Bo’ness United enjoyed a successful inaugural season in the East of Scotland League, winning the League Cup while achieving second place in Conference B to ensure their spot in the Premier Division.

The coming campaign is anticipated with some excitement as the BUs renew rivalries in the top League with former Junior Super League adversaries, Broxburn Athletic, Camelon Juniors, Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Jeanfield Swifts, Linlithgow Rose, Musselburgh Athletic, Newtongrange Star and Penicuik Athletic. Crossgates Primrose, Dundonald Bluebell, Sauchie Juniors and Tranent Juniors join Bo’ness from Conference B while Blackburn United and Dunbar United also made the grade. The only former East of Scotland side is Whitehill Welfare who were relegated from the Lowland League, Bonnyrigg Rose going the other way.

The management team of Max Christie, Ian Black and Kevin Haynes only arrived at Newtown Park in the second part of the season but the superb seventeen game winning run ultimately achieving the League Cup triumph and promotion. Haynes has since left to take up the assistant manager post at Berwick Rangers, but the remaining duo are determined to have a good start to the campaign and a successful season overall. Blair Munn has joined as part of the coaching team.

With work continuing at Newtown Park, the home games in the early part of the season will be played at Carmuirs Park. Thanks go to Camelon Juniors for putting us up as they did in the final months last time round. Hopefully the BUs will return to their true home before too long.

As usual there have been comings and goings with Marty Wright (Cumbernauld Colts), Allan MacKenzie (Darvel), Nicky Prentice (Kilsyth Rangers), Josh Macdonald (Released) and Alex Marshall (Released) all leaving the club but coming in are, Thomas Grant (Alloa), Mark McKenzie (Crossgates Primrose) and Terry Hewitt (Sauchie). Ryan Stevenson, who was on loan from Raith Rovers has now signed a contract as a BU player having been released by the Fife side. Ian Nimmo left the BUs in March 2016 but is making his return after spells at Arthurlie and Kelty Hearts. This gives a current squad of sixteen players although there is likely to be a few more signings over the coming weeks.

As with the previous East Region Super League there will be few if any easy games in the East of Scotland Premier League and Bo’ness face a difficult opening game at Broxburn Athletic. Broxburn won Conference C last season although lost against Penicuik Athletic and eventual League winners Bonnyrigg Rose in the playoffs. They had an impressive campaign and are aiming to be successful this season.

Bo’ness last played at Albyn Park in November 2017 in an exciting match that finished in controversial circumstances. Broxburn staged a great late comeback after goals from Marc Kelly and Hassan Nyang had given the BUs a half time lead. With less than ten minutes remaining, former BU players Darren Gribben and Zander Miller brought Broxburn level. Into time added on the referee gave an extremely dubious penalty award and Gribben hammered home the Broxburn winner from the spot.

Max Christie was in charge of Broxburn for that game but resigned the following week to take up the reigns at Tranent Juniors. Zander Millar still plies his trade at Broxburn as does Craig Scott and keeper Connor Wallace. Former BU Steven Hislop is Assistant Manager and Ian Nimmo’s brother, Ross also plays in the red of Broxburn.

Preparing for the new season Bo’ness won at Whitehall Welfare and drew at Livingston and Bonnyrigg Rose. These games combined with the tough preseason training should see Bo’ness ready to take on all comers and Saturday’s game at Albyn Park will be the first of many tests. Eager to see their favourites the BU Faithful have good memories from last season and will make their presence felt home and away as they look to enjoy the coming months watching Bo’ness United.

John Spowart
24 July 2019