Bo'ness United News

BO'NESS UNITED F.C. NEWS

**All news is entirely unofficial, and is liable to be incomplete - but will be, to the best of my knowledge, correct. For latest news, updated rather earlier, read the Bo'ness Journal and support your local press.

DECEMBER 2003 +++ Bo'ness draw West Super League club Glenafton in the fourth round of the Scottish Junior Cup. The tie, at Newtown Park, is scheduled for 17th January 2004... +++ The BUs will meet Rosyth Recreation in the next round of the Fife and Lothians Cup. Rosyth have among their playing staff one of last season's Bo'ness heroes, in striker Iain Ferguson... NOVEMBER 2003 +++ Bo'ness are paired with Forfar Albion, of Tayside Division One, in the third round of the Scottish. The tie is due at Newtown on 6th December... OCTOBER 2003 +++ Bo'ness United's second round opponents in the Scottish will be fellow East Super Leaguers Oakley... SEPTEMBER 2003 +++ Bo'ness United receive a bye in the first round of the Scottish Junior Cup... +++ Forward Kevin Thomas, formerly of St Johnstone, signs for Bo'ness... +++ Bo'ness United receive a bye in the first round of the Fife and Lothians Cup... JULY 2003 +++ Departures ahead of the forthcoming season include goalkeeper Neil Binnie (retirement, for the second consecutive season), David King (Arbroath) and striker Gordon Herd (Dumbarton)... +++ Former Airdie player Jimmy Sandison is appointed as Bo'ness United's new coach, with John Martin (goalkeeper and former team mate at Airdrie to be his assistant... MAY 2003 +++ Bo'ness win their first league title in over thirty years after defeating Sauchie 4-3 in the league decider at Newtown Park... APRIL 2003 +++ Interim coach Alan Banner announces that he will not stay on in the position following the conclusion of the season... MARCH 2003 +++ Goalkeeping coach Alan Banner is appointed new manager following the resignation of Brian Fairley... +++ Coach Brian Fairley and assistant Alan McGonagal are to leave Bo'ness United to take charge at Dumbarton, ahead of the Scottish Cup semi-final against Linlithgow... +++ Following a dramatic 1-0 away win against Arthurlie in the Scottish Junior Cup, Bo'ness are drawn against - wait for it - arch rivals Linlithgow Rose in the semi-final... FEBRUARY 2003 +++ 16/2/03 Following the 2-0 win over Fauldhouse, in today's televised draw for the quarter finals of the Scottish Junior Cup, Bo'ness United were paired with West Premier League leaders Arthurlie... JANUARY 2003 +++ Brian Fairley completes the signing of forward Iain Ferguson... DECEMBER 2002 +++ Bo'ness have free weekends on the 21st and 28th December, as no competitive matches are scheduled for these dates... +++ 15/12/02 In the fourth round of the Scottish Junior Cup, Bo'ness are drawn at home against Camelon, a repeat of last season's fourth round tie, which Camelon won 2-0 in a replay, following a 2-2 draw at Newtown... NOVEMBER 2002 +++ 17/11/02 In the third round of the Scottish Junior Cup, Bo'ness are drawn away from home against Ayrshire club Maybole. The tie is due 7th December... OCTOBER 2002 +++ 13/10/02 Bo'ness are drawn away to St Andrews United in the second round of the Scottish Junior Cup, tie to be played November 9th.... +++ Coach Brian Fairley is fined Ł100 and banned from the dug-out until the end of the season after his dismissal during the controversial league meeting with Fauldhouse... SEPTEMBER 2002 +++ Bo'ness receive a bye in the first round of the Scottish Junior Cup... AUGUST 2002 +++ Bo'ness sign four players before the transfer deadline - Kenny McFarlane (Bonnybridge AFC), Scott Love and John Jeffrey (both Pitleoch Arms) and Davie Kirkham... +++ BUs head coach Brian Fairley declines an offer to return to his old job at Camelon, reports the Bo'ness Journal... +++ Bo'ness are drawn at home against Newburgh in the first round of the Fife and Lothians Cup... JULY 2002 +++ Weather and sheer silliness hamper preparations for new season... Bo'ness were unable to play either or their first two planned friendly warm-ups for the new season. Their second game, away to Oakley, fell foul to the July weather(!), while, even more daft, confusion over the venue of their meeting with Neilston resulted in both clubs turning up at their opponents' home ground. All this madness left Bo'ness without any match practice ahead of their local derby against Linlithgow Rose in the inaugural George Simpson Memorial Cup... OCTOBER 2001-JULY 2002 +++ Big news gap, apologies offered...Your esteemed webmaster is very busy and misses far too many matches... Ex-BU player and coach Brian Fairley is appointed coach to replace John Sludden, who resigned after a disappointing start to the 2001-02 campaign... Plans for a new stadium fall through, although we may not have heard the last of the matter... Bo'ness United legend Paul McKinlay moves on to Fife club Glenrothes... Bo'ness finish seventh in the league, failing to qualify for the new East Super League next season... Goalkeeper Neil Binnie retires at the end of the 2001-02 season... OCTOBER 2001 +++ Coaches John Sludden and Brian McLaughlin resign following the BUs' poor start to the season... SEPTEMBER 2001 +++ Rare progress for Bo'ness United in the Scottish Junior Cup - they receive a first round bye... AUGUST 2001 +++ The BUs receive a bye in the first round of the Fife and Lothians Cup... +++ Early season fixtures: 8th August, home to Broxburn (League Cup); 11th August, away to Musselburgh (Div. 1); 18th August, home to Camelon (Div. 1); 25th August, away to Bathgate (Div. 1); 1st September, home to Newtongrange (Div. 1); 8th September, away to Linlithgow (Div. 1); 15th September, home to Armadale (Div. 1). Additional matches in the Carlsberg League Cup possible, if progress is made. JULY 2001 +++ Squad changes involve the addition of Nimmo and McBriers...however, midfield workhorse Darryl Drew moves to East Region rivals Camelon... +++ To prepare for the new season, Bo'ness line up friendlies against Neilston, Premier League Motherwell and Livingston (both of whom the BUs met last pre-season), all at home, and on the road against Cumnock... JUNE 2001 +++ The front page of the Bo'ness Journal features plans for the proposed new stadium, with seating for over 600...it is suggested that the stadium could be ready for use the season after next if it gets the go-ahead.. +++ Right back Gary Smith is voted Bo'ness United's Player of the Year by both his fellow players and the supporters club... MAY 2001 +++ Midfield star Kevin Inglis is to leave the club to move south to England, where he will play for non-league Witham Town... +++ The club confirm that they are in favour of the plan for a possible move away from Newtown... APRIL 2001 +++ Front page news in the Bo'ness Journal suggests that Bo'ness United have been involved in discussions about the possibility of relocating from Newtown Park to a new ground on the south of Bo'ness - if proposed redevelopment goes ahead there... FEBRUARY 2001 +++ Bo'ness players John Black and Dale Ryan are called up to the East of Scotland Under-23 team... DECEMBER 2000 +++ Bo'ness receive a bye in the first round of the St Michaels Cup, now sponsored by Cooperative Funeral Services...and are drawn away to Musselburgh Athletic, their conquerors in the Fife and Lothians, in the bizarrely named Doug 'n' Al Cup (ie. the Brown Cup) - does anyone have any idea who Doug 'n' Al are?? NOVEMBER 2000 +++ Three United players - John Black, Alan Ward and Kevin Inglis - are selected to the East Region Under-23 side to take on the North Under-23s... +++ Jamie Loney is suspended for two games for his dismissal against Broxburn... OCTOBER 2000 +++ Cup draw news: Bo'ness are paired with Lochore Welfare, away from home, in the second round of the Scottish Junior Cup, to take place on 4th November...And the BUs get a home tie versus Musselburgh of the East Second Division in the Heineken-sponsored Fife and Lothians Cup... SEPTEMBER 2000 +++ A bid for Steve Menmuir of Dunipace is turned down due to differences in the respective clubs' evaluations... +++ Bids for two unnamed senior players fail... +++ Bo'ness receive a bye in the first round of the Scottish Junior Cup... +++ The draw for the second round of the Calder's East of Scotland Cup is made, pitting Bo'ness against West Calder away from home - if they can first dispose of Broxburn in their unplayed first round match... +++ Whitburn's appeal fails to get them reinstated to the League Cup. Bo'ness will thus play at home to Livingston in their quarter-final... +++ Bo'ness sign 20 year old Kevin Inglis, cousin of centre-half Colin, amid glowing reports of his ability. Inglis previously was at English Premiership club Ipswich Town, where he progressed as far as the second team... AUGUST 2000 +++ Whitburn are disqualified from the League Cup, pending a possible appeal, after fielding an illegible player. Livingston will take their quarter-final place against Bo'ness... +++ The League Cup quarter-final clash with Scottish Junior Cup holders Whitburn (23/8/00) is postponed after Livingston United appeal over their match in the last round, claiming Whitburn may have fielded an inelligible player... +++ Bo'ness receive a bye in the first round of the Heineken sponsored Fife and Lothians Cup... +++ John Sludden pleads with supporters for patience over the lack of new signings, and insists he is looking for players [The Sun, 5/8/00]... +++ Pre-season opponents are to be First Division Raith Rovers (1st Aug, home), Premier League Motherwell (3rd Aug, home), Central League Neilston (5th Aug, away) and First Division Livingston (8th Aug, home). See Results for scores... JULY 2000 +++ Left-sided midfielder/defender Eddie Halford leaves for 1998/99 Central League champions Shotts Bon Accord... +++ Pre-season will start with a friendly away to Bannockburn Amateurs on 31st July... +++ Hopes for a friendly against Hearts to officially open the new enclosure fall through... +++ Goalkeeper Neil Binnie and defender Gary Smith, subjects of interest from senior clubs in recent months, sign new contracts to keep them at Bo'ness... +++ Kevin Hoggan reverses on his decision to quit junior football - deciding instead to sign for East rivals Camelon... JUNE 2000 +++ 10th June - Bo'ness United lose 2-1 to Armadale Thistle in the final of the St Michaels Cup... +++ Club stalwarts Jimmy Burns - Bo'ness' all-time leading goalscorer - and Kevin Hoggan retire from junior football... Manager John Sludden admits he is on the look-out for new players... +++ Midfielder Dougie Todd is signed by SFL Third Division club East Stirlingshire, of Falkirk, now managed by ex-Linlithgow boss George Fairley... +++ Bo'ness receive a bye in the first round of the Carlsberg League Cup, the first cup competition of the 2000/01 season... They are also drawn away to Broxburn Athletic in the first round of the Calders East of Scotland Cup...

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Graeme Scotland, July 2000