The Citizen - Issue 5 - 2023

Both our League games so far could have gone either way, but “nearly moments” don’t get us there. In the early days of last season we had the boost from the Play-Off final, and although we secured some early points we also lost heavily on occasion. Compare for instance our results against Dunfermline and Falkirk from August with those from March-April. It’s rarely all plain sailing at the start of the season, but I have a squad I believe in. We are not a million miles away from being where we want to be.

We have no promotion momentum this season – on the contrary, we had the uncertainty caused by the club’s change of ownership during the summer. Budgetwise, it was quite late on before we knew what we could offer out-of-contract players, and we weren’t able to have a proper pre-season. In early games we had to field players who hadn’t yet got the minutes in their legs, alongside young lads from the Development team. Ross County, Greenock Morton, Queen of the South, Hamilton Accies, Falkirk.

That’s some start to the season, but we like tough encounters. We want to test ourselves; we want to show that we can carry a threat and that we can play well against big teams. Facing up to the challenge is the thing.

Testing ourselves against Accies is a big task for us, but with our squad we can acquit ourselves well. Liam Fontaine is back to fitness, and on Josh Walker’s recommendation we have added defender Sam Gormley from Gretna. He’s got good ability and attitude, and he performed very well when he came on, slightly out of position, to replace Kyle Jacobs. I expect a lot from him.

Enjoy the game

CHAIRMAN JOHN DICKSON

Good afternoon and welcome to Meadowbank Stadium, where our visitors today are Hamilton Academical.

Having dropped down from the Championship, John Rankin’s side have made a perfect start to life in League 1, with wins away at Kelty Hearts then at home to Cove Rangers, and are yet to concede a goal. As I touched on last week, it’s a major challenge to compete with full-time teams, but we showed for 80 minutes last week that we can do it, and Alan will have the team ready for the challenge once again.

As I mentioned, it looked for much of last week’s match with Queen of the South, that we were going to break our unwanted losing streak, but sadly we came away empty-handed once again. In spite of this, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I felt there were many positives from our performance, and that we were worthy of at least a point from the match. My belief is that results will turn, and given how tight this division is likely to be, a couple of wins and we could see ourselves in the top half of the table. The management and players need and appreciate the support of the fans, as do I. It has been one of the most pleasing aspects of this season so far, to see our average crowds far ahead of expectation. With that however I must remind all our fans, but specifically our younger groups, that whilst we want and encourage you to be as vocal and passionate as possible, there must also be respect for stadium rules, as well as

for our volunteers, Meadowbank Centre staff and our stewards. We absolutely want you to get right behind Alan and the boys, but please remember to do so within the rules. They are there for everyone’s safety.

Our new home kit made its long-awaited debut last week and it looked terrific. We have already had great feedback online and a number of orders placed. I appreciate that postage costs are high in the current climate, so I have created a click-and-collect at Meadowbank, which will help with the overall expense of buying the new kits. If you choose this option, we will email you once the items are ready and these will be available to collect on match days from the stadium. As always, enjoy the game everyone! Yours in sport,

CAPTAIN LIAM FONTAINE

It was hard on us to lose to Queen of the South. Our first-half performance against a full-time team was heartening and we got an early goal, but we knew we could expect a reaction from them in the second half. The game did swing in Queens’ favour but we held out until ten minutes from the end, conceding two goals very quickly. If we had changed our way and maintained concentration after the first goal went in, we could have held out for a point. We need to take the initiative in matches against full-time clubs, who have the advantage of greater experience. It’s necessary to implement small fixes, and to maintain consistency. It’s still very early in the season, but we’re playing another full-time side. When we face Hamilton Accies we will have to show that we have learned from last week and frustrate them. We have to stretch ourselves and get forward. Our younger players should be constantly comparing themselves to their fulltime opponents and aspire to reach these standards. They should

always be thinking, where am I in regard to sharpness, fitness, concentration –how am I affecting the game?

We have a good balanced squad of youth and experience. And it’s about the experienced ones, helping to develop the younger ones in game management and mindset on how to regain initiative when things go against us. Introducing youngsters against seasoned full-timers is a great way to boost their skills and confidence; development football is completely different in pace and intensity.

Hamilton Accies will be very fit and organised –their Gaffer John Rankin is massive on fitness. We need to nullify their attacks and frustrate them, use our possession better than we have been doing, and not rush the final pass. We should show our conviction from the start, put all our opponents under pressure, and be ready to put chances away.

Enjoy the game, Liam

WELCOME TO MEADOWBANK

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Meadowbank Stadium for our second home League game of the season. It’s another difficult one this week – in fact, our first three home matches are against full-time sides – and today we pit ourselves against table-topping Hamilton Academical, who were in the Premiership as recently as 2021 and are determined to get back there: starting with a Championship title this season. Even this early in the season the bookies back them up – across all bookmakers Accies and Falkirk are neck-and-neck favourites, significantly ahead of Cove Rangers and Queen of the South. And even ahead of Edinburgh City.

On pages 13-15 of today’s Citizen we welcome Hamilton Accies for our firstever League meeting, and have a look at how their season has started.

HOW OUR SEASON HAS STARTED

As you may have inferred from the second paragraph, the bookies are not yet refusing to take bets on us winning the title. Six defeats in our first six matches isn’t an optimal start to the season, but there is no evidence of despair either on or off the park at Meadowbank.

How we lost to Kelty or at Stranraer are matters of mild exasperation, not causes for tragedy. Morton should never have beaten us as heavily as they did,

■ New mural on the base of the original Stadium scoreboard (photo Tommy Lee)

WELCOME TO MEADOWBANK

Queen of the South won 2-1 by hitting two quick goals in the last ten minutes of the match, Stirling Albion cheerfully conceded that either of us could have won that game, and Ross County are in the Premiership. Our new players are starting to gel as a team, and there have been some lovely bits of football in the last few weeks.

We’re in ninth position now, with thirtyfour matches to play in the regular season; Edinburgh City are hardly in the bed next to the door. Ideally we’d like to be able to consolidate in cinch League 1 before we start casting our eyes at the Championship (if we got promoted we could hardly play home games at this ground, anyway).

The Gaffer sets points targets for each quarter, and I doubt he would endorse the light-hearted comments from some of our supporters to the effect that “as long as we finish above ninth it will be ok”. After the departure of our previous Board we had a hell of a lot to do in a very short time, but we’re starting to make headway now, on and off the park. We won’t be in the “bad” Play-off zone for long.

APOLOGIES

Last week was another good crowd (by our standards) and just like the Ross County game that meant a lot of people fuming while we tried to sort out ongoing problems with the turnstiles. Against the Staggies, there were problems with water and the electrics, and we had to resuscitate the old non-League trestle table and biscuit tin. Come Queen of the South and no-one was available to unlock the turnstile block, the foot

switches didn’t work, and the new electronic card-and-ticket system was proving problematic. God knows what will go wrong this week, but we apologise anyway.

WELCOME JOSH AND PARTY

We welcome to Meadowbank Stadium this afternoon a stag party celebrating the forthcoming wedding of Josh and Jade.

Chris Harvey says that the stags all met at St Wilfrid’s School in South Shields, and the members are from South Shields or the adjacent town of Jarrow. Josh still lives in Jarrow, with his fiancée Jade and daughter Ivy.

THE NEW STRIPS ARE HERE!

The new Hummel kits for the current season were unveiled last week, and first worn at our cinch League 1 match with Queen of the South. The kits are simple in design, in line with current trends – Kelty Hearts’ and Stirling Albion’s jerseys are practically self-coloured t-shirts. The first kit is all-white, with minimal black trim, the second black and red striped shirts with a red back, black shorts and socks. The training top has a nice squiggly pattern in red and black. No advertisers on the front of the shirts – that space will go to the winners of the Shirt Sponsorship draw.

SPONSORSHIP

LIAM FONTAINE SPONSORED BY DANNY HANDLING SPONSORED BY (H) Boab Fallon and Neal Rooney

(A) The Residence Collection

KYLE JACOBS SPONSORED BY RUSSELL McLEAN SPONSORED BY Lewis Mitchell

KIERAN MacDONALD SPONSORED BY INNES MURRAY SPONSORED BY Lewis Dalgarno

OUZY SEE SPONSORED BY RYAN SHANLEY SPONSORED BY George Czemartin and Craig Crichton

KEENAN WEALTH MANAGEMENT WILL SPONSOR OUZY SEE’S BOOTS THIS SEASON!

LEE HAMILTON SPONSORED BY QUINN MITCHELL SPONSORED BY TBC

SPONSORSHIP

There are great sponsorship opportunities available at Edinburgh City – not only for the Club as whole, but for sides and players, including the First Team, our Women’s Team and our Under-20s!

Please go to the COMMERCIAL section on our Club website and check out the benefits of:

• Matchday Sponsorships

• Match Ball Sponsorship

• Captain’s Sponsorship

• Player Shirt Sponsorship

• Advertising at the Stadium

We are excited to launch the first-ever Edinburgh City Shirt Sponsorship Draw for season 2023/24. Being the premium sponsor of an SPFL team is a massive branding opportunity, and a unique form of brand-awareness, however it is a significant cost to any business. With that in mind, we are offering businesses (or individuals) a chance to get a sponsorship package worth five figures, for the price of a family inflatable hot tub!

So get over to our website and take advantage of this INSANE offer –https://edinburghcityfc.com/shirtsponsorship-prize-draw/

WE WELCOME LOVE/HEMP AS ONE OF OUR OFFICIAL BACK-OF-SHIRT ADVERTISERS!

Proud Partner of Edinburgh City F.C.

WELCOME TO HAMILTON ACADEMICAL

This afternoon we welcome to Meadowbank Stadium all from Hamilton Academical, the sixtholdest club in the SPFL. This will be the first time our two sides have met in the League, although we have had a number of friendly and cup encounters since our first meeting in 2006.

Accies won the Scottish Challenge Cup (the SPFL Trust Trophy) last season, beating Raith Rovers 1-0 at the Falkirk Stadium on 26 March this year. That was a rare highlight for the New Douglas Park men, who lost their Championship spot after they were beaten on penalties by Airdrieonians in the play-off final. It was a dreadful season for Hamilton, who dropped into the bottom two in October and pretty much stayed there until the end of the season.

There was a huge turnover of players during the summer, with departures and arrivals both reaching double

figures; and social media indicated that Accies fans (not the most easy to please) were happy with the squad that gaffer John Rankin was assembling. There were several names we know well, including Jamie Barjonas of Kelty, Kyle MacDonald and Kevin O’Hara of Dunfermline, and Stephen Hendrie and Connor Murray of Queen of the South. Lewis Spence, now with City, is one of the players who left New Douglas Park. The new squad has started with a bang. A pre-season defeat by Cumbernauld Colts provoked a few groans, but friendlies don’t mean anything. In the Viaplay (Scottish League) Cup Accies just missed out on qualification for the Second Round, with wins over Clyde and Brechin City, a penalties win against Livingston and a penalties defeat by Cove Rangers.

In cinch League 1 Accies are top of the table and favourites for promotion, and have beaten Cove Rangers and Kelty Hearts so far.

WELCOME TO HAMILTON ACADEMICAL

Hamilton Academical will be formidable opponents for Edinburgh City this season – they are full-time, they have a famous youth academy, and for almost twenty years they have been plying their trade in one or other of the top two divisions of the Scottish game.

Yet although our results so far this season have not been quite what our play deserves, we are getting visibly better each week as our old and new players become familiar with one another’s game. It will be a hard match, but let’s hope it’s a good one. We wish you a great afternoon’s football, and hope that you have a safe journey home.

■ Our last meeting, from Edinburgh City TV: a 2021 League Cup tie at Ainslie Park

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Officially, this will be the fourth time Edinburgh City and Hamilton Academical have met – but that’s in competitive first-team action. In fact, this will be our seventh encounter. We did not play one another during City’s first spell in the Scottish League, 1931-1949; Accies were always at least one division above us, and we avoided one another in the Scottish Cup. We first met in 2006 when Accies were let down by Steaua Bucharest for a friendly, and we – then East of Scotland League champions – were hastily invited to New Douglas Park to give Accies a game. The home side, which included a 15-year-old James McCarthy, won 5-2. Accies were

good enough to reciprocate by playing a friendly at Meadowbank the following year, winning 1-0. In our first season in the SPFL, 2016/17, we hosted Accies in the Group stages of the League Cup, being 2-0 up at one point but eventually succumbing 2-4. In the following season’s Challenge Cup Accies’ under-20s beat us 1-0 in front of 153 spectators at NDP; the crowd was better but the scoreline worse (for us) when in 2019/20 we were thumped 5-0 in the Fourth Round of the Scottish Cup. Our last encounter was in the League Cup Group stage once more, on 9 July 2021 at Ainslie Park, and yet another Hamilton Accies win - 1-0.

UNDER-20 FIXTURES 2023/24

MORE FIXTURES WILL BE ADDED AS CUP COMPETITIONS ARE DRAWN

Our Under-20s are members of the Scottish Lowland Development Football League, Conference A, and play their home matches at Meadowbank Stadium on Friday evenings, kicking off at 8:00 p.m.

www.sldfl.co.uk • twitter.com/OfficialSLDFL/ • www.facebook.com/officialsldfl/

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COMMENT IS THAT THE SCORE?

It’s more than 30 years since Sky Sports changed the way football is televised. The recent retirement of their main commentator, Martin Tyler, brought to mind a time when Tyler moved from ITV to the fledgling satellite broadcaster and the way we watched the game on the small screen – televisions had relatively small screens thirty odd years ago – changed.

In years gone by, there weren’t too many football games which were covered live in their entirety on television. Cup finals, the annual Scotland-England game and the odd European final were shown live. Your bread-and-butter League games were only shown live on a sporadic basis.

When Sky Sports first broadcast live League games in the early 1990s, they introduced an innovation at the time –the “score bug”, showing the score on the top left-hand corner of the screen. In the days before Sky Sports, fans walking into a pub and watching a game on the television in the corner of the pub used to ask someone what the score was. Rather irritatingly when Sky showed a game people would then ask, “is that the score?”

Now this just may be me, but I am often peeved when broadcasters – and they all do it now, not just Sky – abbreviate the teams on the top left of the screen. Most Scottish games covered usually involve Celtic and Rangers, so the abbreviations CEL and RAN are obvious. But others aren’t so clear. For example, I’ve seen Aberdeen shown as ABE, ABD, and ABN; Dundee United as DDU, DUT and DNT – although thankfully, following the Tangerines’ relegation last season, no one has yet used DUD…

Now, we live in a different world where the television broadcaster is king. Fixtures and kick-off times are arranged on a whim. Sunday afternoons, at one time sacrosanct, are now promoted as “Super Sunday” with kick-off times on the Sabbath edging later and later each season. The opening weekend of the English Championship, for example, saw Sunderland entertain Ipswich Town on the Sunday with a 5.00pm kick-off. A less than convenient way to end the weekend for those fans of the Tractor Boys faced with a long journey back to Suffolk.

Watching English football can be even more confusing. Sky’s coverage of the English Championship can be particularly so. Take Sheffield Wednesday, for example. I’ve seen SHE, SHF and SHW. When they play city rivals United in the Steel Town derby looking at the score can have a migraine inducing effect.

A few years ago, I was out enjoying a few shandies on a Friday evening and entered a bar where the television screen high on a wall was showing a live game. Now these shandies must have been particularly strong as my pal and I both had to screw our eyes to make out the abbreviated team names on the top ➤

COMMENT

GUEST WRITER MIKE SMITH

left-hand corner of the screen. It read BRA 0 POR 0.

“Who’s playing?” my pal asked through somewhat slurred speech. “I think it’s Brazil against Portugal,” I replied whilst paying for another round of drinks. After a few minutes we realised it was actually Braga against Porto in the Portuguese League, something I really should have picked up on sooner as I had attended Sporting Braga’s unique stadium a couple of years earlier to watch Hearts in a UEFA Cup tie. The huge rock face behind one of the goals should have been a clue, but the combination of alcohol and confusing team abbreviations made this more difficult than it should have been …

shandies (there’s a theme here – Ed) - then it would be helpful to know the other goalscorers. I know most people have smart phones these days and a quick check on t’internet would give you this information. However, television broadcasters used to provide all the goalscorers’ details whenever a goal was scored.

Even more annoying, however, is the recent trait by broadcasters to only show the name of the scorer of the last goal. If you have been watching the game on television from the beginning this isn’t really an issue. But if you join the game midway through the second half – particularly if you have had a few

I think back to the days when ITV used to be interested in football and displaying not only the names of all the goalscorers when a goal was scored but also a huge 45-minute clock with a giant ‘S’ - a nod to their popular sports programme World of Sport I believe - showing how much of that half had been played. Now I know I might come across as something of a dinosaur (you said it –Ed) and the young ‘uns will say ‘you can watch the game on your phone now, Grandad.’ And they’ll have a point. But I still think of football as a simple game –and prefer watching it to be as easy as possible.

Twitter @Mike1874 www.thefitbason.com

RESULTS AND TEAMLINES 2023-24

24. 23

Rangers (A) Lg

25. 30 Dec Hamilton Academical (H) Lg

26. 06 Jan Alloa Athletic (A) Lg

27. 13 Jan Falkirk (H) Lg

28. 20 Jan Reserved date SC4

29. 27 Jan Annan Athletic (A) Lg

30. 03 Feb Kelty Hearts (H) Lg

31. 10 Feb Montrose (A) Lg

32. 17 Feb Queen of the South (H) Lg

33. 24 Feb Stirling Albion (A) Lg

34. 02 Mar Cove Rangers (H) Lg

35. 09 Mar Hamilton Academical (A) Lg

36. 16 Mar Alloa Athletic (H) Lg

37. 23 Mar Falkirk (A) Lg

38. 30 Mar Kelty Hearts (A) Lg

39. 06 Apr Montrose (H) Lg

40. 13 Apr Queen of the South (A) Lg

41.. 20 Apr Annan Athletic (H) Lg

42. 27 Apr Stirling Albion (H) Lg

43. 04 May Cove Rangers (A) Lg

12 - Starter 12 - Substitute used

1 - Goal scored P - Penalty goal

Contract Players

12 - Substitute not used

In scorelines, City score always given first

SNIPPETS THE RAMBLING REPORTER

Hi everyone! Firstly, I’d like to say hello specifically to a couple of old acquaintances of mine, Dan and Chris, who I met in a boozer. Hard to believe, I know. These guys were ardent supporters of a now-defunct non-League team in our local area named JARROW ROOFING (I’m sure they played Edinburgh City in a preseason friendly several years ago). But, as you may have read elsewhere in the programme today, Dan and Chris are here in Edinburgh for a stag do and have decided to visit Edinburgh City while they’re here, so to Chris and Dan and all their friends, but particularly to Josh Thompson and his bride, Jade, from this page, hearty CONGRATULATIONS!

OK, is that it, guys? Can I get on now with what I should be doing, writing about non-League football in England? I’m sure, given your background, you’d say, “yes Eck! Get on with it!”. So, I shall. Just last week, I was talking about the prelims of the F.A. Cup here in Enger-land, and guess what? Part two is coming up!

The first name to jump out at me this week was that of BAFFINS MILTON ROVERS. And why not? This club, who play in all-blue strips, were only formed in 2011 from two other clubs in their Portsmouth area: Baffins Milton and Milton Rovers. Whilst they agonised for what must have been hours over a name for the new club, some other person got on with getting them into a league somewhere. The upshot of it all is that they now play in Non-League Step 5 (English Tier 9) which, to be honest, is

not too shabby. They seem to play at a ground called The Kendall Stadium and are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division. They have never before progressed beyond the preliminary round of the F.A. Cup. And they still haven’t, being humped 4-3 by A.F.C. Stoneham.

Next up for me was F.C. ROMANIA. Now, I could hazard a guess at what this team are all about, and I’m pretty much right. No surprises for working out that this club was started by Romanian immigrant workers who wanted to play football and, in 2006, they did just that, competing in a Sunday League on London’s Hackney Marshes. And rather successful they were, too – to such an extent that by 2012 they were ground-sharing with Hertfordshire-based Cheshunt F.C. and playing in the Middlesex County Football League, although they now compete in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division (English Tier 9). Means nowt to me, either. You won’t be surprised to hear that their colours are largely yellow, blue and red, the colours of Romania’s flag.

SNIPPETS THE RAMBLING REPORTER

I must admit I was more than a little surprised to see Larkhall’s name amongst those in the F.A. Cup prelims. I was under the impression that Larkhall was a wee town close to Hamilton – I’m sure there are many people here today who know the place better than I do –but on this occasion we are talking about the beautiful English city of Bath, home to LARKHALL ATHLETIC F.C. This Somerset club play in the Southern League Division 1 South – presumably there is also a Division 1 North of the Southern League, somewhat oxymoronically – at a ground known as Plain Ham, where they have played since their formation way back in 1914. Kitted out in their all-blue strips, the club badge features a blue bird in the centre, a lark, no less, giving the club their nickname of….The Larks. Stunningly imaginative stuff. Their visitors in the cup were Cosham Town F.C. from Wiltshire who were sent home after a wasted journey, the Larks winning by 3-1.

The fascinating thing for me about this round of the F.A. Cup is that you have little or no idea of the calibre of the opposition you are drawn against – and I may be wrong, but I very much doubt these teams at the lower levels can afford to send an entourage half way across the country to spy on the opposition, and you don’t know how good they are, or otherwise, until the game itself gets underway.

Another Somerset club, STREET F.C., got themselves a home match against MILLBROOK A.F.C., from Cornwall. Both these clubs have very good websites, with seemingly lots going on for the 12,000 residents of Street, and the couple of thousand people who live in the village of Millbrook. But it could be that their respective leagues are miles apart in terms of standard. Street, who play at The Tannery Ground in their green and white broad striped jerseys and green shorts and socks, thumped Millbrook by nine goals to one. Street play in the Premier Division of the Western Football League (English Tier 9), are known as the Cobblers, and even produce a professional looking programme for a pound, and Millbrook in Division One of the Wessex Football League (English Tier 10), in white shirts with blue sleeves, shorts and socks. Does this result mean the leagues are poles apart in ability, or is it just that Millbrook were awful on the day? Who knows?

Enjoy the game today, folks, and have a safe journey home.

Viaplay Cup Round 1. Pictures by Tommy Lee Photography

MATCH REPORT

GREENOCK MORTON 4 EDINBURGH CITY 1

Edinburgh City made the trip to Cappielow for the final game of the group stages, looking to secure their first win of the group against last season’s Championship promotion chasers. Gaffer Alan Maybury made five changes following the defeat to Ross County, with injuries ruling out some key players.

Morton started on the front foot, and good play down the left saw a cross find Robbie Muirhead in the box only for the striker to head over. A few minutes later Morton, who were guilty of overplaying in their own half, saw a slack pass go straight to City’s Robbie Leitch who broke on the Morton back four only to flash his shot just wide of the near post. From the early moments Morton were the better side, with lots of possession, and

they started trying to create chances by putting balls in the box to trouble the City keeper. McNeil had trouble with one particular cross, leading to two decent chances for Morton which they couldn’t convert. The longer the first half went on the more City struggled to get hold of any meaningful possession, which gave the hosts and mainly winger Jai Quitongo the chance to get more and more into the game. A City attack down the right was halted by a bad foul on Ciarán Brian outside the box, but unfortunately the free kick came to nothing.

City were still trying to hit Morton on the counter attack, but weren’t getting much joy with their breaks or final ball. Then in 33 minutes a run down the right by winger Jai Quitongo, who was

Viaplay Cup Round 1. Pictures by Tommy Lee Photography.

MATCH REPORT

GREENOCK MORTON 4 EDINBURGH CITY 1

Viaplay Cup Round 1. Video by ‘Ton TV – used with thanks.

getting a lot more joy down that side, saw a ball into the box headed out for a corner on the left. The corner was a deep one in on top of McNeil who failed to hold and ex-Kilmarnock defender Kirk Broadfoot headed into the net right on the line – a goal that on the balance of play had been coming for some time. It sparked the visitors into a response, and a ball in behind the Morton defence was handled outside the box by Morton keeper Mullen to give City a free kick on the angle of the 18-yard box. Jacobs tried to catch the keeper out by going near post, but the keeper was equal to it and kept the ball out. Further good football from City saw Handling and Leitch combine to create a chance for Innes Murray whose shot,

just before the half-time whistle, was saved well. 1-0 at the interval, and although Morton were the better side the visitors did muster a few chances. City started the second half well with good play putting Leitch in for a shot from the edge of the box which went just wide. Shortly after, in another City attack, Boyd was booked for a tackle on Jacobs but the free kick came to nothing. Morton mounted their first attack of the second half and a cross into the box saw the visiting keeper pull off an excellent save from a six-yard header in the middle of the goal. In a counter-attack Leitch shot from outside the box but didn’t trouble the Morton goal. The home side regained their grip on the game and Quitongo, a threat

MATCH REPORT

GREENOCK MORTON 4 EDINBURGH CITY 1

Viaplay

throughout, showed good skill on the left to force a good save from McNeil as Morton started to turn the screw. McNeil made another great save from Quitongo, and the rebound was headed straight at the keeper. Just after the hour mark Morton scored a second, when Robbie Crawford cut in from the left hand side and curled a beautiful effort in off the far post to give the hosts a two-goal lead. Straight from the kick-off the home side pounced on a loose ball and got another shot away which was saved well by McNeil. In 75 minutes Morton substitute Alex King made it three when he shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner, giving the City keeper no chance and effectively killing the game. In fairness to City

they kept going, and managed to pull a goal back when Shanley, who might have been just offside (which Morton boss Dougie Imrie quickly pointed out to the assistant referee) found substitute Robbie Mahon who chested the ball down only to have his shot saved; his rebound hit the post and Innes Murray who was following up managed to finally put the ball in. Shortly after, Ryan Shanley had an effort cleared off the line. Finally, two minutes from time, Morton restored their three-goal advantage through ex-City loanee Cameron Blues, who headed a cross from the left-hand side past McNeil to make the final score 4-1.

Match Report by Graeme Farrell

Cup Round 1. Video by Video by Dode Allen Media.

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MATCH REPORT

STIRLING ALBION 1 EDINBURGH CITY 0

It was the start of our second season in cinch League 1, and we were paying a visit to last season’s cinch League 2 title-winners Stirling Albion. The City players lined up on the park as a guard of honour to applaud the home side on to the park, when the championship flag was raised. There was a good attendance of 806, although the crowd seemed quiet than usual by Albion standards. City lost the toss and would defend the Wallace Monument end. City’s run-up to this game was hardly ideal – two pre-season matches, and one of them was against Hibs. The Viaplay (League) Cup was effectively the pre-season, and team-building continued through the Group stages. Three players – Lewis Spence, Kieran Offord and Jack Wilkie – were to make their debuts at Forthbank, with Jack only meeting his team-mates for the first time that same day. Meanwhile, some players were carrying knocks from the Viaplay games, and ideally they might not have

been playing that day.

The Binos would take all three points through a magnificent free-kick by Cammy Clark, 19 minutes from time, but it was pretty generally agreed that the result could have gone either way. Despite injuries and unfamiliarity, City have a good squad of players this season, and once the team gels we can expect results to improve rapidly. This is happening already. Albion had the benefit of a big crowd watching the pomp of the presentation of a flag and a trophy, they had a very fine Viaplay Cup group stage with wins over Stenhousemuir, Alloa and (to widespread astonishment) St Johnstone – not to mention a draw against Ayr United – but, as we said, there was little between the two teams in the season opener.

The grass pitch (the only one in cinch League 1) was a bit heavy after morning rain and that seemed to suit the home side more than City. Albion pressed

Cinch LEAGUE 1. Pictures by Tommy Lee Photography.

■ A guard of honour for the cinch League 2 champions

MATCH REPORT

STIRLING ALBION 1 EDINBURGH CITY 0

Cinch LEAGUE 1. Video by Video by Dode Allen Media.

hard and Adam Cummins had the ball in the net in seven minutes, but was offside. City’s counter-attack saw Spence just fail to connect with a Murray cross. Most of the traffic at this stage was towards McNeil’s goal with the homesters making good use of space and Greig Spence looking particularly dangerous; but City eventually weathered the storm. In 21 minutes a Crane shot from outside the box was confidently held by Currie, and moments later Lewis Spence was well tackled in the box after securing a pinpoint cross from Murray. City suffered a setback when Jacobs had to be replaced in 24 minutes, and Jack Wilkie came on for his debut. The visitors continued to attack, Shanley breaking free from half-way with the home fans

howling for offside, but his final shot went wide.

It could have been bad for City when Ryan Shanley kicked out after tangling with Paul McLean – the home fans were rather less quiet at that point – but Mr Stuart must have seen faults on both sides and Ryan got away with a yellow. Leitch’s interception released Shanley in 36 minutes, but another excellent save by Currie kept the scores level. A blazing angled shot from Innes Murray was once more well held by the Albion keeper. The homesters came back into the game in the five minutes before the break and Andy McNeil was kept busy with shots from Moore and Spence, while a tiny slip from the keeper almost allowed Carrick to dispossess him in a ➤

MATCH REPORT

STIRLING ALBION 1 EDINBURGH CITY 0

Cinch LEAGUE 1. Video by Video by Dode Allen Media.

dangerous situation just in front of goal. Another setback from the visitors after Robbie Leitch took a knock in 56 minutes, and Albion came right back into the game. Leitch, Carrick and Spence all came close; but in 68 minutes MacDonald tripped Carrick about 25 yards out and Cammy Clark’s lovely free-kick (which may have clipped Murray’s shoulder) gave McNeil no chance.

The rain started to come down once again and it wouldn’t let up before the end of the match. In 71 minutes Carrick beat the offside but was foiled by a great tackle by Hamilton. City had their own late attempts to wrest a deserved point, the best being an Offord shot in 78 minutes following a superb run, saved on the line by McLean with Currie well beaten.

TEAMLINES

29 July 2023

VIAPLAY CUP

GREENOCK MORTON 4-1

EDINBURGH CITY

Greenock Morton: 1. Ryan Mullen

4. Darragh O’Connor, 6. Calum Waters, 7. Steven Boyd (Garrity 73), 8. Cameron Blues, 9. Robbie Muirhead, 10. Jai Quitongo (Bearne 73), 14. Robbie

Crawford, 15. Kirk Broadfoot, 21. Grant Gillespie (capt.) (King 52), 22. George Oakley (McGrattan 73).

Substitutes: 17. Lewis McGrattan, 18. Michael Garrity, 19. Jack Bearne, 25. Alex King.

Scorers: Broadfoot (33), Crawford (67), King (75), Blues (88).

Edinburgh City: 1. Andy McNeil, 4. Lee Hamilton, 8. Robbie Leitch, 9. Ryan Shanley, 13. Kyle Jacobs (Peter 55), 16. Liam Fontaine (capt.) (Mahon 46), 18. Innes Murray, 22. Ciarán Brian , 24. Quinn Mitchell (Devine 46), 28. Danny Handling, 30. Callum Crane (Mair 65).

Substitutes: 11. Robbie Mahon, 19. Gwang-Rwad Peter, 20. Brodie Devine, 21. Cammy Quate (sg), 25. Struan Mair.

Scorer: Murray (83)

CSC Player of the Match: Innes Murray

Referee: Calum Scott

Assistant Referees: Sean Carr and Craig Macrae

Attendance: 1404

29 July 2023

CINCH LEAGUE 1

STIRLING ALBION 1-0

EDINBURGH CITY

Stirling Albion: 1. Blair Currie, 3. Cameron Clark, 4. Paul McLean (capt.), 6. Adam

Cummins, 7. Aaron Dunsmore, 8. Ross Davidson, 9. Dale Carrick (Banner 80), 10. Jack Leitch, 11. Kieran Moore, 22. Greig Spence (Thomson 70), 24. Lewis Milne.

Substitutes: 12. Kyle Banner, 14. Jordan Wyles, 18. Godwin Kangni-Soupke, 19. Matthew Meechan, 23. Robert Thomson, 27. Mark Weir (sg).

Scorer: Clark (69)

Edinburgh City: 1. Andrew McNeil, 2. Kieran MacDonald , 4. Lee Hamilton, 6. Lewis Spence, 8. Robbie Leitch (Offord 57), 9. Ryan Shanley (McLean 72), 10. Danny Handling (Mahon 72), 13. Kyle Jacobs (Wilkie 26), 17. Liam Fontaine (capt.), 23. Innes Murray, 30. Callum

Crane

Substitutes: 5. Scott Mercer, 7. Robbie Mahon, 11. Kieran Offord, 20. Jack Wilkie, 21. Cameron Quate (sg), 22. Ciarán Brian, 25. Quinn Mitchell, 33. Russell McLean

CSC Player of the Match: Lewis Spence

Referee: Peter Stuart

Assistant Referees: Andy Milne and Scott Anderson

Attendance: 806

Booking Sent off

SUPPORTERS

THE NEW CSC PODCAST IS AVAILABLE!

Episode 20 of the very unofficial CSC Podcast was made available on all the usual social media outlets shortly before the Queen of the South match. Featuring the talents of Big Time Board Member Boab Fallon (a.k.a. the Reverend Boaby Love), Neal Rooney, and Ally Moncrieff who would rather not be called Monkcastle (sorry Ally), it has 53 minutes and 55 seconds of news, comment and, quite frankly, winging it.

Topics include the Viaplay (League) Cup, a squad update, the new deal for Danny Handling (now signed until

2026), the Q & A session between the Gaffer and the club members, an update from the Fans’ Rep (Boab) and previews of the Under-20 and Women’s seasons.

The CSC Podcast can be found on Spotify, Apple and other hosting sites –you can get links from CSC Twitter, @ClubCitizens.

Robert Fallon can be contacted on Twitter @ECFCFanRep or email him at fansrep@edinburghcityfc.com

■ “The guilty men – Ally, Neal and Boab”

AWAY DAY ANNAN ATHLETIC

Our first return to Galabank since the glorious Play-Off Final second leg, back on 16th May 2022; Annan have since joined us in cinch League 1. Famously one of the most hospitable grounds in the entire SPFL, you will be made welcome in the Social Club at the ground. Admission is £16 adult, £12 for concessions (senior, 17-21, disabled), senior £6 for 12-16, and free for accompanied under-12s. Get tickets conveniently – Annan Athletic use Fanbase.

HOW TO GET THERE - ROAD

91 miles, takes about two hours. A702 to Abington, A74(M) to Junction 20, B722 goes directly to Annan and passes Galabank a few hundred yards inside the town boundary. Car parking at the ground.

HOW TO GET THERE - RAIL

No direct route from Edinburgh. Best way is from Edinburgh to Carlisle and a local train back to Annan. Times vary but around three hours. Ground 20-minute walk from station. Book online as far in advance as possible and look for cheap tickets; standard one-way price a ludicrous £89, but you could get a return for £40-£50 or even less.

HOW TO GET THERE - BUS

No direct route from Edinburgh. Changing from other major points, Stagecoach 79 runs frequently and gets to Annan from Carlisle, Dumfries or Gretna. Stagecoach West 382 or Houston Coaches 383 run between Lockerbie and Annan.

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/

PLAYER STATISTICS 2023/24

MEET THE REFEREE

IAIN SNEDDEN

We welcome to Meadowbank Stadium this afternoon our match referee Iain Snedden of the Edinburgh & District Referees’ Association. On the Category 1 list since 2021, this will be the fourth City match in which Iain has taken charge – the first being a League Cup match back in July last year, the second during a monsoon at Alloa in January, and the most recent at Peterhead in April. I’m afraid the picture on the left is one of the few we have in the Citizen picture library.

Iain will be assisted by Ross Nelson (Category 3 Specialist Assistant Referee) from the Lanarkshire Referees’ Association, and Cameron Stirling (Category 1) of the Edinburgh & District Association.

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. Andy McNEIL (GK)

2. Kieran MacDONALD

4. Lee HAMILTON

5. Scott MERCER

6. Lewis SPENCE

7. Robbie MAHON

8. Robbie LEITCH

9. Ouzy SEE

10. Danny HANDLING

11. Kieran OFFORD

13. Kyle JACOBS

17. Liam FONTAINE ©

20. Jack WILKIE

21. Cameron QUATE (GK)

22. Ciarán BRIAN

23. Innes MURRAY

25. Quinn MITCHELL

29. Ryan SHANLEY

30. Callum CRANE

33. Russell McLEAN

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Iain Snedden

Assistant Referee: Ross Nelson

Assistant Referee: Cameron Stirling

Manager: John Rankin

1. Ryan FULTON (GK)

2. Josh O’BRIEN

3. Jackson LONGRIDGE

4. Lee KILDAY

6. Jamie BARJONAS

7. Euan HENDERSON

8. Scott MARTIN ©

9. Kevin O’HARA

10. Dario ZANATTA

11. Lewis SMITH

15. Connor MURRAY

16. Kyle MacDONALD

17. Ryan ONÉ

19. Andy WINTER

20. Joe McGLYNN

21. Dylan TAIT

22. Reghan TUMILTY

23. Chris McGINN

24. Mikey HEWITT

25. Fergus OWENS

26. Cian NEWBURY

27. Liam MORGAN

31. Jamie SMITH (GK)

33. Stephen HENDRIE

51. Josh LANE (GK)

NEXT HOME MATCH:

CINCH LEAGUE 1

v FALKIRK

Meadowbank Stadium

Saturday 02 September 2023

Kick-off 3:00 p.m.