Cove Rangers FC Match Programme — vs. Ayr United 27.01.23

— Upcoming Fixtures

H Tues 31st Jan, ‘23 Cove Rangers v Ayr United Scottish Cup

A Sat 4th Feb, ‘23 Partick Thistle v Cove Rangers cinch Championship

H Sat 18th Feb, ‘23 Cove Rangers v Arbroath cinch Championship

A Sat 25th Feb, ‘23 Morton v Cove Rangers cinch Championship

— League Table

— Jamie Masson Departure

JAMIE MASSON

Everyone at the club would like to pass on our sincere best wishes to midfielder Jamie Masson, who is about to fulfil a long-held ambition and emigrate to Australia.

Jamie joined Cove Rangers in 2017 and played a massive part in the rise up through the divisions. A multiple trophy winner, he was at the heart of everything achieved during his time with us and will leave a massive gap at the club.

A richly talented footballer, Jamie is also a huge character, and he will be sadly missed both on and off the pitch.

The move is something he has been considering seriously for two to three years, and he believes now is the right time to take the plunge:

“I’m excited by it! It really began to take shape about a year ago, when I had my ankle injury, so that gave me time to think. My best mate is over there, he’s been texting me encouraging me to go, and I think it’s maybe time to pack my bags and go.

“

It was a tough decision, certainly tough to leave this club.”

“It was a tough decision, certainly tough to leave this club. I’ve known six or seven of the lads since I was about eleven years old, so that’s difficult, but sometimes you just have to take a chance when it’s there.”

One man Jamie has also known all that time is Cove Rangers Chairman, Keith Moorhouse, who was keen to pay his own tribute:

“From a football perspective, we are really disappointed to lose Jamie Masson, but on a personal level, I’ve known for quite a while this was his long-term plan, and I’m delighted he has been able to fulfil it.

“I have known him and his family since he was just a boy and part of the Aberdeen FC youth academy alongside my son, Grant, and a few more of the current Cove team. I am proud to have watched him grow up to be the man he is, and he goes with my best wishes.

“I hope it all works out for Jamie, but I want to make it clear that we have an agreement that should he return back home, he will be re-signing with Cove Rangers.

“Jamie is part of the family, and he always will be.”

‘Mass’, as he is affectionately known, is a larger than life individual at times, and very much the life and soul of any party, and the Chairman admits he is looking forward to a bit of relief from that side of Jamie’s character:

“I certainly won’t miss the 2.00am Face Time calls from Jamie! Whenever he’s on a team night out, he regularly tries calling me, and can be very persistent. One night he tried eighteen times before finally getting the message that I wasn’t going to answer!”

You get the feeling that being on the other side of the world will hardly be a barrier for Jamie, and he says he will keep in touch with home, but in the main this is all about beginning a new chapter:

“I’ve got a job lined up, and I certainly hope to keep playing football. It’s a new life, isn’t it, and something I’ve fancied since my mate went out there and has been telling me to go join him.”

As that new life unfolds, Jamie has a host of memories and special occasions which will live with him forever. His football journey began at Pittodrie, there were loans to Elgin City and Brechin City, and a spell with Formartine United, but it was at Cove that he really settled properly, and got his career up and running:

“Mostly great memories, with a great bunch of lads, and obviously still a lot of people here from the Highland League days. There have been promotions, cup wins, and doing it with lads you’ve been mates with for years makes it even better.

“The fact that I’m leaving the club when it’s in the Championship doesn’t really surprise me. We always had good squads, the boys were hungry, and every year we set new standards to aim for.

“There was the one bad experience, losing the playoff against Cowdenbeath, but we all just pulled together, and since then it’s kicked-on. It’s been a great journey, and not just with the players, but everyone else behind the scenes, the Chairman, John Sheran, the gaffer. They’ve all been great.”

“ It’s been a great journey, and not just with the players, but everyone else behind the scenes.”

Having made his debut for the Dons back in April 2012, Jamie ultimately had to drop down before relaunching his career. There was a major step forwards in May 2019 when he scored in both legs of the play-off final against Berwick Rangers, the 7-0 aggregate win earning Cove that coveted place in the SPFL.

It is not so much the game at Shielfield Park, but the journey home, that Masson highlights as one of his most treasured memories with the club:

“The bus journey from Berwick….” at which point Jamie pauses, and that trademark smile lights up his face, “In fact, that’s probably not one to share, I’ll leave that story for when the cameras stop rolling!”

It was clearly an achievement to celebrate, and anyone who knows Jamie will be well aware how much he enjoys a celebration! As for those games, and winning through into the senior leagues, he says that was very special:

“What an experience that was, we all knew how much it meant to everyone at the club and doing it with those boys who had come up through the Highland League and to then win the pyramid, that was brilliant.

“Great memories to have for the rest of your life, and I’m so proud to have been part of it.”

There is little doubt that the home dressing room will be a quieter place from now on; as Jamie puts it, “They’ll need to get some other idiot in now!”

He will be missed in there for his humour and friendship, and all across the club for everything he has contributed over the past six years.

Jamie Masson leaves Balmoral Stadium as a Cove Rangers legend, someone who will be welcomed back with open arms at any time.

We wish him all success in his adventure down under.

PAUL HARTLEY

The news broke this week that Jamie Masson is about to emigrate to Australia, and I would like to start by paying tribute to a boy who has made a huge impact at this club.

He’s a great character and a talented player, technically probably one of the best at the club, but he’s got an opportunity to go away to Australia, which I know has been on the cards for a while, and at this stage of his life, I completely understand why he’s keen to make the move.

I honestly think he could have done much better in his career, but he’s been a good servant to Cove, and he’ll be sadly missed around the place. I’ll certainly miss that smiling face of his! At times, if you weren’t feeling at your best, Jamie would be the one to cheer you up, and the dressing room will certainly be a quieter place without him.

He’s just ‘Mass’, happy go lucky, and we wish him well. It will be good to get back playing again tonight after the frustration of having the cup-tie postponed. We were made to wait until the Saturday morning before officially announcing it, but we knew from the Thursday – when we were forced to cancel training – that the game wouldn’t be going ahead, as the pitch was rock solid.

It’s unusual for a match to be called off here because of frost, in fact it’s the first time I can remember that happening, so that was frustrating as we were desperate to get the game on.

It was fortunate we were able to get a slot at the Aberdeen Sports Village on the Saturday and we had a really good session then, and we’ve backed that up with a couple of good nights this week.

The Cup game is now on the back burner until next week, but the draw has of course been made, and there will be an extra incentive for both clubs knowing that another home tie, against Elgin City, is up for grabs.

Tonight’s match is however the most important thing. It’s vital we start getting victories, picking up more points, and if we can get a good result this evening, that will put a bit of pressure on Arbroath and Hamilton for tomorrow.

It will be a tough game though, I’ve been really impressed by what I’ve seen from Ayr United, but we’re at home, the TV cameras are here, and we want to put on a show for everyone.

I know the team has done well under the lights so far this season, in fact I was at two of them, the impressive wins over Dundee and Queen’s Park, and that’s a reminder that we’ve got it in us. Those were excellent performances, and I’m hoping we can do something similar tonight.

We have added a few players since the last match, and the new boys are in the squad, so I’m hoping that will give us a lift too. Whoever I select, we’re going to have to be at our best if we’re to get the result we all want.

Enjoy the game!

Paul Hartley

“Tonight’s match is however the most important thing. It’s vital we start getting victories...”

Goalkeepers

Gordon Young Jimmy Boyle

1. Stuart McKenzie

2. Shay Logan

26. Mark Reynolds

15. Kyle McClelland

Tam Ritchie

28. Brody Paterson

12. Scott Fox

23. Kyle Gourlay

Midfielders

Strikers

Advertising Opportunities

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To register interest for sponsorship, contact Angela Bruce: abruce@coverangersfc.com

4. Connor Scully

8. Blair Yule

22. Cieran Dunne

24. Fraser Fyvie

20. Robbie Leitch

9. Mitchel Megginson

11. Leighton McIntosh

16. Iain Vigurs

17. Luis Longstaff

7. Gerry McDonagh

25. Declan Glass

14. Miko Virtanen

18. Tony Weston

— Season 22/23 statistics

TONY WESTON

We were delighted to last week announce the loan signing of attacking midfielder Tony Weston from Rangers FC until the end of the season.

The nineteen-year-old began his career at Blackpool, moving to Ibrox in July 2021.

A regular for the Rangers B team in the Lowland League, Tony made his full debut for the club as a substitute in their 3-1 win over Hearts at the end of the 2021-22 campaign.

He was on loan at Partick Thistle in the first half of this season where he made a total of eighteen appearances and scored his first goal in their Scottish Cup win over Kelty Hearts.

Last week, Tony netted the opener in the Rangers B team’s resounding 5-1 victory over Thistle in the Glasgow Cup.

Manager Paul Hartley believes Tony adds an extra dimension to his squad:

“He’s got good movement and will give us more options in the final third. He’s an attacking threat, he’s got genuine pace, and his direct running will trouble opposing defences.

“I like his turn of speed, and that’s something I was looking to add.

“We were impressed by Tony when he played against us last season in the SPFL Trust Trophy and he’s a player I have kept an eye on. I’m delighted to get him on board for the second half of the season.”

Tony says he cannot wait to get started at Balmoral Stadium:

“I thought I might have to drop down a league, but I really didn’t want to, so to get the chance to play for Cove is great for me.

“I know they play good football, and I believe I’ve got what it takes to play at this level. I have proved I can do it in the Lowland League, and this is now an opportunity to do so in the Championship.

“I really enjoyed my time out at Partick Thistle. It was a good experience, a character-building exercise, and it was great to be involved in a first team dressing room.

“I’ve had a good chat with the manager, he’s made it clear that he will give me the chance to play, that I will be given opportunities, and it will be up to me to make the most of that.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting up with the squad and getting out on the pitch, and to start this next chapter of my career with Cove Rangers.”

Tony will wear the number eighteen shirt and we wish him all the best for the remainder of the season.

We would like to thank Rangers FC for their help in securing his services.

CAPTAIN’S VIEW —

I would like to begin by wishing my long-term teammate and best friend Jamie Masson all the best with his move to Australia.

Me and Mass go back years, as we knew each other from our time in the Youth Academy at Aberdeen. Moving to Australia is something he has been talking about for a few years now, he has always fancied giving it a shot, and he has decided now is the time to do it.

It will be strange not seeing him every other day. Everyone who has met Jamie will know how great a lad he is. He was always up for having a laugh and a bit of banter with the boys and staff, which is something every team needs. It is fair to say the changing room will be a lot quieter now!

He has been a big part of Cove for many years, and he will definitely be missed by all at the club.

Football is an ever-revolving game, however, and faces come and go. We have actually been lucky at Cove that we have had a core group of boys for numerous years that have stayed at the club. But as the years go on and people get older they tend to move on, and new boys come in who are aiming to improve the squad.

In recent weeks, we have seen both Scott Fox and Tony Weston arrive at the club, as well as more recently, Miko Virtanen. They are all hungry to come in and impress, with the hope of winning their place in the starting eleven, and it is good to have the competition for places again. Hopefully they can help us have a successful second half of the season.

It was disappointing that last week’s Scottish Cup game was postponed, as we were looking forward to

it, especially coming into it off the back of Morgyn’s late goal against Raith the week before. We managed to get an extra training session in at the Aberdeen Sports Village on Saturday morning, which was beneficial as it allowed Tony a chance to meet the boys and train with us for the first time, and it also gave the gaffer an extra session to work with us and get his ideas across.

We are up against a very good Ayr side this evening, but we have to take positives from the game we played down at Somerset Park in late October. There was nothing between the two sides that day, and the result probably could have gone either way. Being at home, we have to look to go one better and pick up maximum points from the game.

With the game being on TV, it adds an extra incentive to the match too. There will be people watching from afar who perhaps don’t watch Cove regularly, so we are determined to go out there and prove how good a team we are.

COYCR!

Mitch Megginson

“

We are determined to go out there and prove how good a team we are.”

— Miko Virtanen Signing

HELLO MIKO

Finnish midfielder Miko Virtanen is in line for his Cove Rangers debut this evening after signing for the club at the start of the week following a successful trial.

Miko, who has represented his country at under-19 and under-21 levels, has agreed a deal until the end of the current campaign, with a view to extending the contract in the summer.

The twenty-three-year-old began his career in the Everton youth academy, and joined Aberdeen FC in 2017. He had two successful loan spells with Arbroath, where he played more than thirty matches, and after being recalled, made his Dons debut in January 2021.

The Finn left Pittodrie to Join Hamilton and was a regular in the Accies side throughout the 2021-22 season.

His game time was more limited this time round after suffering a heel injury – although he did play against us in the 4-4 draw at New Douglas Park in October – and Miko negotiated his release earlier this month.

Manager Paul Hartley says the midfielder caught his eye during a trial period:

“He brings strength to the middle of the pitch, but he’s versatile and can play a few different positions. He can play central, he can play on the right, at right-back, I think he could play as a number ten, so good versatility, and he’s hungry to succeed.

“And he’s a good age, one we definitely think can help us between now and the end of the season.

“We kept an eye on him when he was at Aberdeen, we actually tried to get him on loan then, but he went to Arbroath and had a good spell there. He’s now got a fair bit of experience, has played fifty games in the Championship, so he knows the league pretty well, and can make a big contribution for us in the second half of the season.”

Miko is looking forward to embarking on the next stage of his career at Balmoral Stadium:

“I’ve been training with the squad over the last week and the lads have been great, so it’s good to get the deal done and the paperwork signed. I already knew a few of the players, so that helps, and the sessions I’ve done have been of a high quality.

“I came close to joining up with Cove in the past. I spoke to the manager, we had a few conversations, but for one reason or another, it just never worked out, so I’m really looking forward to working with him.

“I think midfield is my best position, but I can be pretty versatile and that will be down to the manager. I do like the defensive side, but I’ll play wherever I’m asked to if that helps the team.

“I know the league, which helps, and I’ve picked up a fair bit of experience. The injuries didn’t help, but I feel that’s behind me now. I’m fit, and having lived up here previously, it’s nice to be back. I’ve also played a lot of games at the stadium for Aberdeen reserves, so that will help me to settle in too.

With Paul Hartley reshaping the squad following his return to the club, Miko hopes to make the most of the chance he has been given:

“I guess it’s up to me. I’ve got six months to prove my worth and that I deserve a longer contract, but the most important thing is getting some games and helping the team get the points we’re going to need to stay in the Championship.”

Miko will wear the number fourteen shirt.

“...I know the league, which helps, and I’ve picked up a fair bit of experience.”

RYAN DOCHERTY

Everyone at Cove Rangers FC would like to pass on our best wishes to a popular colleague who is moving on.

Ryan Docherty joined us as part-time video analyst in the summer of 2020 and has since worked closely with both Paul Hartley and Jim McIntyre, the coaching staff, and the players.

His enthusiasm and attention to detail, and his deep understanding of the role, made him a valuable part of the team,

and we are all sorry to see him leave Balmoral Stadium.

Ryan has taken up a full-time post with Queen’s Park as Performance Analyst and Lifestyle Coach, and we have no doubt he will be successful in his new position.

It is an exciting challenge for Ryan, and although he will be missed at the club, he goes with our thanks for the part he played in securing Championship football for Cove.

Balmoral Stadium Wellington Circle, Altens, Aberdeen AB12 3JG

Honorary President Alan McRae OBE

Directors Keith Moorhouse - Chairman

Graeme Reid - Vice Chairman

Duncan Little

John Sheran

Darren Anderson

Grant Moorhouse

Safety Officers

John Morgan, Bill Ogilvie

Committee Michael Coull, Richard Forbes, Gordon Taylor

Football Manager

Assistant Manager

First Team Coach

Fitness Coach

Goalkeeping Coach

Head of Youth Development

Physiotherapist

Kit Manager

Paul Hartley

Gordon Young

Jimmy Boyle

Tam Ritchie

Derek Soutar

Gary Hake

Aimee Clark

Adrian Thomson

Club Doctor David Fowler

Commercial Manager

Head of Media & Communications

Digital Media

Club Photographers

Child Wellbeing & Protection Officer

Club Chaplain

Angela Bruce

Richard Gordon

Andrew Jamieson

Dave Cowe, Richard Forbes

Kate Dean

Dougie Simpson

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

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

Aberdeenshire

Centenary Cup

Runners-up

‘86-’87

Inter-League Trophy

Winners

‘01-’02

Cove Rangers

Manager - Paul Hartley

1

Ayr United

Manager - Lee Bullen

1 Aidan McAdams

2 Jordan Houston

3 Patrick Reading

4 Jordan Houston

5 Sean McGinty

6 Andy Murdoch

7 Michael Moffat

8 Ben Dempsey

Tonight’s referee - David Dickinson

Tonight’s assistant referees - Ross Macleod & Craig

Tonight’s fourth official - Alan Newlands