Bo'ness United Football Club is a Scottish football club, based in the town of Bo'ness. The team plays in the Lowland League after winning the East of Scotland League and gaining SFA membership in 2020.[1][2] They presently play their home games at Newtown Park, which holds 2,500 spectators and has been used as a football ground since the 1880s. They play in blue.
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| Full name | Bo'ness United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The B.U.'s | ||
| Founded | 1945 | ||
| Ground | Newtown Park, Bo'ness | ||
| Capacity | 2,500 | ||
| Manager | Stuart Hunter | ||
| League | Lowland League | ||
| 2023–24 | Lowland League, 3rd of 18 | ||
| Website | https://www.bonessunitedfc.co.uk/ | ||
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Bo'ness like many other clubs moved from the junior leagues in 2018.[3] The club won the Scottish Junior Cup on three occasions, in 1948, 1976 and 1984, and lifted the 2018–19 East of Scotland League Cup defeating Musselburgh Athletic 1–0.[4]
History
editNicknamed the B.U.'s, Bo'ness United were formed in 1945, at the end of the Second World War when Bo'ness, a club that had played in the senior ranks, being a member of the Scottish Football League from 1921 to 1932, merged with the Junior club Bo'ness Cadora.[5]
The club won the Scottish Junior Cup on three occasions, in 1948, 1976 and 1984.[4]
As a result of winning the 2009–10 East Region Super League, United competed in the Scottish Cup for the first time the following season. The club eventually reached the third round, defeating Scottish Football League Third Division side Queen's Park at home in round two.[6][7] They also reached the third round the following year.[8]
United moved to the East of Scotland Football League in 2018, along with many other East Region junior clubs.[3]
Lowland League
editThe club were promoted to the Lowland League after winning the East of Scotland League and gaining SFA membership in 2020.[1][2]
Rivalries
editBo'ness United have a healthy rivalry with Linlithgow Rose – the towns are about 3 miles (4.8 km) apart;[9] they were among the most successful and well-supported clubs from the days of the East Juniors[10] and both moved to the EoSFL at the same point in 2018.[3]
Bo'ness Athletic joined the Junior leagues in 2019 as an informal partner to Bo'ness United, but switched to the East of Scotland leagues as a separate club two years later, causing concerns over there being a new competitor (with similar names, badges and kit) within the same system and community.[11]
Current squad
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Season-by-season record
editJunior
editThis list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
| Season | Division | Tier | Pos. | Pld. | W | D | L | GD | Pts | Scottish Junior Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945–46 | Junior Edinburgh & District League | Junior 1 | 2nd | 22 | 19 | 4 | 5 | +30 | 30 | Second round |
| 1946–47 | Junior Edinburgh & District League | Junior 1 | 1st | 34 | 27 | 4 | 3 | +96 | 58 | Runners-up |
| 1947–48 | Junior Edinburgh & District League | Junior 1 | 1st | 42 | 28 | 6 | 8 | +77 | 62 | Winners |
| 1948–49 | Junior Edinburgh & District League | Junior 1 | 1st | 44 | 32 | 5 | 7 | +73 | 69 | Fourth round |
| 1949–50 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | Fifth round | |||||||
| 1950–51 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1951–52 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1952–53 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1953–54 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | 1st | |||||||
| Junior East Play-off | Runners-up | |||||||||
| 1954–55 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | 1st | |||||||
| Junior East Play-off | Runners-up | |||||||||
| 1955–56 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1956–57 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1957–58 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1| | 1st | |||||||
| Junior East Play-off | Winners | |||||||||
| 1958–59 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | 1st | |||||||
| Junior East Play-off | Runners-up | |||||||||
| 1959–60 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1960–61 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1961–62 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1962–63 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1963–64 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1964–65 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1965–66 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1966–67 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1967–68 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1968–69 | Junior East West Division | Junior 1 | 1st | |||||||
| Junior East Play-off | Winners | |||||||||
| 1969–70 | Junior East West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1970–71 | Junior East West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1971–72 | Junior East West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1972–73 | Junior East West Division | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1973–74 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 12th | 24 | 6 | 7 | 11 | −3 | 19 | |
| 1974–75 | Junior East Division B | Junior 2 | 4th | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 27 | ||
| 1975–76 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 5th | 24 | 9 | 8 | 7 | +5 | 26 | Winners |
| 1976–77 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | ||||||||
| 1977–78 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 9th | 24 | 11 | 2 | 11 | 24 | ||
| 1978–79 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 9th | 22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 21 | Runners-up | |
| 1979–80 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 4th | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 26 | ||
| 1980–81 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 6th | 22 | 6 | 11 | 5 | -4 | 23 | |
| 1981–82 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 3rd | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | +20 | 27 | |
| 1982–83 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | +3 | 24 | Runners-up |
| 1983–84 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 4th | 22 | 12 | 2 | 8 | +9 | 26 | Winners |
| 1984–85 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | +15 | 24 | |
| 1985–86 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | +10 | 25 | |
| 1986–87 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 8th | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | -7 | 23 | |
| 1987–88 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 9th | 26 | 7 | 8 | 11 | −15 | 22 | |
| 1988–89 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 8th | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | −9 | 23 | |
| 1989–90 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 2nd | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | +7 | 26 | |
| 1990–91 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 6th | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | +8 | 2 | |
| 1991–92 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 2nd | 22 | 10 | 8 | 4 | +7 | 28 | |
| 1992–93 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | +6 | 26 | |
| 1993–94 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 9th | 22 | 5 | 6 | 11 | −6 | 16 | |
| 1994–95 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 24 | |
| 1995–96 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 8th | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | −1 | 25 | |
| 1996–97 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 3rd | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | +14 | 38 | |
| 1997–98 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 4th | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | +12 | 34 | |
| 1998–99 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 9th | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | −8 | 24 | |
| 1999–2000 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 4th | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | +15 | 39 | |
| 2000–01 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | +1 | 36 | |
| 2001–02 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 7th | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | −3 | 30 | |
| 2002–03 | Junior East Lothian Division 1 | Junior 2 | 1st | 18 | 10 | 5 | 4 | +16 | 35 | |
| 2003–04 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 6th | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | +5 | 32 | |
| 2004–05 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | +2 | 35 | |
| 2005–06 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 6th | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | +7 | 32 | |
| 2006–07 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 11th | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | −13 | 21 | |
| 2007–08 | Junior East Premier League | Junior 2 | 1st | 22 | 15 | 3 | 4 | +20 | 48 | |
| 2008–09 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 10th | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | −12 | 24 | |
| 2009–10 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 1st | 22 | 14 | 6 | 2 | +30 | 48 | |
| 2010–11 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 1st | 22 | 12 | 6 | 4 | +12 | 64 | Semi-final |
| 2011–12 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 4th | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 27 | Quarter-final |
| 2012–13 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 4th | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | +12 | 38 | Quarter-final |
| 2013–14 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 1st | 30 | 22 | 3 | 5 | +47 | 69 | Quarter-final |
| 2014–15 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 2nd | 28 | 18 | 5 | 5 | +34 | 59 | Fourth round |
| 2015–16 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 4th | 30 | 17 | 5 | 8 | +24 | 56 | Third round |
| 2016–17 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 3rd | 30 | 17 | 4 | 9 | +39 | 55 | Third round |
| 2017–18 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 8th | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | +4 | 41 | Quarter-final |
Senior
edit| Season | Division | Tier | Pos. | Pld. | W | D | L | GD | Pts | Scottish Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | East of Scotland League Conference B | 6 |
2nd | 24 |
18 | 4 | 2 | +54 | 58 | Did Not Participate |
| 2019–20 | 6 |
1st† | 21 |
14 | 5 | 2 | +20 | 47 | Did Not Participate | |
| 2020–21 | 5 |
7th† | 10 |
5 | 3 | 2 | +9 | 18 | First round, losing to Bonnyrigg Rose | |
| 2021–22 | Lowland League |
5 |
11th | 34 |
10 | 4 | 20 | -24 | 34 | Second round, losing to Edinburgh City |
| 2022–23 | Lowland League |
5 |
9th | 36 |
16 | 6 | 14 | +20 | 54 | Second round, losing to Auchinleck Talbot |
† Season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Honours
editEast of Scotland Football League Premier Division
- Winners : 2019–20
East of Scotland League Cup
- Winners: 2018–19
- Winners: 1947–48, 1975–76, 1983–84
- Runners-up: 1946–47, 1978–79, 1982–83
Junior East Region Super League
Other honours
edit- Fife & Lothians Cup winners: 1993–94, 1996–97
- Edinburgh & District League winners: 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1957–58
- East Region Division One winners: 1968–69
- Lothians District League Division One winners: 2002–03
- East of Scotland Junior Cup winners: 1951–52, 1954–55, 1984–85, 1998–99, 2015–16
- Brown Cup winners: 1978–79, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1987–88, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2006–07
Notable former players
editThe following players all went on to be capped for the Scotland national football team after playing for Bo'ness United.[14]
- Paddy Buckley – St Johnstone and Aberdeen. Played in United's 1947–48 Scottish Junior Cup winning team.[15]
- Donald Ford – Hearts and Falkirk.[16]
- Alex Scott – Rangers, Everton, Hibernian and Falkirk.[17]
- Jim Scott – Hibernian, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Falkirk and Hamilton. Also a Junior international cap.[18]
References
edit- ^ a b "Max Christie: Bo'ness United manager says his troops wouldn't look out of place in Lowland League". www.falkirkherald.co.uk. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Day of destiny as Bo'ness Utd set for Lowland League place". www.linlithgowgazette.co.uk. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ a b c McLauchlin, Brian (7 June 2018). "East of Scotland League vote signals exodus of 25 junior clubs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Club History". Bo'ness United Football Club Website. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ Brian McColl. "Eastern Football League". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ Kenny Macdonald (24 October 2010). "Bo'ness 2 Queen's Park 1". Daily Record. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ "Bo'ness 0 Buckie Thistle 2". Daily Record. 21 November 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ Archie MacGregor (20 November 2011). "Blue Brazil get the rub of the green". Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ Kieran Westbrook (5 January 2012). "Linlithgow Rose boss prepares for Bo'ness battle". West Lothian Courier. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ Westbrook, Kieran (5 October 2011). "Linlithgow Rose set to face fiercest rivals Bo'ness in Scottish Junior Cup clash". dailyrecord. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Bo'ness United chairman Iain Muirhead has deep concerns about formation of rival senior team Bo'ness Athletic". www.falkirkherald.co.uk. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Squad". www.bonessunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ "Squad List". Twitter. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ McGlone, David; McLure, Bill (1987). The Juniors – 100 Years. A Centenary History of Scottish Junior Football. Mainstream. p. 189. ISBN 1-85158-060-3.
- ^ "Paddy Buckley". The Scotsman. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ "Donald Ford: Ex-Hearts and Scotland". Daily Record. 30 January 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ "Alex Scott". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ^ McGlone, David; McLure, Bill (1987). The Juniors – 100 Years. A Centenary History of Scottish Junior Football. Mainstream. p. 170. ISBN 1-85158-060-3.
External links
edit- Official website
- Unofficial club website
- Bo'ness United versus Forth Rangers (1949) (archive film from the National Library of Scotland: Scottish Screen Archive)