ANNAN ATHLETIC
Saturday 3rd Aug ‘24 • 15:00 KO
02 UPCOMING FIXTURES & LEAGUE TABLE
PREMIER SPORTS CUP ROUND-UP
04 PREMIER SPORTS CUP ROUND-UP
The season got up and running in mid-July with the group stage of the Premier Sports Cup, and it would prove to be an incident-packed couple of weeks for the club.
We kicked-off at home to The Spartans on a foggy night at Balmoral which severely reduced visibility at times, and that was perhaps no bad thing for Cove fans, as we got off to the worst possible start. Trailing to an early penalty and an own goal at the interval, we conceded three more after the break as our visitors romped to victory.
Next up was the short trip to Forfar with the team determined to make amends, and despite again conceding the opener, the side battled back into the match, and were level on the half hour mark when Connor Scully impressively fired home from a tight angle.
We continued to create chances, and were in control for much of the second half, but could not find a way through a determined home defence. It remained 1-1 after the ninety minutes, Forfar claiming the bonus point after prevailing in the penalty shootout.
GROUP STAGE DRAMA UNFOLDS
“Gaffney raced clear on to a Declan Glass through ball and confidently fired home into the top corner. ”
Matchday three saw Livingston visit Balmoral on league cup duty for the third successive year.
Once again, we went behind early, to another unfortunate own goal, but after that the team coped comfortably with the threat posed by their Championship opposition, and came close to levelling on a number of occasions before Livi secured the win late on.
It was the following morning the club was alerted to an issue regarding Grady McGrath, whose suspension for being sent off on the final day of last season’s Highland League had not been included in the list sent out by the SPFL.
A tribunal would ultimately impose a fine on the club, hand Forfar a 3-0 win for the Station Park encounter, and ban Grady for two matches.
With that, Fraser Fyvie also being suspended, and a number of other absentees, it was a depleted squad which travelled to East End Park for the group closer against Dunfermline, but the team put on an excellent showing to claim the three points.
Having looked solid and organised at the back, Mikey Doyle nudged us in front just short of the hour mark, and the victory was clinched late on when Myles Gaffney raced clear on to a Declan Glass through ball and confidently fired home into the top corner.
It was an impressive conclusion to the campaign, the side improving in each of the games since the Spartans defeat, and the result offered some momentum ahead of this afternoon’s start to the League One season.
ON TO PASTURES NEW
There were two departures from the club this week as defender Josh Kerr and midfielder Mark Gallagher moved on to pastures new.
Josh asked to leave for family reasons, wanting to return closer to home in the central belt, and revert to part-time football. He has signed for League Two side, Stirling Albion.
Having joined us in the summer of 2023, Josh played thirty-two times for Cove Rangers, scoring four goals.
Mark Gllagher has left the club to sign for League Two, Elgin City.
The midfielder decided he wished to go part-time as he plans on entering higher education and returns to Borough Briggs after a successful spell on loan there last season.
Mark made sixteen appearances for Cove Rangers, scoring once, in last season’s league cup against Hamilton Academical.
Everyone at Balmoral Stadium would like to thank both players for their contribution, and wish them well for the future, both on and off the pitch.
Nick Suman
4. Connor Scully
8. Blair Yule
2. Finlay Murray
6. Will Gillingham
3. Michael Doyle
9. Mitch Megginson
7. Ryan Harrington
10. Declan Glass
21. Balint Demus
24. Fraser Fyvie
20. Myles Gaffney
14. Luke Strachan 12. Milosz Ochmanski
25. Mikey Milnes 11. Grady McGrath 15. Arron Darge
17. Findlay Marshall
22. Adam Emslie
Welcome to Balmoral Stadium as we kick-off what will be our sixth season in the SPFL. While the last couple of campaigns have not gone as well as we would have hoped for, it is still quite an achievement for a club of our size to be competing as we have, and we go into this one full of hope and optimism.
We have worked really hard pre-season, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge which lies ahead.
I have seen a big improvement the last couple of weeks, the performance levels have been better against Forfar, Livingston and then especially Dunfermline. We took a lot of confidence from that win against a Championship side, and we can take that into the League One season.
I think we’re more than ready. The squad is still a little short in terms of numbers, we know that, and we are working to get players in, but that’s not always as easy as people might think. We will add to it, but I have a good group here, it’s a strong squad, and I’ve got full belief in what they can do.
It’s an open league this year. Every team in the division will be good, they’ll be hard to break down, so it will be important to get off to a positive start. You probably need about six to eight games, then you’ll have a better idea where you are and what the challenge is going to be.
I have been in football a long time now, but more than ever I have that buzz, that excitement, ahead of the league season kicking-off; this is the real stuff, this is why we train hard for what will be another long, and unpredictable, campaign.
I look forward to seeing you all this afternoon, hopefully we can put on a good performance, but the most important thing is winning, and that’s exactly what we will be trying to do.
Enjoy the game, Paul Hartley
“I have a good group here, it’s a strong squad, and I’ve got full belief in what they can do.”
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CLUB HONOURS
Scottish League 1
Winners ‘21-’22
Scottish League 2
Winners ‘19-’20
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
Scottish Qualifying Cup (North)
Winners ‘90-’91, ‘00-’01
Runners-up ‘88-’89, ‘91-’92, ‘01-’02, ‘03-’04
Highland League Cup
Winners ‘94-’95, ‘99-’00, ‘04-’05, ‘14-1’5, ‘16-17, ‘18-’19
Runners-up
Aberdeenshire Cup
‘90-’91, ‘92-’93, ‘95-’96, ‘97-’98, ‘05-’06, ‘07-’08, ‘11-’12
Winners ‘01-’02, ‘10-’11, ‘18-’19
Runners-up ‘92-’93, ‘94-’95, ‘16-’17, ‘17-’18
Aberdeenshire Shield
Winners ‘90-’91, ‘00-’01, ‘08-’09, ‘17-’18
Runners-up ‘94-’95, ‘12-’13, ‘15-’16
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
Annan Athletic
... AND WE EVEN THROW IN YOUR MATCH TICKET!
cinch League One Sat 10th February ‘24 Rugby Park
The club offers an alternative hospitality package in the Players Lounge, an option which has proved highly popular.
Already, we have had stag parties, work and family outings, and other large groups, and the package is also available to individuals.
Competitively priced as just £70pp, which includes VAT and the cost of the match ticket.
The afternoon is hosted by the club’s former kit-man, Adrian ‘Edser’ Thomson – a popular and well-known figure among Cove fans.
Package includes:
• Arrival ninety minutes prior to kick-off
• Complimentary drinks
• Sandwich platter pre-match
• Reserved seating in the West Stand
• Half-time tea, coffee and pie
• Full-time bar for 45 minutes after final whistle
• Car parking
• No dress code
• One-off option or book for the season