UNCOVERED — Cove Rangers v Airdrieonians 30.03.21 by coverangersfc

Cove Rangers v Airdrieonians Scottish League 1 30.03.21 — 7.45pm KO

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02 03

— Contents

Cove Rangers FC Matchday Programme Airdrieonians: 30.03.21 — 7.45pm KO

Features

EAST FIFE MATCH REPORT COVE V RANGERS: 1991 RORY’S REFLECTION STRACHAN’S TAKE ON EAST FIFE DRAW

06 12 18 22 Regulars

Upcoming fixtures & league table

Club information

Club partners

View from the dugout

Player and Management sponsorship

Season 2020/21 statistics

Captain’s view

Club honours

Today’s team lines

— Upcoming fixtures

A Sun 4th Apr, 2021

Rangers v Cove Rangers

Scottish Cup

A Tue 6th Apr, 2021

Clyde v Cove Rangers

Scottish League 1

H Sat 10th Apr, 2021

Cove Rangers v Dumbarton

Scottish League 1

H Sat 17th Apr, 2021

Cove Rangers v Falkirk

Scottish League 1

— League table

SPFL1

PTS

Falkirk

Cove Rangers

Partick Thistle

Montrose

Peterhead

-1

East Fife

Airdrieonians

Dumbarton

-7

Clyde

-12

Forfar Athletic

-11

04 05

— 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, Mike Pirie, Richard Forbes & Gordon Taylor 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 - 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

06 07

Scottish League 1 Saturday March 27th @ Beyview Stadium

EAST FIFE 0 COVE RANGERS 0

— East Fife match report

close call for cove

08 09

We earned what could end up being another valuable point on the road in what was a keenly contested League One encounter at Bayview Stadium. It could even have been a victory had skipper Mitch Megginson not seen his second half penalty - and shot from the rebound - kept out by a marvellous double save from East Fife keeper Brett Long. Having said that, we also got a break deep into injury-time when Ryan Wallace rattled our crossbar with a free-kick, so a share of the spoils was probably a fair outcome in the end. Draws at Partick Thistle and now East Fife can still be seen as a pleasing return after more than 10 weeks without a game and keep us well placed in the fight to be in the top half when the league splits ahead of the final four matches. There were two changes to the starting line-up that drew 1-1 with Partick. Scott Ross returned from injury and there was also a first start for Connor Smith, who is with us for the rest of the season on loan from Hearts. The first chance of the game came our way when Megginson fed the ball left to Jamie Masson and his curling shot from just inside the area sped wide of the target. We threatened again in the 23rd minute when Ross sent a long throw in from the right. The ball was nodded on by Leighton McIntosh to Megginson and his low 14-yard shot was held by keeper Long. The home side’s first real chance came a minute later, although Wallace’s shot from a tight angle on the right went well over the crossbar.

“It was a lucky break for us, but one we had earned for the effort put in over the course of the game.” >>>

— East Fife match report

Our next attack began with an excellent 40-yard crossfield pass from Ross Graham to Scott Ross, who was out on the right wing. His driven low cross was booted away from Megginson at the edge of the six yard box. East Fife had a chance to snatch the lead in the 31st minute. Danny Denholm managed to break into the area but was denied the chance to shoot by an excellent last gasp tackle by Ryan Strachan. Defender Strachan made an even more important interception in the 37th minute. Wallace crossed to Watt and his 14-yard shot got past Stuart McKenzie but Strachan was perfectly positioned to clear the ball from inside the six yard box. We broke forward almost immediately and Masson was unlucky to see his 10yard shot beaten away by keeper Long. We started the second period strongly, with Yule feeding the ball wide to McIntosh and his low cross from the right was hastily booted clear by Davidson before it could reach Megginson. Strachan then went on a great run through the heart of the park that took him to the East Fife area. He then passed to Masson and his shot was blocked by an excellent last gasp tackle by Higgins.

tripped Smith just inside the home area. Megginson took the kick but saw his effort kept out by an excellent diving save from Long. The keeper also recovered quickly to push Megginson’s second attempt from the rebound wide for a corner. That appeared to give East Fife a lift and Scott Agnew went close with a well hit 16-yard volley. We made five changes in the latter stages in an effort to win the match, which meant debuts for Kevin Hanratty and Kieran Ngwenya, who joined us on loan from Aberdeen earlier in the week. The home players screamed for a penalty in the 85th minute when Davidson tumbled after being denied a shooting chance by a fine tackle from Yule and the referee rightly awarded a corner to the home side. We threatened to snatch the winner with two minutes to go when Fraser Fyvie’s long pass was nodded down by Rory McAllister to Megginson but his shot from the edge of the area went wide of the target. East Fife almost stole the points three minutes into injury-time. They actually thought Aaron Dunsmore had scored when he tapped the ball home from close range but the referee had already clearly blown for a foul to East Fife just outside our area before the ball had been played in.

East Fife broke forward in the 55th minute and when Wallace crossed from the right Austin just failed to connect with the ball as it sped across the face of our goal.

Wallace took the free-kick and was desperately unfortunate to see his rocket shot hit the underside of the crossbar and rebound to safety.

We had a gilt edged chance to break the deadlock in the 58th minute when we were awarded penalty after Watt blatantly

It was a lucky break for us, but one we had earned for the effort put in over the course of the game.

10 11

Cove’s Kieran Ngwenya takes on East Fife’s Stewart Murdoch

East Fife: Long, Murdoch, Watson, Higgins, Slattery, Davidson, Watt (Swanson 68), Agnew (Newton 68), Denholm (Smith 59), Austin (Dunsmore 82), Wallace. Subs: Dunlop, Brown, Fenton, McKinnon, Hart. Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Scott Ross (Ngwenya 79), Smith (Watson 73), Strachan, Graham, Livingstone (McAllister 79), Yule, Fyvie, Masson (Seb Ross 73), McIntosh (Hanratty 73), Megginson. Subs: Scully, Higgins, Logan, Demus. Referee: Mike Roncone.

at Bayview Stadium.

— Cove Rangers v Glasgow Rangers: 1991

Image courtesy of DCT Media

12 13

memory lane Former Cove Rangers heroes Raymond Yule and Mike Megginson have good reason to be excited by the prospect of seeing how their old club — and sons — get on in next weekend’s bumper Scottish Cup clash with Glasgow Rangers. That’s because Raymond and Mike hold the proud record of being the only Cove players to have ever scored against the Light Blues. That was in August 1991 — when we were still competing in the Highland League — and a strong Ibrox side, including then England first choice goalkeeper Chris Woods, visited Allan Park for a pre-season friendly. The presence of Woods, England under-21 cap Chris Vinnicombe and future Scotland internationals Stephen Pressley and Gary McSwegan in the starting line-up for the visitors was enough to ensure a bumper 2,000 turn-out in what was at that stage of our history the most high profile friendly encounter we had staged at our former home. Cove were managed by Dave Watson and his squad included Scott Paterson, who would later move to Liverpool. Raymond and Mike — whose sons Blair and Mitch will be on our squad for Sunday’s third round encounter down in Govan — ensured it was a day to remember for everyone at Cove by sharing the goals in a 3-1 victory. Raymond, who netted twice that day, said: “It’s great to have an occasion like that to look back on. It’s so long ago — let’s not forget neither Blair or Mitch were even born yet — so it’s hard to remember too many details.

— Cove Rangers v Glasgow Rangers: 1991

“But I do recall scoring and how good it felt to get two goals against Chris Woods, who Rangers sold soon after to the Sheffield Wednesday for £1.2 million, which was a huge fee at that time.” Mike, who scored 147 goals over 13 seasons with Cove, added: “It ended up being a brilliant afternoon for us. We were all excited because we knew it was huge to be have Rangers paying a visit to Allan Park. “We were all eager to give a good account of ourselves and when we saw that Woods was in goal we knew we would need to be right on our game.” Cove proved they were by taking the lead after just two minutes when Raymond met a left wing cross to power in a header that Woods could only help over the line. With only four minutes on the clock, it was 2-0. Robbie Brown fired another cross over from the left wing and Raymond pounced to fire the ball home from close range. We went 3-0 up in the 22nd minute when Woods made a mess of collecting a long kick-out from opposite number Stevie Beckett and left Mike with the simple task of rolling the ball into the empty net. Mike said: “Even though it was only a friendly it was still a thrill to score past a keeper of Woods standing.” Woods made amends a little after that when he denied Raymond his hat-trick with a fine save. McSwegan pulled a goal back in the 34th minute with a well hit 16-yard shot. The Glasgow side applied a lot of pressure

in the second half but there was no further scoring. The match was the middle one of a brief tour of the Highlands made by the Glasgow side that weekend. They had beaten Deveronvale 4-1 at Banff on the Friday night and also won 1-0 at Keith on the Sunday. Ibrox coach John McGregor was quick to praise Cove for giving them the toughest of the trio of matches. He said: “The way Cove played we could have been six down inside the first 20 minutes. They have some good players and are proof that Highland football is in a healthy state.” Cove manager Watson praised strike duo Yule and Megginson by adding: “We are fortunate that work commitments prevent Yule and Megginson playing anywhere else. For there is no doubt that both should be playing as full-time professionals at a the highest grade.” Cove chairman Keith Moorhouse also has happy memories of being a spectator at the match. He stood behind the goal Cove scored their goals into. Keith is in the picture published here of the opening goal, but obscured by the junction of the post and crossbar. “I was just 24 and obviously had no idea that I would eventually become involved at Cove,” said Keith. “I was a still playing amateur football (Keith was a goalkeeper) and attended games at Pittodrie when I could but jumped at the chance to go along and

14 15

Cove’s current chairman Keith Moorhouse cheering on Cove as a spectator in 1991.

Image courtesy of DCT Media THE OPENER: Raymond Yule, right wheels away after firing Cove Rangers into an early lead against Glasgow Rangers in 1991.

— Cove Rangers v Glasgow Rangers: 1991

support Cove that evening. They played really well and my abiding memory is there was a very happy atmosphere around Cove after the match.” Mike admitted he would love it if club captain Mitch or midfielder Blair could emulate their fathers by also scoring at Ibrox on Sunday. “We would all be in dreamland if that happened,” he said. “But they are facing a far more difficult task than we had in front of us in 1991. Our victory was in a friendly against a young side with a sprinkling of of first team players in it. It’s the real deal for Cove this weekend against the best side in the country. I’m just upset we are going to have to be content with watching the game live on the telly rather than being there at Ibrox to cheer the team on. No matter what happens, we will be a proud family when we see Mitch lead the team out and are watching Cove Rangers competing against the Scottish champions. It’s a reminder of just how far Cove have come in recent times.” Cove Rangers: Becket, Forbes, Whyte, Brown, A Paterson, Wallace, Park, Stephen, Baxter, Megginson. Subs: Cormack, McKenzie, King, Wilson, Watson, S Paterson. Glasgow Rangers: Woods, Murray, Vinnicombe, Pressley, Watson, Rouse, Robertson, Flanagan, McSwegan, Morrow, Hagen. Subs: Crawford, Paterson, Walker, Smith, Anderson. Referee: Ray McNab.

16 17

Image courtesy of DCT Media

— Rory’s reflection

RORY MCALLISTER

This weekend’s tie will be the first visit to Ibrox for Cove Rangers at senior level but many of our current squad have played there with other clubs. Three of them - Rory McAllister, Scott Ross and Ryan Strachan have also won there before. Striker Rory scored the winner when Peterhead won 2-1 at Ibrox in an Irn Bru Third Division clash in April 2013. Defender Scott had earlier scored the equaliser for the Blue Toon - from one of Ryan’s crosses!

18 19

Rory recalled: “It was a strange day but also a very memorable one. “We knew going to Ibrox that we needed to take something to have a chance of making the promotion play-offs that season. Things weren’t looking too good when we fell behind (to a goal scored by former Scotland striker Lee McCulloch) because Rangers were giving us a bit of a battering. “Things changed after Scott scored though. They began to get anxious and got even worse when I managed to put us ahead. We had to dig deep to hold on after that but it ended up being a day to remember for Peterhead.” Rory accepts this weekend’s tie will be a far more formidable proposition than Peterhead had to contend with eight years ago. “We are facing a totally different Rangers,” he said. “They are the Scottish champions and also made it to the last 16 of the Europa League this season, so playing them is a huge challenge for a club like ours. But you enter the Scottish Cup in the hope of getting the opportunity to face the very best sides in the country. “It’s a great chance to show how we measure up to them and also another reminder of how far Cove have come in a very short period of time. “The big regret is there will be no fans there this time. More than 43,000 were there for the Peterhead game and the atmosphere was amazing. It’s a shame those who are making their first visit to Ibrox on Sunday won’t get to experience something like that but it’s still going to be huge occasion for all of us.” One member of the Cove squad has actually played in a Scottish Cup tie against Rangers at Ibrox with us before. Keeper Balint Demus was praised for his display when Cove lost 3-0 there in the last eight of the Scottish Youth Cup in January 2019.

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20 21

— Club partners

Principal Club Partner

Principal Stadium Partner

Official Club Partners

MARC DARCY

DRAPERS MENSWEAR BRAND OF THE YEAR

— Strachan’s take on East Fife draw

RYAN

>>>

22 23

STRACHAN Defender Ryan Strachan spoke to the media after our 0-0 League One draw with East Fife at Bayview Stadium. Skipper Mitch Megginson saw his second half penalty saved by home keeper Brett Long in what proved to be a keenly contested encounter. Ryan said: “Defences were definitely on top on this occasion. “There were half chances and we, of course, had the opportunity to score from the penalty but otherwise it was a pretty tight game. We are happy to at least come away with a draw - and a clean sheet - against a side that had been going pretty well of late. Every team is capable of beating everyone else in this league, it’s very tough, so any point you can get on the road has to be welcomed. That’s the key to doing well in this league, if you can’t win then at least make sure you get points. We’ve done that so now it’s a case of resting up and making sure we are ready to go again on Tuesday.” We face Airdrie at Balmoral Stadium on Tuesday, 7.45pm and the game will be shown live of Cove Rangers TV, with commentary by Scott Davie.

— View from the dugout

PAUL HARTL I would like to welcome the players and staff of Airdrie FC to Balmoral Stadium for tonight’s League One clash. We know we can expect another competitive and challenging 90 minutes, which is always the case no matter who you are up against in this league. I’m pleased we are at least finally back at Balmoral Stadium. It’s close to a full three months since we played our last match here. It will be good to get back out on to a pitch we are familiar with and where we have been able do well in the past. It’s also good to be going into this evening’s match on the back of two very hard earned points in our first two games since returning. Drawing 1-1 away to Partick Thistle in our first match for 10 and a half weeks was a tremendous effort by the players. We also drew 0-0 away to East Fife, which was was probably the fair result. I thought we were the better side in the first half and the second was a bit more scrappy at times. We had a good moment in the game with the penalty, which Mitch (Megginson) didn’t score. I’ve no problem with that though because Mitch has won us so many games in the past.

>>>

LEY

24 25

— View from the dugout

>>>

That apart, there wasn’t a lot of goal mouth action in the second half but we fought all the way for what we got. It’s going to be like that in every game between now and the end of the season. It will be hard having such a congestion of games after such a long lay-off and we’ve had two very tough away ones so far. The good thing is we have taken a point in both, and also now recorded a clean sheet. It’s a case of trying to get the players up to speed again as we move through the games. A lot of that will come down to squad rotation, it’s likely we will put out a different team tonight. It’s the same for every other team in the league. It’s not so much about training now, it’s about looking after the players to ensure they are able to give their best when called upon. We have tonight’s match, then a trip to Ibrox to play Rangers on Sunday and also have to go to Clyde on the Tuesday. It’s a quick turnaround and a difficult spell for part-time players, something we have never faced before. It’s important we try to use the good group of players we have as best we can and that’s what we will aim to do. Stay safe and enjoy the game. Paul Hartley

26 27

“It’s not so much about training now, it’s about looking after the players to ensure they are able to give their best when called upon.”

— Player and management sponsorship

MANAGEMENT Paul Hartley

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Tam Ritchie

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

Stuart McKenzie

Balint Demas

GOALKEEPERS

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Tom Leighton

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Scott Ross

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Daniel Higgins

Adam Livingstone

LOCAL , NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ROAD HAULAGE

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SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE ABERDEEN 01224 – 781698

DEFENDERS WWW.MGSLOGISTICS.CO.UK

28 29

MIDFIELDERS Connor Scully

Broque Watson

Blair Yule

Jamie Semple

Seb Ross

Fraser Fyvie

Mitchel Megginson

Leighton McIntosh

Jamie Masson

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Rory McAllister

— Season 2020/21 statistics

Date

Fixture

Game

H/A

Starting

Sta

BFC

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

B.Yule

M.Megginson

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

D.Higgins1

10/10/2020

Hibernian

13/10/2020

Brora Rangers

A.Liv (J.Se

BFC

S.McKenzie

T.Leighton (S.Ross)

H.Milne

C.Scully

B.Watson

D.Higgins

R.McAllister1 (A.Livinsgtone)

A.Livingstone

J.Semple1

17/10/2020

J.Bro (B.Yu

East Fife

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully (Seb Ross)

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson2 (R.McAllister)

J.Masson

L.McIntosh1

D.Hig

24/10/2020

Peterhead

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne1

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson1 (R.McAllister)

J.Masson

L.McIntosh (B.Watson)

D.Hig

31/10/2020

Partick Thistle

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson (Seb Ross)

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

D.Hig (R.G

07/11/2020

Forfar Athletic

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson2

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

R.Mc (B.W

10/112020

Dundee

BFC

S.McKenzie

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson (R.McAllister)

J.Masson

L.McIntosh (B.Watson)

A.Livingstone

J.Semple (R.Graham)

Seb (C.S

14/11/2020

Forfar Athletic

BFC

S.McKenzie

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Watson (J.Semple)

M.Megginson

R.McAllister1

A.Livingstone

Seb Ross

R.Gr

21/11/2020

Falkirk

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

L.McIntosh

R.McAllister (B.Watson)

A.Liv (J.Se

28/11/2020

Airdrieonians

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

J.Masson1

L.McIntosh

R.Gr

05/12/2020

Montrose

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

L.McIntosh

R.McAllister (B.Watson)

A.Liv (J.Se

12/12/2020

Dumbarton

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

J.Masson1

L.McIntosh

R.Gr

19/12/2020

Clyde

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson2

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

D.Higgins

Seb (R.M

26/12/2020

Forfar Athletic

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

R.Graham

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

M.Megginson1

R.Mc

02/01/2021

Peterhead

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

R.McAllister1

R.Gr

09/01/2021

Alloa Athletic

S.McKenzie

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan1

B.Yule

M.Megginson

J.Masson1

R.McAllister1 (L.McIntosh)

R.Gr

20/03/2021

Partick Thistle

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

C.Scully (B.Watson)

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson1

J.Masson

L.McIntosh (R.McAllister)

A.Livingstone

R.Graham

F.Fyv

27/03/2021

East Fife

SPFL1

S.McKenzie

S.Ross (K.Ngwenya)

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

J.Masson (Seb Ross)

L.McIntosh (K.Hanratty)

A.Livingstone (R.McAllister)

R.Graham

C.Sm (B.W

30/03/2021

Airdrieonians

SPFL1

04/03/2021

Rangers

06/04/2021

Clyde

SPFL1

10/04/2021

Dumbarton

SPFL1

17/04/2021

Falkirk

SPFL1

20/04/2021

Montrose

SPFL1

Name

Appearances

Goals

Position

Yellow

Red

Stuart McKenzie

Balint Demus

Tom Leighton

Harry Milne

Scott Ross

Ryan Strachan

Daniel Higgins

Adam Livingstone

Ross Graham

Cammy Logan

Kieran Ngwenya

Connor Scully

Blair Yule

30 31

arting

Starting

Sub

Referee

AS1

AS2

ATT

vingstone emple)

R.Graham

T.Leighton

B.Watson

R.McAllister

J.Semple

J.Brown

B.Demus

Euan Anderson

Ross Macleod

Chris Graham

own ule)

R.Graham

S.Ross

B.Yule

L.McIntosh

B.Demus

Duncan Williams

Paul Mcavine

Graham Chambers

ggins

J.Semple (B.Watson)

B.Watson

R.McAllister

A.Livingstone

Seb Ross

J.Brown

R.Graham

B.Demus

Gavin Ross

Stuart Hodge

Ian Hart

ggins

J.Semple (Seb Ross)

B.Watson

J.McAllister

A.Livingstone

Seb Ross

J.Brown

R.Graham

B.Demus

Alan Newlands

Michael Banks

Elliott Husband Powton

ggins Graham)

A.Livingstone (R.McAllister1)

B.Watson

R.McAllister

J.Semple

Seb Ross

H.Ritchie

J.Brown

R.Graham

B.Demus

D. Lowe

Graham McNeillie

Ross Clark

cAllister1 Watson)

R.Graham

B.Watson

A.Livingstone

J.Semple

Seb Ross

H.Ritchie

J.Brown

B.Demus

Scott Lambie

Michael Banks

Steven MacDonald

Ross Scully)

J.Brown (H.Ritchie)

C.Scully

B.Watson

R.McAllister

H.Ritchie

R.Graham

B.Demus

Craig Napier

Graham McNeillie

Michael MacDermid

raham

F.Fyvie (J.Brown)

H.Milne

J.Semple

J.Brown

B.Demus

Duncan Williams

Gary Hilland

Eddie Ferguson

vingstone emple)

F.Fyvie

B.Watson

J.Semple

Seb Ross

J.Brown

R.Graham

B.Demus

David Dickinson

Graham Chambers

Kevin McElhinney

raham

F.Fyvie

B.Watson

R.McAllister

A.Livingstone

J.Semple

Seb Ross

J.Brown

B.Demus

Graham Grainger

Ralph Gordon

Duncan Nicolson

vingstone emple)

F.Fyvie

B.Watson

J.Semple

Seb Ross

J.Brown

R.Graham

B.Demus

Lloyd Wilson

Stuart Stevenson

Keiran Trayner

raham

F.Fyvie

B.Watson

R.McAllister

A.Livingstone

J.Semple

Seb Ross

J.Brown

B.Demus

Alan Newlands

Michael Banks

Duncan Nicolson

Ross McAllister)

F.Fyvie

B.Watson

R.McAllister

A.Livingstone

J.Semple

J.Brown

R.Graham

B.Demus

David Dickinson

Alastair Mather

Alan Proctor

cAllister

F.Fyvie

D.Higgins

A.Livingstone

Seb Ross

C.Scully

J.Semple

B.Watson

B.Demus

David Lowe

Graham McNeillie

Calum Doyle

raham

F.Fyvie

C.Scully

D.Higgins

Seb Ross

B.Demus

Peter Stuart

Drew Kirkland

Colin Drummond

raham

F.Fyvie

L.McIntosh

Seb Ross

B.Demus

C.Smith

C.Logan

Steven Reid

Graham Chalmers

David McKiff

vie

C.Logan (C.Smith)

B.Watson

D.Higgins

R.McAllister

Seb Ross

C.Smith

B.Demus

Mike Roncone

John McCrossan

Ross Anderson

F.Fyvie

C.Scully

B.Watson

D.Higgins

R.McAllister

Seb Ross

C.Logan

K.Ngwenya

K.Hanratty

B.Demus

Peter Stuart

Ross MacLeod

Steven Taylor

Kevin Clancy

Dougie Potter

Gary Hilland

Matthew MacDermid

Ross MacLeod

Chris Newman

mith Watson)

Name

Appearances

Goals

Position

Yellow

Red

Broque Watson

Jamie Masson

Jordon Brown

Fraser Fyvie

Kevin Hanratty

Jamie Semple

Seb Ross

Connor Smith

Hamish Ritchie

Mitchel Megginson

Rory McAllister

Leighton McIntosh

PTAIN

’S VIE

— Captain’s view

32 33

I WILL BEGIN BY SAYING HOW GREAT IT IS TO FINALLY BE BACK PLAYING FOOTBALL AT BALMORAL STADIUM. When we kicked off the new year with a win here over Peterhead none of us could ever have thought it would just days short of three months before we would be preparing to play another home match. We certainly couldn’t have asked for a tougher one to return in than facing Airdrie this evening. We drew 1-1 away to them earlier in the season and I anticipate this one being just as keenly contested. Hopefully we will be able to build on the two draws secured since finally returning from the latest lockdown earlier this month. I was very happy to get our goal in the 1-1 draw away to Partick Thistle. We were all pleased to have done as well as we did, against full-time opponents, in what was our first game of any sort for more than 10 weeks. We also drew 0-0 away to East Fife last weekend, a game that we might even have won if I had managed to score the penalty we were awarded in the second half. You have to give East Fife keeper Brett Long credit for saving my effort from the spot - and also preventing me scoring from the rebound. It’s always disappointing to miss a penalty but it happens and it certainly won’t stop me being confident of scoring the next one I’m asked to take.

>>>

— Captain’s view

>>>

It was always going to be tough coming back after such a long lay-off so it’s a positive to have been able to take something from both games. The coaching staff deserve a lot of credit for that. I was sure the lads would return in good shape. We are all very professional in our approach, even though we are part-time players, and did as much as we were permitted to stay fit. But the coaching staff have managed to get the balance between making sure we improve our fitness but are still fresh and able to play to our best spot on since we returned to training. A big part of continuing that will be using our squad in the best manner possible. It’s fair to say none of us are expecting to start every game, especially with so many to be played in such a short period of time. But you can sure we will all be ready and willing to do our bit when called upon. I want to end by saying while it’s great to be back at Balmoral it’s still a huge disappointment knowing you, our fans, are still unable to be there to back us. We know many of you will be watching tonight’s game live on Cove Rangers TV instead. Thank you for continuing to do your bit to help the club and I can promise you we will do our utmost to get a result that makes you happy. CYCR! Mitch Megginson

34 35

— 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

36 37

— Today’s team lines

Cove Rangers FC Manager - Paul Hartley

Airdrionians FC Manager - Ian Murray

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 16. 19. 20. 21. 22. 24. 25. 26. 27.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 19. 20. 21. 25. 26. 27.

Stuart McKenzie Tom Leighton Harry Milne Connor Scully Scott Ross Ryan Strachan Broque Watson Blair Yule Mitchel Megginson (C) Jamie Masson Leighton McIntosh Daniel Higgins Rory McAllister Adam Livingstone Seb Ross Rhys Thomas Ross Graham Balint Demus Connot Smith Fraser Fyvie Cammy Logan Kieran Ngwenya Kevin Hanratty

Team colours Blue jerseys Blue Shorts White Socks

Max Currie Kyle Turner Leon McCann Josh Kerr Sean Crighton (C) Callum Fordyce Craig Thomson Paul McKay Callum Gallagher Ally Roy Thomas Robert Griffin Sabatini Dean Ritchie Harlain Mbayo Dale Carrick Kyle Connell Euan O’Reilly Scott Walker Andy McNeil Eoghan Stokes Pay Pyott Jack McKay Paul Paton

Team colours White jerseys Red shorts Red Socks

Today’s referee - Peter Stuart Today’s assistant referees - Ross MacLeod, Steven Taylor