Cove Rangers FC Match Programme — vs. Raith Rovers 14.01.23

MATCH REPORT

Paul Hartley’s return ended in the worst way possible as table-topping Queen’s Park romped to victory, with Simon Murray helping himself to a four-goal haul.

With Jack Sanders having been recalled by Kilmarnock, Mark Reynolds recovering from illness, and Shay Logan, Evan Towler, Gerry McDonagh and Charlie Gilmour all out injured, Paul reverted to the back three set-up which had served him so well last time round.

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manager

Leighton McIntosh also dropped out from the defeat in Inverness, while Morgyn Neill and Kyle McClelland returned, and Cieran Dunne was handed his first start since mid-October. Declan Glass, signed two days earlier on loan from Dundee United, went straight into the side.

One to forget for all connected with Cove, and an indication of the hard work the manager has ahead of him rebuilding the squad.

Cove Rangers

(3-4-2-1)

McKenzie; Ross, Neill, McClelland; Yule, Scully, Fyvie (McIntosh 56), Dunne; Longstaff, Glass (Masson 71); Megginson (c) Substitutes

Gourlay, Vigurs, Leitch Booked Glass (60), Yule (66), McClelland (65)

Queen’s Park (4-2-3-1)

Ferrie; Davidson, Kilday, Fox, Robson; Thomson (Biggar 83), Boateng; Thomas (Healy 78), Savoury (Jarret 78), McPake (Longridge 78); Murray (c) (Williamson 71) Substitutes Herraghty, Naismith, Bannon, Eze Goalscorers Murray (12, 38, 62, 65), Davidson (30), Savoury (77) Booked Fox (53)

Referee David Dickinson Attendance 625

…an indication of the hard work the

has ahead of him”

DECLAN GLASS

Paul Hartley moved quickly in the transfer market, bringing Declan Glass back to the club on loan as the first signing of his second stint as Cove Rangers manager.

Declan became a firm favourite with everyone at Cove while making twenty-one appearances and scoring seven goals in the first half of the 201920 campaign, before being recalled by his parent club, Dundee United.

Now twenty-two, and approaching his peak years, he sees the return to Cove as an important next step in his career:

“It’s great to be back. This has been a special place for me, and as soon as I got the call, I had no doubts. I’ve already built-up relationships with so many of the guys, both as friends and on the pitch, and that definitely helps.

“Hopefully I’m over the injuries now and it’ll be good to get back into that regular flow of playing games, that’s what I need at this stage of my career. I’ve been doing everything I can in terms of fitness, doing rehab, working with sports scientists, and I just want to kickstart 2023 in the best possible fashion. To be honest, it feels as if I’ve never been away.”

“Paul Hartley was a big factor in me coming back. I know him well from my previous spell here, and he was the one who probably got my career as a footballer up and running. I was just a kid then, but he gave me the opportunity and I’ll always appreciate that. This time round, I just want to get back to doing what I do best.”

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Paul Hartley was a big factor in me coming back.”

BRODY PATERSON

Highly-rated wing-back Brody Paterson has joined us on loan from Hartlepool United, reuniting with Paul Hartley, who took him down south last summer.

A product of the Celtic youth academy, Brody played for the Glasgow side at all levels, making his way up to the B team, and previously had loan spells at both Queen’s Park, where he helped the side win the 2020-21 League Two title, and Airdrieonians last season, when they narrowly missed out in the League One play-offs.

He says he had no doubts about signing for Cove, and cannot wait to get the next phase of his career up and running:

“I’m delighted, as soon as I heard the news, I knew this is where I wanted to be. There were a couple of times when it was on the ropes, and I wasn’t sure it would actually go through, but luckily the clubs came to an agreement and I’m really glad it’s finally done.”

The wing-back admits that getting the opportunity to work with Paul Hartley again was a big attraction:

“The manager likes the type of football I want to play, so to be getting the opportunity to get games, playing football the right way; it was a no-brainer.

“I feel as if I’ve played in every league in Scottish football, and I’ve picked up a fair bit of experience, I’ve been in a lot of different dressing rooms.

“I’ve also learned a lot of good habits, coming through the Celtic youth programme. They teach you a lot there about the basics, how to be a professional, to eat right, sleep right, and I’ll carry that through the rest of my career.

“In terms of my style of play, I like to defend, but I also like to get up the pitch, to get goals and assists. I like playing attractive football and I hope I’m one who can excite the Cove fans.”

Principal Club Partner Principal Stadium Partner

Official Club Partners

Club Partners

PAUL HARTLEY

I would like to start this week by thanking everyone for the warm welcome I’ve been given since returning to the club.

It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but it feels good; it feels as if I’ve never been away.

I know all the faces around the club, the majority of the players, the staff, and of course the fans. I had a good relationship with them over the three years I was here before, they know all about the good work we did, and they always gave us a lot of good backing home and away. It was really pleasing to see some of them at the stadium last Saturday.

Speaking of which, it obviously wasn’t the start we had all hoped for. I didn’t see that coming, I’ve never seen that from a Cove team before, but on occasion in this game you just have to take things like that on the chin, and make sure you learn from it. Maybe that was the wake up call you sometimes need, both as a player and a manager.

We know the job we have to do between now and the end of the season. The remit is to make sure we stay in the Championship, but there is a lot of work to be done. We need to strengthen the squad, some loan players that did really well have gone back to their parent clubs, and we’ve been hit badly with injuries.

It’s up to us to make sure we get the best out of the players who are here and bring in the type of quality we need to help them. We have already signed Declan Glass and Brody Paterson, and I can assure you I’m doing everything I can to add more players. The next few weeks are going to be very busy indeed.

Even last summer, I always knew it would be a tough job; this was always going to be a difficult season no matter what. It is a big step-up, you’re going into a competitive division with eight fulltime clubs, so we were always going to be at a disadvantage.

It’s up to us now to make sure that we regroup, get back on track, and first and foremost to ensure the team is organised and ready for the challenge, and that the preparation is spot-on.

We all worked so hard to get Cove up into the Championship, so there is a real motivation to stay there. We will be giving everything we have to achieve that, to push up the table, to pick up as many points as we can.

The home form has always been strong in the past, and we need to get back to that, starting with this afternoon’s match against Raith Rovers. I watched them last week, they’ve got some excellent players, boys I know well, and Ian Murray has done a really good job there, so it’ll be tough, but every match is in this division!

Having had two more training sessions with the boys, and having had some time to get our thoughts across, I’m certainly expecting a big improvement from last week.

Enjoy the game!

Paul Hartley

“I’m certainly expecting a big improvement from last week.”

12.07.22 Albion Rovers PSC A 1 - 2 16.07.22 Livingston PSC H 1 - 2 19.07.22 Kelty Hearts PSC H 2 - 3 23.07.22 Inverness CT PSC A 1 - 1 30.07.22 Raith Rovers SPFL Champ H 2 - 0 06.08.22 Morton SPFL Champ A 1 - 0 13.08.22 Inverness CT SPFL Champ A 4 - 1 20.08.22 Ayr SPFL Champ H 1 - 2 27.08.22 Queen’s Park SPFL Champ A 2 - 1 03.09.22 Hamilton SPFL Champ H 2 - 2 17.09.22 Partick Thistle SPFL Champ A 2 - 2 24.09.22 Raith Rovers SPFL Trust Trophy H 0 - 1 01.10.22 Arbroath SPFL Champ H 2 - 0 04.10.22 Dundee SPFL Champ H 3 - 1 08.10.22 Raith Rovers SPFL Champ A 3 - 0 15.10.22 Inverness CT SPFL Champ H 0 - 1 22.10.22 Ayr SPFL Champ A 2 - 2 29.10.22 Hamilton SPFL Champ A 4 - 4 05.11.22 Queen’s Park SPFL Champ H 2 - 0 12.11.22 Arbroath SPFL Champ A 1 - 1 19.11.22 Morton SPFL Champ H 1 - 2

Date Fixture Competition

Score 26.11.22 Dunipace Scottish Cup H 7 - 0 03.12.22 Partick Thistle SPFL Champ H 1 - 1 23.12.22 Hamilton SPFL Champ H 2 - 0 02.01.23 Inverness CT SPFL Champ A 6 - 1 07.01.23 Queen’s Park SPFL Champ H 0 - 6 14.01.23 Raith Rovers SPFL Champ H21.01.23 Ayr Scottish Cup H28.01.23 Ayr SPFL Champ H04.02.23 Partick Thistle SPFL Champ A18.02.23 Arbroath SPFL Champ H25.02.23 Morton SPFL Champ A04.03.23 Dundee SPFL Champ H11.03.23 Queen’s Park SPFL Champ H18.03.23 Raith Rovers SPFL Champ A25.03.23 Ayr SPFL Champ A01.04.23 Partick Thistle SPFL Champ H08.04.23 Hamilton SPFL Champ A15.04.23 Inverness CT SPFL Champ H22.04.23 Arbroath SPFL Champ A29.04.23 Dundee SPFL Champ A05.05.23 Morton SPFL Champ H -

Leighton McIntosh

FRIENDS OF ANCHOR COLLECTION

Throughout the season, Cove Rangers FC has been supporting our partner charity, Friends of ANCHOR, an organisation which does a remarkable job supporting families across the north-east who have been affected by cancer.

As part of the tie-up, the club has arranged a number of bucket collections at matches, and these have pulled in significant sums for the Charity.

The Cove Rangers Supporters Club organised their own collection ahead of the Hamilton game just before Christmas, with representatives in Festive fancy dress braving the elements with their buckets.

The fans raised a remarkable total of £1,085 and Fraser Fyvie was on hand last weekend to help deliver the cheque.

Mike Coull, Thelma Hutchison, Erica Banks (Friends of ANCHOR), Fraser Fyvie

CAPTAIN’S VIEW

After what has been an incredibly difficult start to 2023 on the pitch, we are all determined to get back out there and right a few wrongs!

In all my time with Cove Rangers we have never experienced two back-to-back matches like those against Caley Thistle and Queen’s Park, and it has been tough coming to terms with what happened.

I can assure you we are all hurting, the manager, players and staff, just as much as you are. We have set standards at this club over a number of years, and that wasn’t good enough.

The two training sessions this week have been something of a release for us, the preparation has gone well, and there is a real determination within the group that we will turn things around.

We cannot let those two results derail the campaign. Over the piece, while it has been tough, I think we have done okay, and we’re at least in a position where we can secure our place in the Championship and look to improve on where we are.

What hasn’t helped is seeing two of our most consistent performers, Jack Sanders and Max Johnston, being recalled. Add in Charlie Gilmour’s long-term injury, and the fact that we were also without experienced boys like Logan and Reynolds last week, and you can see we were down to the bare bones.

I know the manager has been working hard to get new faces in. Declan Glass hasn’t played in two months, but he’ll be a great signing, we saw that when he was with us last time, and was instrumental in us winning League Two, until United called him back.

I’m also looking forward to working with Brody Paterson after playing against him last season. He’s very much in the same mould as Harry Milne and is one who should excite the Cove fans.

Part of the issue last Saturday was that all but half the team weren’t match-fit, we had to play guys who hadn’t started a game in months. You might get away with one or two, but not as many as that, and certainly not against the best team in the league. “

...doing everything we can to repay you for your support”

I have enjoyed being back out on the training pitch with Paul Hartley and Gordon Young. I know how they work, and it was just what I expected, high-intensity and a precise attention to detail in terms of the tactics and the opposition.

It will maybe take a few weeks for them to fully get across what they want, and to implement their style of play, and of course we do still need bodies in, but the management team have proved in the past they know what is needed at this club, and I would expect that to become evident in future matches.

This is a crucial part of the season, it can really set you up as you move towards the finishing line, and we will be doing everything we can to repay you for your support.

Mitch Megginson

COYCR!

EVAN TOWLER

It was confirmed this week that left-back Evan Towler had returned to his parent club, Aberdeen FC.

Evan joined Cove Rangers on loan last summer, making his debut in the League Cup win over Albion Rovers in July.

He would go on to make ten appearances for the club, but his availability was limited by illness and international call-ups.

Evan was a popular figure at Balmoral Stadium, and everyone at the club would like to wish him all the very best in his future career.

We would also like to place on record our sincere thanks to Aberdeen FC for their support.

DIFFERENT LEAGUE

Scottish League 1

Winners

‘21-’22

Highland League Winners ‘00-’01, ‘07-’08, ‘08-’09, ‘12-’13, ‘15-’16, ‘17-’18, ‘18-’19

Runners-up ‘89-’90, ‘92-’93, ‘94-’95, ‘95-’96, ‘09-’10, ‘11-’12, ‘16-’17

Highland League Cup Winners

‘94-’95, ‘99-’00, ‘04-’05, ‘14-1’5, ‘16-17, ‘18-’19 Runners-up ‘90-’91, ‘92-’93, ‘95-’96, ‘97-’98, ‘05-’06, ‘07-’08, ‘11-’12

Aberdeenshire Shield Winners ‘90-’91, ‘00-’01, ‘08-’09, ‘17-’18.

Runners-up ‘94-’95, ‘12-’13, ‘15-’16

Aberdeenshire Centenary Cup Runners-up ‘86-’87

Scottish League 2 Winners ‘19-’20

Scottish Qualifying Cup (North) Winners ‘90-’91, ‘00-’01 Runners-up ‘88-’89, ‘91-’92, ‘01-’02, ‘03-’04

Aberdeenshire Cup Winners

‘01-’02, ‘10-’11, ‘18-’19 Runners-up ‘92-’93, ‘94-’95, ‘16-’17, ‘17-’18

Aberdeenshire & District League Winners ‘00-’01, ‘08-’09, ‘10-’11, ‘11-’12, ‘12-’13, ‘14-’15 Runners-up ‘06-’07

Inter-League Trophy Winners ‘01-’02

Cove Rangers

Manager - Paul Hartley

1 Stuart McKenzie 2 Shay Logan 4 Connor Scully 5 Scott Ross 6 Morgyn Neill 7 Gerry McDonagh 8 Blair Yule 9 Mitchel Megginson (C) 10 Jamie Masson 11 Leighton McIntosh 14 Charlie Gilmour 15 Kyle McClelland 16 Iain Vigurs 17 Luis Longstaff 19 Rhys Thomas 20 Robbie Leitch 21 Balint Demus 22 Cieran Dunne 23 Kyle Gourlay 24 Fraser Fyvie 25 Declan Glass 26 Mark Reynolds 28 Brody Paterson

Raith Rovers

Manager - Ian Murray

1 Jamie MacDonald 3 Liam Dick 4 Ross Millen 5 Ryan Nolan 6 Brad Spencer 7 Aidan Connolly 8 Ross Matthews 9 Jamie Gullan 10 Lewis Vaughan 11 Connor McBride 12 Tom Lang 13 Andrew McNeil 15 Kieran Ngwenya 16 Sam Stanton 17 Robbie Thomson 18 Kyle Connell 19 Luke Mahady 20 Scott Brown (C) 22 Ethan Ross 23 Dylan Easton 25 Aaron Arnott 26 Kieran Mitchell 29 Greig Young 30 Adam Masson 47 John Frederiksen

Today’s referee - Lloyd Wilson Today’s assistant referees - David McGeachie & Craig Macrae