The Citizen - Issue 1 - 2023

MANAGER ALAN MAYBURY

Good afternoon, everybody.

We’re a couple of weeks into training for the new season, and it’s good to be back. Playing Hibs will be a really tough test for us but we’re looking forward to it. Over the last couple of years we have not been able to organise to play our neighbours before the season starts, so it’s so good to finally get this match played.

As always several of our squad were out of contract at the end of June. We have re-signed a lot of the squad and that was our first objective. John Robertson and Robbie Mutch have

chance at the Championship play-offs. Over the campaign all our statistics were up from 2021/22. Our mentality is always having a go, always aiming to get on the front foot and score goals, and never just sitting in. We want to win every game. It has worked well for us over the last couple of years. We’re hoping for another exciting season. Enjoy the game, Alan

Over the campaign all our statistics were up from 2021/22

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CHAIRMAN JOHN DICKSON

Firstly, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Meadowbank Stadium for this week’s curtainraising friendly against our very near neighbours Hibernian. I am still pinching myself to believe that I am writing this, given that only a few short weeks ago the opportunity to lead this club was not even on the agenda. However, opportunities like this have to be seized on, and that is exactly what I did. The Club holds a special place in my heart, and it is incredible that my first match as Chairman is a meeting with Premiership opposition. I am extremely grateful to Ben Kensell for arranging this match with me, as part of our ongoing strategic partnership, and I look forward to working with him and his team as the season goes on.

Last season we were many people’s favourites to go straight back down to League 2. However, we defied and exceeded all expectations by comfortably surviving, and in fact challenging for the promotion playoff place. Whilst we have had to say goodbye to a few key members of last season’s squad, we have retained the vast majority and have already started adding new faces, handing promising full

back Quinn Mitchell his first professional contract and bringing in Robbie Leitch from Cove Rangers. This year’s Cinch League 1 will again be a very challenging division, with several full-time teams to test ourselves against, as well as familiar old foes such as Stirling Albion and Annan Athletic joining us in the third tier this season after their terrific promotionwinning seasons. It is no secret that I am actively pursuing a return to our traditional club identity; perhaps in my next programme notes I will be able to tell you more about this, but for now I will close by thanking our loyal supporters for their endorsement of my acquisition of the club; without fans football is nothing and our fans are as passionate and motivated as any in the SPFL – if not more so, given the circumstances of the last twelve months. I assure them that they will see a club working on all fronts to deliver as positive an experience as possible for them, both on and off the park, in the season ahead.

Yours in sport, J D

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WELCOME TO MEADOWBANK

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, and welcome back once more to Meadowbank Stadium and to the start of our second season in SPFL League One. Our guests today are our close neighbours Hibernian, who finished fifth in last season’s cinch Premiership and will be taking part in their opening ties in the Europa Conference League later this month; and we hope that both our sides are embarking on the start of a successful season.

Although the very first friendly of the pre-season campaign is unlikely to give a definitive impression of how the coming months are going to pan out, we hope that both sides will see some encouraging hints that they are embarking on the start of a successful season. We welcome Hibs and look at

their prospects starting on page 12 of this week’s Citizen.

In the case of Edinburgh City – at the time of writing we have not yet received official sanction to revert to our original title, but as you may have noticed from the front cover, that is what we will be calling ourselves – 2022/23 was, on the park at least, the greatest in our 95year history. Following our first-ever promotion within the Scottish League proper, success to us would have been finishing eighth in the table, a single goal above the relegation play-off spot. As it turned out, in a ten-club division with four full-time sides, we were in a promotion play-off position (fourth or above) for almost three-quarters of the season, and even topped the table for a couple of weeks in October.

■ The Stadium, from Google Maps. Ain’t so many trees in the foreground these days.

AND COMMENT

Not for the first time, an injury crisis late in the season affected our results, and we slipped out of promotion contention in mid-March and recorded only one victory in our last nine matches, dropping to sixth place on the last day of the season – a disappointingly subdued end to 2022/23, but a massive triumph overall.

By our standards. Of course, to supporters of a side of the status of Hibernian this might seem like very small beer indeed; but not much more than a decade ago Edinburgh City were playing

in a largely amateur League on a dogtoilet pitch at Fernieside. We are proud of what we have achieved since then, and particularly over the last two seasons. But it’s all change at Edinburgh City for 2023/24. The members of the Club Board – Tom Tracy, Jim Brown, and Calum Smith – have all stepped down, and a group headed by new Chairman John Dickson has control. The interim Board consists of John, plus David Armstrong, Alick Milne and newly-appointed Supporters’ Representative Robert Fallon, although the final composition of the ruling Praesidium is still to be decided.

It cannot be emphasised strongly enough that this is not a hostile takeover, and there is not a jot of illfeeling on either side.

Tom Tracy, CEO and founder of major financial services company Forth Capital, had great plans for the club going forward, and had already invested a great deal of money; but he faced so many obstacles, not a few of them to do with the inadequacies of Meadowbank Stadium as a place to watch football. He had architects draw up plans for a new grandstand which would quadruple the covered capacity of theStadium, only to be told that construction couldn’t possibly start until the half-dozen six-storey housing blocks around the perimeter of the former Commonwealth Stadium site were complete. You can see for yourself how far along that project is.

Tom was head of a group of investors who had big plans for Edinburgh’s third

club, but how could they make any plans, never mind see any returns, when obstacle after obstacle kept appearing in their way? In the end, Tom decided to discontinue his sponsorship and transfer control of the club to the new consortium. At the same time, chairman Jim Brown and vice-chairman Calum Smith also decided to step down. Jim and Calum have been in place since the club were promoted to the SPFL back in 2016, but their involvement with Edinburgh City goes way back before then. Not only were their business and organisational skills of great value to the club behind the scenes, but they were also coaches of the massively successful under-19s sides which hoovered up so many trophies in the early 2000s and provided a great many players to the first eleven – at times our East of Scotland League Premier Division team was entirely made up of players who had stepped up from the under-19s.

■ Calum Smith, Jim Brown and Tom Tracy

Photo: Tommy Lee Photography

SEASON TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIP

Our new Season Ticket deal was announced on Monday – check out the details on the Club Website at https:// fcedinburgh.com/news/join-us-forseason-2023-24/ – and I think it’s fair to say that the fans are happy with the cheapest season tickets in the SPFL. Look at these prices:

ADULTS £155.00

UNDER-18S £85.00

There will also be available a Platinum Season Pass, which will guarantee access to a large number of pre-match, half-time and post-match hospitality benefits, while the club has set up the City Forever Foundation, which will allow fans to directly contribute towards the club’s playing budget – while at the same time gaining a unique line of direct input to the Board and a great range of benefits (see the article on the Website linked to above).

Chairman John Dickson said, “Given the seismic changes around the club

Interested in our sponsorship deals?

To see the many opportunities we have, please contact us on fcedinburgh@outlook.com to get a brochure and further information.

this season, we appreciate that we are releasing our season tickets slightly later than we would have liked. Hopefully by setting our pricing structure as responsibly as possible, this will be received in the spirit in which it is intended. We want as many fans as possible to be able to access our matches, despite the tough financial conditions that sadly exist in the world today.”

On the introduction of City Forever Foundation, John continued “Having consulted with supporters ahead of our takeover, we were aware that given their strength of feeling, many were keen to contribute directly to the club. The City Forever Foundation offers them the chance to assist and we are grateful to anyone who feels able to contribute. The level of fan contribution will be monitored and as certain benchmarks are hit, the fans’ group will gain shares in the club.”

More details in the Kelty Hearts programme in a fortnight’s time.

AND COMMENT

The news for which so many Citizens have been waiting – on Thursday evening the S.F.A. approved our change of name request from F.C. Edinburgh back to Edinburgh City Football Club. There are suggestions that the S.F.A. were getting suspicious about the number of requests for club name changes, and a moratorium was placed on them while the Association considered the matter; but our Club showed examples of the strength of feeling among the support, and pointed out that if the same proportion of Celtic or Rangers supporters voiced similar concerns, the number of objectors would run into the tens of thousands, possibly more. We’ll have more about the whats and wherefores in the next Citizen, but for the time being it’s another piece of good news for the fanbase on top of the new season ticket prices.

MATCH TICKETS

Further to the aforementioned season tickets (see page 11), we can advise that ground admission prices will be £11 for adults and £6 for under-18s – by a long way the cheapest in League 1, and probably the entire SPFL. Unfortunately we cannot continue to offer free admission to accompanied under-12s, although those below school age will continue to be admitted free of charge.

SEASON TICKETS

There’s more good news on the season

ticket front. Not everyone has £155 lost behind the cushions on the settee, but you can set up a Direct Debit to pay for your ticket in three instalments of £52 –or £28.50 for under-18s. Look for the JOIN US graphics on our social media for our season ticket payment plans.

WE WELCOME MILARDS PROPERTY

The start of the League season is still a month away, and Ouzy See already has a sponsor. Milards is is a boutique independent property and letting agents based in Wemyss Place, in Edinburgh. Apart from supporting Ouzy, our new friends are the club’s first-ever shorts sponsors.

WELCOME TO HIBERNIAN

A warm welcome to the players, coaches, officials and supporters of Hibernian Football Club who have made the long journey to Meadowbank Stadium for this season’s friendly match, the first opportunity we have had since the strategic partnership between our two sides started last season (pitch availability was the problem last year).

Hibs will be sending a good strong side to Meadowbank this afternoon, and their supporters will be looking forward to their first look in a Hibs shirt at new signings such as striker Adam Le Fondre signed from Sydney FC, keeper Jojo Wollacott who was last with Charlton Athletic, fellow goalie Max Boruc who has arrived at Easter Road from Polish side Śląsk Wrocław, and former

Wycombe Wanderers winge Jordan Obita, capped nine times for England in various age groups. Ryan Porteous, whose late, late goal at Gayfield Park against Arbroath on 15 April 2017 kept Edinburgh City in the SPFL, moved from Hibs to Watford back in January – and, as we at City predicted some years ago, is now a full Scottish international – but we may renew acquaintance with another player we had on loan from Hibs, Josh Campbell, who was with us in the 2020-21 season and hit nine goals in 30 matches, including a stupendous strike against Queen’s Park at Hampden Park from the edge of the box, hemmed in by five Queens defenders.

Hibs will be wearing their usual green and white this afternoon.

■ A pre-season friendly at the former Meadowbank Stadium in 2016, prior to our first season back in the SPFL (Many thanks to Colin McPherson for the photo)

WELCOME TO HIBERNIAN

■ That pre-season friendly at Meadowbank in July 2016. The respective captains with the Scottish Cup and the Lowland League trophies. (Photo Colin McPherson)

■ And the teams. (Photo Colin McPherson)

WELCOME TO HIBERNIAN

■ The Edinburgh City support. It appears we didn’t need all that space. (Photo Colin McPherson)

■ The Hibs support, with a bit more room to move around than they will have today. (Photo Colin McPherson)

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

In our 95 years of existence, Edinburgh City and Hibernian have met competitively on only ten occasions.

There are good reasons for this. We were Juniors between 1949 and 1956, a social club with no active football side between 1956 and 1986, and non-members of the SFA from 1986 to 1996. The most obvious reason, though, was the lack of opportunity to meet. Between the Wars we were only in the same division for two seasons; and nowadays we are usually out of the Scottish Cup by the time Hibs play their first game.

Even when we did meet in a recognised competition, as often as not we were effectively playing one of the Easter Road men’s lesser sides – in the East of Scotland Shield or the City Cup. However packed the team was with reserves, the matches still counted as First XI. Not that the composition of the sides made much difference. Hibs won eight of the ten encounters. Naturally we will be focussing on the other two. On 10th October 1931 City won 2-1 at Powderhall – our first season in the Scottish League, and our first-ever win. Hibs won the return match 3-1. It took the Easter Road men two seasons to return to the First Division, and in 1932/33 Hibs won the League clashes 4-0 at Powderhall and 7-1 at Easter Road. The biggest shock was on 22nd January 1938 when City beat Hibs in the First Round of the Scottish Cup, played

at Easter Road after City received permission to switch the tie from City Park. Even after losing a midfielder in 15 minutes (no substitutes in those days) Hibs were widely criticised for the defeat and particularly their slackness in front of goal, as in the photograph below. We last met competitively in a Shield semi-final in 1947. Hibs won 9-0. I don’t seem to have any notes on that match.

PLAYER NEWS

The 2023/24 Edinburgh City squad is still being assembled, and full details will appear in the programme for our Viaplay Cup match against Kelty Hearts on Wednesday 19th July. In the meantime, here are details of the signings we have made to date:

here, I’m looking forward to the season ahead, with the new facilities the club have got I think it will make a massive impact for the boys this season.”

LIAM FONTAINE RE-SIGNS

We are delighted to announce that centre-back Liam Fontaine has resigned for the upcoming season.

NEW SIGNING ROBBIE LEITCH

Attacking midfielder Robbie Leitch signed for Edinburgh City on 22nd June. A product of the Motherwell academy, he had a time with Burnley under-21s in 2016 but returned to Scotland a few months later, signing for St Mirren under-20s in October 2017. After a loan spell with Queen’s Park and a season with Croatian side NK Novigrad he moved to Falkirk in 2019, spending six months on loan with Forfar Athletic, and he joined Kelty Hearts in this year’s January transfer window –he played against F.C. Edinburgh in our encounters with the Maroons in March and April.

Still only 25 years of age, Robbie has already gained a load of experience at a good level of football, and has plenty to offer City. He said, “I am delighted to be

Signed from Dundee in summer 2022, Liam was a titan in the back four, but he was injured at East End Park on 18th March with seven matches of the season remaining. He was by no means the only player on the treatment table at that time, but added to all the others the cumulative effect was such that we won only a single game between then and the end of the season. Welcome back Fonts!

PLAYER NEWS

END OF AN ERA - RAB MAC MOVES ON

During the summer we said farewell to our club captain, Robbie McIntyre, who will be playing in the Lowland League with Tranent Juniors this coming season. Robbie, a full-back or midfielder who usually played on the left, started off his football career with Tynecastle Boys’ Club at the age of 12 and signed for the Rangers youth set-up in 2010. He moved south for a time, having spells with Huddersfield Town and Bury, but he had to return to Scotland in 2014 after his father became seriously ill. When his father passed away a few months later Robbie had to sacrifice his full-time ambitions, and he returned to his old club Tynecastle where he made a name for himself with some magnificent performances. Despite many offers, he showed no interest in moving away from Fernieside until James McDonaugh finally

persuaded him to put pen to paper for Edinburgh City in 2018. Robbie proved he was every bit as good as rumour made him, slotting seamlessly into City’s SPFL side in that glorious 2018/19 season. He was appointed club captain in 2021, and although he suffered some injury problems in his latter months with us he was to the end a valuable member of the squad, turning out on 34 occasions last season. In all he made 140 appearances for Edinburgh City/ FC Edinburgh, scoring four goals during that time. We thank him very much for his services to our club, and as he is only 29 years of age, he has a lot of football in him yet. We hope he has a great time with Tranent (who were fifth in the Lowland League last season), and wish him all the best for the future.

Farewell Robbo

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RESULTS AND TEAMLINES 2022-23

RESULTS AND TEAMLINES

12 - Starter 12 - Substitute used 12 - Substitute not used

1 - Goal scored P - Penalty goal In scorelines, Edinburgh score always given first left club injured

Edinburgh City v Hibernian Friendly Match — Saturday 1 August 2023

PLAYER NEWS

As I said earlier in the programme, team-building is still going on, and it may be that some further players whose contracts were due to expire yesterday have been persuaded to join up for another season.

One player we know has found pastures new is ace goalkeeper Robbie Mutch, who this coming season will be vying with Charlie Albinson for the starting spot at Ayr United, runners-up in the Championship last season. Robbie said that he had no intention of going to Somerset Park as a back-up keeper, and if he replicates his superb form with F.C. Edinburgh last season, he could very well be the man between the sticks as Ayr United make another bid for Premiership football.

Murray, Ryan Shanley, Ben Stirling, Kieran McDonald, and Scott Mercer; while just over a week ago Kyle Jacobs extended his contract by another year.

While the great majority of our players in the First and Under-20 sides had contracts which expired on 30th June, the gaffer has been able to build a squad around a number of players who are signed until 2024 (and, in the cases of Danny Handling and Callum Crane, until 2025) – Lee Hamilton, Innes

We have also signed two of our young players who had been out on loan. 22-year-old goalkeeper Cameron Quate (above) was with Edinburgh University last season, and has now signed a contract with City; while left-sided defender Quinn Mitchell (19) has also signed his first professional contract. Quinn, pictured below with the City Cup, has been in superb form during his spell with Gala Fairydean Rovers, and in May he earned the club’s Young Player of the Year award.

AND COMMENT

OUR NEXT MATCH

On Saturday 8th June Edinburgh City will play a friendly with Robbie Horn’s Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic at New Dundas Park, Bonnyrigg. The match kicks off at 2:00 p.m. and the admission prices are £10 adults, £5 concessions. Service 31 to Bonnyrigg High Street or Lothian Street is the best way to get there by bus.

NEW STRIP

The club’s new outfit will be all-white as before, and the Technical Partners will be Hummel. The new design will not be used until the Viaplay Cup begins, so the old Joma kit will be worn today and against Bonnyrigg next week. The precise design of the shirt is not yet known, but a glance through the 2023 Hummel catalogue suggests that it will be tasteful.

We will have new shirt sponsors to go with the new threads. AMG Construction Group are to sponsor the home kit, and Lindsay Scaffolding Contracts the away outfit – the first time we have had different sponsors for first and second choice shirts.

WOMEN’S TEAM MANAGEMENT CHANGES

We will of course be profiling in detail our invincible Women’s side as the start of the SWF Championship draws near, but before then we will be looking at those who have left the double-winning squad over the summer. Unfortunately, foremost among these was manager Andy Enwood, who took over at SWPL2 side Boroughmuir Thistle in late May, less than 24 hours after the resignation of Thistle boss Suzy Shepherd.

Andy joined Edinburgh Women two years ago. When they were relegated a year ago for not having a player pathway and several of the club’s stars resigned, he didn’t bail out but instead built a side which lost only one of their 32 matches last season, won SWF League 1 by a 19-point margin and also secured the Championship and League 1 Cup. The club said on Twitter that “We are fully supportive of his reasons and wish him all the very best in his future career.” Many thanks, Andy, and all the best for the future.

On June 8th we announced our new managerial team, Lee Zavaroni (left) and his assistant Paul Robertson. Not only have Lee and Paul been with Hibs for the last nine years, but they both come from Penicuik and regularly watch our partner side, Penicuik Athletic YFC Girls – so they have considerable knowledge of the sort of players we will need in order to ascend through the SWF, and of the Midlothian girls we hope will progress to the first team.

SUPPORTERS AND FANBASE

The Citizens Supporters Club (CSC) page will return to the match programme from the next home game, against Kelty Hearts in a fortnight’s time - but you can keep up to date with CSC News and View with our Twitter page, @ClubCitizens. Check out for details of our bus to the Viacom Cup game at Greenock Morton.

The new page will contain a regular column by our newly-elected Supporters’ representative on the Club Board, Mr Robert Fallon (that’s Boab’s Sunday name), and may even have links to the resuscitated, and totally unofficial, CSC Podcast.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

A fine time was had at the Bellfield Brewery Taproom on Monday 19th June as the club held its annual Awards Night for the Men’s and Women’s Teams. The Cups won by the girls were on display (those won by the lads seemed to have been misplaced), and there was a great turnout of fans and players (including Robbie Mutch, now a signed Honest Man). Congratulations to Danny Handling and Debs McLeod, respectively Men’s and Women’s

Player of the Year, and Danny and Nicole Rutherford picked up the Top Goalscorer awards. Innes Murray received the Goal of the Season award for his strike against Alloa.

HOSPITALITY PARTNER

AND COMMENT

Well, here we go again! The final ball had been kicked in earnest and the final serious whistle blown on the 2022/23 football season. We then had Play-offs and internationals and before you know it, your beloved editor was letting me know that the pre-season friendlies were about to commence and my poor, arthritic fingers, far from getting a well-deserved rest, were to be forced into action again.

So, welcome to supporters of both teams today! Enjoy the game, and the following ramblings.

First up, I’ve mentioned a few times about the FENIX Trophy on these here pages. For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, let me explain. The rest of you just talk among yourselves for a minute. I’ll be brief.

The FENIX Trophy is for chosen non-League clubs, with England’s representatives this term being last year’s winners, FC United of Manchester. Nine clubs play each other home and away to see who reaches the semi-finals.

OK, you can come back now. The aforementioned FC United have reached the semis again this year where they will play BK Skjold from Copenhagen. The other semi-final involves Prague Raptors and the founders of the FENIX Trophy, FC Brera from Milan. These games are on June 7th, with the final the following day at the San Siro. The matches are all shown live, with commentary in both team’s languages, on the dedicated FENIX channel on YouTube.

What’s the most irritating thing that happens in football? Have a think. Have you thunk? Good. You might have suggested VAR, but, for me, it’s players going down holding their face, when all that’s happened is a strand of their perfectly gelled hair has become dislodged. I reckon I have the answer to this. Treat any “knock” to the head area as a potential concussion and the player in question must leave the field for a minimum of 15 minutes, with a concussion substitute allowed. He can get the comb out and repair the damage, and I’ll bet you he doesn’t try to get a fellow professional sent off in such a heinous, despicable and cowardly manner again. Worth pointing out: did anyone notice Ryan Porteous getting a knock to his face in the Georgia match? Fair play to the guy, he just shrugged it off. How many players from ANY other country would do that today? And I include England in that. I never thought Harry Kane would take a dive in such circumstances, but ...

How would you like to be a football commentator? Easiest job in the world, right? Well, sometimes, but I felt for the guys who had to fill in during the “elongated” break during the Scotland v Georgia tie. It was a bit much, though, when the game was described as a “watershed” match on Sportscene! Said in all seriousness, too.

In their game against Malta, according to the commentator, England won an early corner in a “dangerous” position. How does that one work?

AlexSummers

Proud Partner of F.C. Edinburgh

MATCH REPORT 44 F.C.

Edinburgh 1 Airdrieonians 4

cinch League 1. Pictures by Tommy

We have been kryptonite to Airdrie this season – and not just this season. Edinburgh had beaten the Diamonds in all six meetings since we rejoined the Scottish League, including the unbelievable 6-0 thrashing at the Excelsior Stadium back in September. But on this occasion, despite some promising moments, the play didn’t go the way of the weakened capital side, and the promotion-seeking visitors had their first win over City since February 1939.

Liam Fontaine was still injured, but there were several players carrying knocks who were on the bench but not likely to come on – among them Robbie

Lee Photography

McIntyre, Callum Tapping and Ouzy See. Robbie Mutch was rested and Sam Ramsbottom was between the sticks once more.

In front of a crowd of below 500 Airdrie lost the toss and kicked off towards Wishaw Place. Edinburgh started brightly, with Innes Murray prominent, and early on he tried a looping shot from the right side of the box which Rae found difficult to hold and Taylor-Sinclair had to thump out for a corner. A few minutes later Murray got in behind once more, but his shot went high and wide. Airdrie’s first attempt came along just after the tenth minute when McGill’s deflected shot went wide.

MATCH REPORT 44

F.C. Edinburgh 1 Airdrieonians 4

cinch League 1. Pictures by Tommy Lee

Photography

A mistake gave Airdrie the opening goal after 15 minutes. McMaster was alert and he robbed Handling of the ball about 30 yards out, driving into the box before slipping the ball to Callum Gallagher on his right. The Airdrie goal machine evaded a challenge from Crane before prodding the ball into the net. Edinburgh responded with a cross from Murray which was cut out by Rae before it reached Shanley. Moments later MacDonald’s cross from the left towards Handling was deflected by TaylorSinclair’s elbow and, as the video shows, it wasn’t an accident; luckily for him the stand-side assistant was unsighted. Telfer should have done better than to shoot over from a good position in 36 minutes.

Airdrie doubled their lead in 54 minutes when they broke out of defence, McGill and Gallagher carrying the ball into the home half and the latter sending in a cross from the right for Gabby McGill to head beautifully past Ramsbottom. But Edinburgh got back into the game in 62, Handling finding Anukam on the right. The young sub, newly on the park, rounded Fellows and was heading goalward when the defender tripped him in the box. Danny Handling sent Rae the wrong way from the spot and it was now City 1, Airdrie 2. Having reduced the deficit, Edinburgh threw away their advantage by some tragic defending in 68 minutes. Receiving a lateral free-kick just inside the home half, Corrie Fellows made his

MATCH REPORT 44

F.C. Edinburgh 1 Airdrieonians 4

cinch League 1. Pictures by Tommy Lee Photography

way up the centre of the park to the edge of the box with four Edinburgh players passing up opportunities to put in any sort of a challenge, before he calmly stroked the ball beyond Ramsbottom’s reach. One of the worst goals we have lost all season. Airdrie’s fourth and final goal arrived with 15 minutes of the game remaining, and once again it was hardly a classic. Josh Rae took a free-kick from deep in his

own half and it didn’t hit the ground until it bounced once in the Edinburgh box, and the first person to reach the ball (or even get near it) was our former loan player Gabby McGill, soaring up to nod the ball past Ramsbottom. The visitors continued to attack – Lee Hamilton took a sore one to the head defending one effort – but hey couldn’t make it five, or six. A downbeat end to what has been a fantastic season.

■ A printed programme was produced for this match

THE FCEdinburghOfficialProgramme 2022/23Issue22-£3.00

Resin CreationsMemorials by Yvonne

AND COMMENT

THE CITIZEN

Thank you for reading our revamped programme. The new format has been created in partnership with Hashtag Digital Media (www. hashtagdigitalmedia.co.uk), experts in the field of interactive digital online magazines for football and other sporting events.

Of course The Citizen has been published in online editions before now, during lockdown for example; but this new method takes things further. When fully up and running, a single click will open up a window to watch game highlights, or buy tickets or club merchandise, or hear the thoughts of Alan Maybury, or interviews with our players, direct links to club news or our advertisers, and many other services.

Nevertheless, many of you prefer a paper programme – especially collectors, of which I am one. Every digital programme will have a corresponding paper version, which will cost £3.00 – the digital copy is free. Paper copies are on sale from next week at our usual partner shops, Almondvale Programmes of Albion Road, Edinburgh, and GP Football of Glasgow Road, Bathgate; and at our next home match.

Look out for more features and more pages in the Kelty Hearts Viacom Cup issue in a fortnight’s time!

CHANGES AT THE CLUB

The changes in the running of our club during the close season are no trivial matter. I don’t know exactly how much Tom, Jim and Calum put into F.C. Edinburgh, but the running costs of the club are much, much higher than they were when I was treasurer in our Lowland League days; and the costs even then were enough to keep me awake at night. Imagine nowadays getting promoted into the SPFL on an annual wage budget, for the whole squad plus the manager, of less than £20,000. We’re not exactly destitute (although losing to Drumchapel United cost us a ton of sponsorship cash), but it’s time to cut coats according to cloth. The Club Shop will close, and all sales will be online. We are looking at whether we can provide cash admission at all, now that there is nowhere to sell tickets. The refreshments van will probably be withdrawn among other cost-cutting measures. Still, we have just sold more season tickets in one day than we did for the whole of 2022/23. If we can attract more supporters and keep them, things will eventually start to get better; but it may be tough in the meantime.

FCE WOMEN RESULTS, FIXTURES AND TABLE

SWF League 1 2022/23 CHAMPIONS

MOST RECENT MATCHES

16 Apr 2023

Edinburgh 7-1 Edin. Caledonia • League 1

Forsyth, Rutherford 3, Simmons, McLeod 2

23 Apr 2023

Stenhousemuir 7-0 Edinburgh • League 1

McLeod 2, Rutherford 4, Simmons

30 Apr 2023

Falkirk 0-2 Edinburgh • League 1

Rutherford, Simmons

07 May 2023

Edinburgh 6-1 St Mirren • League 1

Forsyth 2, Mitchell pen, Rutherford, Geddes, Vaughan

Scottish Women’s Football League 1

Final Table

* – after extra time. ** – after extra time, Edinburgh won 5-4 on penalties. *** – points awarded to FCE.

“CH & L1” = “Championship and League 1 Trophy”

“Scottish” = “Scottish Cup” . Post-split fixtures in yellow.

Home Matches are played at Meadowbank Stadium (main arena) on Sundays.

Admission is free.

scotwomensfootball.com/fixtures-and-results/

FCEdinburghW SWFLeagueOne

CITY UNDER-20s RESULTS, FIXTURES AND TABLE

SLDFL Conference A 2022/23

* Albion Rovers resigned from the League, result expunged from table.

“Lg Cup” – League Cup East. “Chall Cup” – Combined Challenge Cup. “Knockout” – Knockout Cup East. Friendly matches not included in the results.

Home games played at Meadowbank Stadium on Friday evenings, kicking off at 8:00 p.m.

Check for fixture updates at: www.sldfl.co.uk/conference-a/

OfficialSLDFL

CLUB POLICIES

The following is an abridged version of the Club Policies which are given in full on our website, www.fcedinburgh. com/club-policies-2/ In any dispute between what is printed here and what is shown on the website, the latter will always take precedence.

STADIUM REGULATIONS

1. All matches are played in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Scottish Football Association, the Scottish Premier League, The Scottish Football League, and the Scottish Lowland Football League.

2. Play is not guaranteed to take place on any particular day or time. The Club may change advertised fixtures without notice and without liability.

3. All supporters must pay for admission in accordance to advertised conditions and rates.

4. Unauthorised persons may not enter upon the field of play. All persons must stay on the spectator side of the barriers.

5. Only authorised persons may offer programmes, food or drink, or anything else for sale in the Stadium.

6. Smoking in no-smoking areas is forbidden by law. Penalties include a fine and/or criminal prosecution.

7. Nobody may stand in any seating area whilst play is in progress. Offenders may be ejected.

8. Nobody may obstruct gangways, access ways, exits and entrances, or stairways, or climb structures within the Stadium.

9. Mobile telephones and other devices are permitted for personal and private use only.

10. The use of foul or abusive language; racist, discriminatory or sectarian remarks, songs or chants; and the promotion or endorsement of any political organisation are not permitted within the Sports Centre or surrounding areas. F.C. Edinburgh have a separate Anti-Discrimination Policy.

11. It is an offence punishable by law for any person to enter or attempt to enter the Stadium:

- Whilst in possession of a prohibited container

- Whilst in possession of alcohol

- Whilst drunk

- Whilst in possession, or under the influence, of any illegal substances

- Whilst in possession of flares, smoke bombs, fireworks or similar;

All persons entering the Stadium may be searched by the Club Stewards.

12. Articles which could be used as a weapon, or which are regarded as dangerous or unsafe are not permitted. This includes knives, fireworks, smoke canisters, airhorns, flares, weapons, laser devices, bottles, cans, and poles. Anyone in possession of such items will be refused entry or asked to leave.

13. All persons entering the Stadium may be required to submit to search by stewards.

14. The throwing of any objects is not permitted.

15. Persons using parking facilities at the Stadium do so at their own risk.

We are not responsible for damage, accidents or losses.

16. Those using parking facilities must park in a respectful manner and be mindful of other vehicles.

17. Spectators must exit the Stadium in an orderly manner after the end of the game.

18. In the event of an emergency instructions will be announced over the public address system. Spectators must follow the advice given, or directions given by Club Stewards.

19. At all times, the right of admission is reserved by the Club.

20. All persons entering are admitted subject to these Regulations and to the applicable Rules and Regulations of the relevant football authorities. ENTRY TO THE STADIUM SHALL CONSTITUTE ACCEPTANCE OF THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS. FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THEM MAY RESULT IN SEIZURE OF SEASON TICKET, OR A PERMANENT BAN FROM ATTENDING ANY FUTURE HOME GAMES.

21. The Club reserves the right for its servants, stewards, and agents, and for members of the Police force, to remove from the Stadium any person who does not comply with Stadium regulations and with the rules and regulations of the relevant football authorities, or whose presence in the Stadium is or could reasonably be construed as constituting a source of danger, nuisance or annoyance to other spectators.

UNACCEPTABLE CONDUCT POLICY

We will not tolerate unacceptable conduct at home or away stadia.

Unacceptable Conduct is conduct which is violent or disorderly.

Violent conduct is actual, attempted or threatened violence against any person, or intentional damage to property.

Disorderly conduct includes:

- Conduct which is likely to stir up hatred or ill-will against people based on their presumed membership of the following categories:

- Gender, colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origin

- religious groups or groups with a perceived religious affiliation

- Sexual orientation

- Transgender identity

- Disability or against an individual presumed to be a member of such group.

- Using threatening, abusive or insulting words or conduct

- Displaying anything threatening, abusive or insulting

- Using words or conduct or displaying anything supporting or opposing an organisation proscribed in terms of the Terrorism Act 2000.

ANY PERSON ENGAGING IN UNACCEPTABLE CONDUCT MAY BE SUBJECT TO ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING, AS IS CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE:

- Ejection from the stadium;

- A temporary or indefinite ban from attending our matches; and/or

- Report to the police and possible criminal proceedings.

For the full and authoritative text of F.C.Edinburgh Club Policies, including the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, the Club Code of Conduct, the Customer Charter, the Anti-Discrimination Policy, the Equal Opportunities Policy, the Disability Discrimination Policy, and the Children’s Rights Policy, please see our website at www.fcedinburgh.com/club-policies-2/

TABLE AND RESULTS

cinch LEAGUE 1 SCOREBOARD 2022/23

cinch LEAGUE 1 TABLE 2022/23

MEET THE REFEREE STEWART LUKE

We welcome to Meadowbank Stadium this afternoon our match referee, Stewart Luke of the Fife Referees’ Association. Stewart last took charge of one of our games in the 0-1 home defeat to Dunfermline Athletic on 7th January this year. 1,320 people attended that match, a record for the reconstructed Meadowbank, and advance ticket sales suggest today’s crowd is also going to be massive (for us). We first met Stewart as a Category 2 official in a City Cup semi-final with Spartans in March 2017, and today will be the twelfth time he has refereed one of our games. Our assistant referees this afternoon are both from the Edinburgh and District Referees’ Association - Craig Ferguson (category 3 Specialist Assistant Referee) and Brent Falconer (Category 3 Referee).

Ground: Meadowbank Stadium

Registered Office: TBC

Email: admin@fcedinburgh.com

Telephone: 0131 210 0478

Chairman: John Dickson

General Manager: Colin Campbell

Board: John Dickson, David Armstrong, Alick Milne

Supporters’ Representative to the

Board: Robert Fallon

Manager: Alan Maybury

Assistant Manager: Mark Kerr

Strength and Conditioning Coach: Andy

Somerville

Goalkeeping Coach: Jamie Macdonald

Physiotherapist: Scott Anderson

Kit Man: Ian McIntyre

Under-20s Coach: Adam Cairnie

Women’s Team Management: Lee Zavaroni and Paul Alexander

Safety Officer: Sam Bryce

Chaplain: Christopher McRae

Matchday Operations: Jim Moore, Andy McDonald

Photography: Tommy Lee Photography

Videography: Dode Allen Media

Social Media: Dave Armstrong

Programme Editor: Alick Milne

Manager: Alan Maybury

1. Sam RAMSBOTTOM

2. Kieran MacDONALD

4. Lee HAMILTON

5. Scott MERCER

7. Ryan SHANLEY

8. Robbie LEITCH

9. Ouzy SEE

10. Danny HANDLING

13. Kyle JACOBS

17. Liam FONTAINE

20. Ben STIRLING

21. Cameron QUATE

24. Quinn MITCHELL

Manager: Lee Johnson

To be announced

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Stewart Luke

MATCH SPONSOR

NEXT MATCH:

VIAPLAY CUP GROUP D

Assistant Referee: Craig Ferguson

Assistant Referee: Brent Falconer

v KELTY HEARTS

Meadowbank Stadium

Wednesday 19 July 2023

Kick-off 7:45 p.m.