsusoff,that mightbeallweneed,andthen hopefullyitwillbuildfromthere.
Onewincanturnyourseason around,we’veseenthathappenso manytimes,andourfirstobjectiveis tocatchKelty.Ifwegetthevictory, thatputsusaheadofthem,andwe canstartlookingtogetrightback intothepack. Theywillseethematchasbeingjust asimportantforthembecause they’vealsohadtheirstruggles,but weneedtomakesurewetakecare ofourselves,usethehome advantage,andsecurethatfirstwin.
TheonethingIwouldsayisthatI cannotfaulttheplayers.Their attitudehasbeenfirst-class,they knowthepositionwe’rein,andthe spiritinthecampremainshigh. They’reworkingeversohardandI hopetheygettherewardthey deservethisafternoon.
Enjoythegame!
24 CLUB PARTNERS
Principal Club Partner
Principal Stadium Partner
25 CLUB INFORMATION
Alan
Football
Goalkeeping
Performance
Physiotherapist
Sports
Kit
Assistant
Club
General
Sales
Head
Digital
Club
Supporter
Child
Club Chaplain
26 CLUB HONOURS
Scottish League 1
Winners 21/22
Highland League
Winners
Runners-Up
Scottish Qualifying Cup (North)
Winners
Runners-Up
Highland League Cup
Winners
Runners-Up
Aberdeenshire Cup
Winners
Runners-Up
Aberdeenshire Shield
Winners
Runners-Up
Scottish League 2
Winners 19/20
‘00-’01,‘07-’08,‘08-’09,‘12-’13,‘15-’16,‘17-’18,‘18-’19
‘89-’90,‘92-’93,‘94-’95,‘95-’96,‘09-’10,‘11-’12,‘16-’17
‘90-’91,‘00-’01
‘88-’89,‘91-’92,‘01-’02,‘03-’04
‘94-’95,‘99-’00,‘04-’05,‘14-’15,‘16-’17,‘18-’19
‘90-’91,‘92-’93,‘95-’96,‘97-’98,‘05-’06,‘07-’08,‘11-’12
‘01-’02,‘10-’11,‘18-’19
‘92-’93,‘94-’95,‘16-’17,‘17-’18
‘90-’91,‘00-’01,‘08-’09,‘17-’18
‘94-’95,‘12-’13,‘15-’16
CLUB SHOP
