by Chris Pow from Official Catchup

We’re finally here. The Lowland League title run in reaches a thrilling climax, with Clydebank, Bonnyrigg Rose, Linlithgow Rose, and Tranent locked in the closest battle ever to become Lowland League champions. 

Clydebank currently sit top of the table on 70 points from 32 matches, boasting an impressive goal difference of +56. Bonnyrigg Rose are just two points behind on 68 from the same number of games, while Linlithgow Rose (66 points from 31 games) remain in contention thanks to an extra game in hand. 

All three sides have had their spells of dominance and consistency throughout the campaign, with high-scoring attacks and solid defensive records defining their seasons. The quartet of clubs have pulled clear of the rest over the last few months, turning the final weeks into a high-stakes scramble where every remaining fixture for the top 4 carries title implications. 

The remaining fixtures promise drama and direct confrontations that could swing the outcome decisively. League leaders Clydebank face a potentially season-defining away trip to Linlithgow Rose on 11th April with a final home fixture against Caledonian Braves on the 18th. Bonnyrigg Rose, meanwhile, travel to Broxburn Athletic on 11th April before hosting Linlithgow Rose on the 18th April.

Linlithgow Rose have arguably the toughest schedule, with a trip to Celtic B, a home clash against Clydebank, and the visit to Bonnyrigg Rose on the final day. These fixtures pit promotion hopefuls against each other while offering opportunities for the chasing pack to capitalise on slips by the leaders. 

Key to the race will be how the top sides navigate their head-to-heads and maintain momentum. Clydebank’s superior goal difference provides a crucial safety net in the event of tied points, and their recent form including an emphatic victory over Broxburn. Bonnyrigg Rose, with their history of strong runs, could pounce if Clydebank falter at Prestonfield, but they must also handle the tricky away fixture to the Brox first. Linlithgow Rose’s three remaining games offer the most scope for points gains, yet their path involves two of the current top three.

The final-day Bonnyrigg-Linlithgow clash at New Dundas Park looms as a potential title decider, if Clydebank fail to win at Prestonfield, however, where one side could eliminate the other while handing an advantage to Clydebank. 

Scenarios & Outcomes

Clydebank know if they win their final two fixtures they will be Lowland League champions. A win against Linlithgow would put the Bankies within reach, however, a loss would not necessarily be curtains due to Bonnyrigg Rose and Linlithgow Rose facing each other on the final day of the league season.

Bonnyrigg Rose need to pick up 3 points away to Broxburn Athletic and hope that Clydebank lose one of their remaining two fixtures, a draw unlikely to be enough due to the Bankies superior goal difference. Linlithgow Rose need to drop points before their final day visit to New Dundas Park setting up for what could be an absolute classic between the two Rose clubs.

Linlithgow Rose, similar to Clydebank know if they win their final three fixtures they will lift the Lowland League crown due to hosting league leaders Clydebank at Prestonfield and facing Bonnyrigg Rose at New Dundas Park on the final day.

In all likelihood, Clydebank are poised to claim the Lowland League crown and secure the pyramid play-off berth, provided they avoid a major slip in their two remaining outings. Their combination of a points cushion, superior goal difference, and recent form makes them the clear favourites in what has been an absorbing four-way tussle. Bonnyrigg Rose appear best placed to push them closest, while Linlithgow Rose could yet force a dramatic finale with a win against Clydebank.

Regardless of the final standings, the 2025-26 season has showcased the competitiveness of the Lowland League, with these four clubs delivering excitement right to the wire.

Happy new year! From everyone at the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League we wish you nothing but health and happiness for 2026. 

To ring in the new year, we asked Chris Pow from Official Catchup to take you through each team’s chances for the rest of the season!

Clydebank 

The majority of pundits predicted Clydebank to challenge this season and they have lived up to that expectation – maintaining top spot in the Lowland League. 

It almost feels strange to say that a team that has scored the most goals and has a top three defensive record, could find another gear, but that’s how I feel about the Bankies. Certainly over the last couple of months they have done what good teams do and found a way to win, while not necessarily playing their best football. The 4-1 loss to Caledonian Braves last month would have been a major warning against complacency as there’s been a lot of examples of close games, and then there’s been other times where Clydebank have won by 4 or 5 goals, they need more of the latter to lift the title at the end of the season, especially with all their remaining home fixtures being against top half sides, including a massive fixture against Bonnyrigg Rose, who beat them in the reverse fixture.

Key Player – Technically gifted Neil McLaughlin has been in fine form for the Bankies this season, scoring 14 goals in 20 league games. 

Bonnyrigg Rose

Early on, my predictions for as many as four or five clubs to be in the title race looked to be up in smoke, however, over the last couple of months the two horse race between Clydebank and Linlithgow Rose turned on its head. Bonnyrigg Rose have gone on an impressive 10 match winning run in the Lowland League to put themselves back in contention.

The Rosey Posey started the season playing at Whitehill Welfare’s Ferguson Park and it’s tough to say how much of an effect these things can have on results but Bonnyrigg were clearly not at their best early on, considering the quality of their squad. Losing one of the best defenders in the league, Kerr Young, to injury would have been a blow to any team’s chances, however, moving back to New Dundas Park seems to have galvanised the club.

It’s no secret I wasn’t a massive fan of Bonnyrigg Rose the last time they were in the Lowland, mainly with differences in opinion on how the team set up and played. Rose still won the league and promotion to the SPFL, in fairness, however, this time round, the football feels a little more captivating from a spectators point of view. Of course, they have the best defensive record in the league to counteract my point. Something which could be key to finishing top of the league again down the stretch.

Key Player –  Due to the run the Rose have been on lately, an argument could easily be made for any of the starting XI. Cammie Ross has scored 17 goals in 21 league games so I’ll stick with the very safe option. 

Broxburn Athletic

It was clear to almost everyone that Broxburn were building a team to challenge at the start of the season and they have for the most part. 

John Millar returned to the club to take over as manager in late August and there’s been a few ins and outs in terms of the playing squad. But with the strength of the current team, the Brox remain in contention, only trailing league leaders Clydebank by 6 points. It’s hard to really judge what’s going to happen when you’re hoping teams above you slip up. The Brox need to be as consistent as possible now, if they have any chance of winning the league.

Key Player – There’s more than a few candidates but I have to go with big Errol Douglas – 16 goals in 19 league games. 

Caledonian Braves

The season has been largely disappointing for the Braves, despite sitting in fourth place in the league, currently.

Whether it’s my own personal expectations or a general feeling for many, I wanted to see more from a clearly talented squad. Last season’s third placed finish was built from the back, and there’s been times where I’ve seen Braves concede the sloppiest of goals, reminiscent of the static defence of the old Edusport days, that would frustrate me, as a spectator. I’m not going to throw out the famous “consistently inconsistent” line to describe this squad because it’s not a true reflection. The Braves have just failed to turn up on several occasions and it’s potentially cost them a chance to challenge this season, which was the expectation. Hopefully, the Braves can stay relevant in the title picture for the remaining fixtures.

Key Player – Easily, Braves best player this season, Lennon Walker, with 18 goals in 20 league games. I’ll cut short of calling Lennon a revelation as he was decent at Tranent and Bo’ness United before, but in more of a channel forward role, he’s been a massive bright spark for the Braves. 

Linlithgow Rose

Rose were on a tear in the early part of the season, fighting it out with Clydebank for the top spot, winning 10 league games in a row, the most of the season, only recently equalled by Bonnyrigg Rose.

So, what happened? Why the fall off? Like everything else in life, it’s never just one thing. The injury to talisman Dylan Paterson certainly wouldn’t have helped. Dylan had scored 13 goals in 13 league games up until October. Since then he has been out. Every club deals with players getting injured but it’s extremely difficult to replace a player who was averaging a goal a game. Defensively they haven’t been good enough recently, which would be a criticism. They have missed Ciaran Greene over the last few months, also due to injury, I believe, to add to the woes.

Key Player – Connor McMullan is always a stand out for Rose and they will need to rely on his experience and leadership to help get through this poor run of form and back to winning wins, if they have any chance of progressing back further up the table.

Tranent

Tranent similar to Bonnyrigg Rose and Broxburn Athletic were another club that had a real purple patch during October and November. Unfortunately for the Belters, less so this month, which has halted a wee bit of momentum in the league.

The keen eyed amongst us will have spotted I stated Bonnrigg have the best defensive record in the league, when actually, Tranent have only conceded 21 goals also, though Rose have played one more game. A hallmark of any Robbie Horn side is a good defence, which always puts his team in contention. Tranent do have a couple of games in hand over teams above them, so nothing can be ruled out in terms of their chances at the moment.

Key Player – A team with an outstanding defensive record, I kind of need to pick a defender. I feel like Euan Bauld doesn’t get enough credit from me sometimes and as Tranent captain, I don’t think I can go wrong with highlighting him here.   

Bo’ness United

What to really say about Bo’ness United? They’ve had two fantastic results recently, beating Linlithgow Rose in the derby and Broxburn Athletic on Saturday with the one-two punch of Shaun Brown and Kieran Mitchell. I just want to see more of it, as do the Bo’ness United faithful, I’m sure.

I don’t want to put a dampener on the BU party but too many times the BUs have had a really good result but go on to lose games in the following weeks, they were likely the favourite for. Just finding that extra motivation and consistency is the difference between Bo’ness United and the top sides, in terms of results.

Key Player – I actually think there are a few candidates but I said at the start of the season, any success Bo’ness United will have will be down to Kieran Mitchell staying healthy and scoring goals and I’m delighted he’s done that with 14 goals in 22 league appearances. 

Cumbernauld Colts

I think Cumbernauld Colts are doing fine. The top half is where I believe they should be. 

I do often show a wee bit bias to the Colts, simply cos I am a fan of them giving opportunities to players from their development side, which we’ve seen consistently this season from manager John Doyle. Staying in the top half will be the goal for the remainder of the campaign. 

Key Player – It’s tough not to maybe give Josh Jack a mention here but taking into consideration a few other factors, Liam Allison gets my vote. For a player that was out injured for the majority of the last campaign, Liam has been solid since his permanent move to Broadwood. Colts had a young squad last season and were missing that wee bit of experience and leadership and Liam has provided it this campaign.

Celtic B

Not many believed me when I said Celtic B would take a step back this season, as we have been so used to them pushing at the top end of the league in previous years.

This season has been different because the squad is a lot younger. Celtic signed a lot of the under 18s side to professional deals last June, essentially pushing them to play for the B team, while the older age bracket are loaned out to the SPFL. Whether Celtic and Hearts will remain in the league after the split, that I can’t answer, but given the approach, I think it’s less likely than before.

Key Player – It’s hard to pick from a talented group of youngsters. Personally, Conor Daly has impressed me. The 16 year old Scotland international has been solid and doesn’t look out of place against senior players. A big future ahead of him, hopefully. 

Cowdenbeath

I don’t think Cowdenbeath fans would forgive me if I didn’t mention they only had two players signed up at the start of the season.

Paul McLean has done a fine job and credit to football operations coordinator (I think that’s his title) Colin Nelson also, for putting the team together this season. I talked about the potential of the side and certainly there’s a few players at Cowdenbeath, who have impressed, some of which coming from pretty much obscurity. The main aim this season was always going to be building for the future.

Key Player – Speaking of obscurity, I always say it’s rare for me not to have at least heard of a player’s name before and that’s exactly what happened with Finlay Ness. Coming from the amateurs, the 23 year old has been impressive in his first season at tier 5. 

Gala Fairydean Rovers

Gala must be magic cos they’ve done things in spells this season (excuse the humour). They had a surprisingly strong start and then dropped off and then had another wee winning run recently. 

It’s no secret, Gala play entertaining and attractive football under Martin Scott, This doesn’t always translate to good results. The major thing hampering Gala’s progress last season was the amount of goals they conceded, which has been resolved this campaign, but they have also cooled off on the amount of goals they were scoring, so midtable is where they find themselves. A push for a top half finish isn’t out of the question for the rest of the season.

Key Player – Jared Lyons has been impressive for Gala this season while covering multiple positions throughout.

Berwick Rangers

Berwick Rangers are a bit like the Stranger Things finale, just okay. It’s actually a bad example because the Dream Team is far less predictable. They have had their moments of brilliance, but other times, you’re just never certain what’s going to happen.

The best thing about Berwick Rangers this season has been their X spaces. The guys that do the commentary on the games are fantastic, always enjoy listening in, regardless of the result, In terms of the football, it really has been hit and miss. The club have made it clear they are looking ahead to next season already, allowing club stalwart Liam Buchanan to leave in December.

Key Player – The experience and leadership of Mark McConnell would help any team in the league.

University of Stirling

If I’m honest, I’ve not seen as much of Stirling Uni as I would like this season.

The Uni have been very impressive with the amount of goals they have managed to score in the league, however, the BUCS competitions might take precedence, especially this month, with the opportunity to win another BUCS Premier North title on the line. Heriot-Watt host Stirling at the Oriam on the 14th, a must win game if Stirling want to take it to the final day, where Stirling Uni take on league leaders Nottingham at Gannochy on the 28th of January.

Key Player – Finn Moffett has been lethal this season, scoring 15 goals in 23 league appearances. 

Civil Service Strollers

I’m never going to rule out Strollers from claiming a top half finish. They do have a few games in hand over the teams above them but it might take some Gary Jardine magic to make it happen this season.

It’s been one of the tougher seasons for Strollers, perhaps even their toughest season in the Lowland League so far. But like I say, I’m not silly enough to doubt Gary Jardine.

Key Player – Chrissy McGinn has been solid this season and deserves his plaudits.

Albion Rovers

I think people are getting sick of me praising Albion Rovers or they are just jealous, or both. Who knows? Anyway, I wasn’t praising them necessarily for their performances on the pitch but the fact the club is now in a stable financial position.

It allows them to move forward into next season and hopefully, not only survive, but thrive, in the new Lowland League West, especially if they can keep hold of some of their younger players.

Key Player – Rovers legend and club captain – Alan Reid. It just has to be.   

Hearts of Midlothian B

See Celtic B…

A lot of what I said about Celtic B applies to Hearts B. Both are in similar, if not identical positions, where it’s a wait and see if they will continue to be a part of the Lowland League after the split next season. 

Key Player – 16 year old forward Connor Dow looks like a top prospect for Hearts. Been really impressive in the league scoring 7 goals in 21 appearances. 

Gretna FC 2008

The biggest issue Gretna have had this season has been their disciplinary record. They are way ahead of any other Lowland League club on yellow cards and sending offs.

Admittedly, they have been on the wrong end of some dubious decisions from what I’ve seen, but aside from Jack Dickinson leaving the club before the season started, it’s been their biggest downfall in terms of progressing. I believe Vinnie Parker will rectify these issues going forward. Most teams at the bottom end of the table will be looking ahead for next season now but hoping to finish as high as possible in the table.

Key Player – Sean McKenzie has done well stepping up the levels again, the Anvils forward has scored 12 goals in 22 league appearances. 

East Stirlingshire

It’s always easier to talk about the teams at the top than those at the bottom. 

Shire fans will be thankful there isn’t any relegation to worry about before the league split but it will be somewhat unsettling to see their team perform so poorly. The majority of them were happy to see the club return to Ochilview ahead of this season but it’s done them no favours and Calum Tapping would have been under no illusions how difficult a job he had when taking over from Pat Scullion in September. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few months at the club and whether they can build a team that can compete post split.

Key Player – Jay Cantley is still a top keeper in the league, it’s been a very difficult season in all respects for the Shire.

Ho ho ho! Merry Hallowe’en everyone! It’s time to take a look through the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League and see how your club’s season is shaping up as we hurtle towards the midway point of the season. 

I’ve flipped a coin this time to decide whether we’re starting at the bottom or the top of the league and the winner was… the bottom!

Gretna (Current Position: 18th)

Gretna, Gretna, Gretna. 2008, 2008, 2008. Five losses from six with a draw thrown in for good measure and Gretna have found themselves rooted to the bottom of the Lowland League table with one win, two draws and eleven defeats so far this season. Obviously, there’s always the caveat that relegation isn’t a threat this season so the issues facing Vinnie Parker’s side aren’t terminal and it would be easy to view this season as part of a wider rebuild of the club.

That being said, many Gretna fans would probably have expected more after retaining the majority of the squad who made such an impact last season. Last place in the Lowland League – as I’ve said before – is more of a ‘shame issue’ this season, so the Gretna faithful will be looking for an arrest of the slide which has put them on a -22 goal difference.

East Stirlingshire (Current Position: 17th)

The differences between East Stirlingshire and Gretna comes down to one victory. The ship seemed to be turning with a resounding 4-1 victory over Cowdenbeath at the beginning of October, but results haven’t been easy to come by for new Shire gaffer Callum Tapping. In much the same way as their ‘bottom of the table’ rivals, East Stirlingshire might be looking to commit to a rebuild ahead of the new Lowland League format for 2026/27, but their fanbase will not welcome a bottom of the table finish.

Heart of Midlothian B (Current Position: 16th)

As predicted, Angus Beith’s team have found the going tough in the last few matches, punctuated by a collapse from two goals up against Civil Service Strollers in midweek. Hearts do treat their B team as a proving ground for the first team, and results will likely remain inconsistent as young players come in and out of the squad. However, three wins from fifteen is less than the hierarchy at the SPFL Premiership club will have expected.

Gala Fairydean Rovers (Current Position: 15th)

GFR have slid down the league since we last caught up with them. In our last update they sat in 6th place but five defeats in six have dropped them down to 15th. There’s no significant cause for alarm at Netherdale though as those five defeats have mostly been to teams with top four aspirations this season.

Berwick Rangers (Current Position: 14th)

Berwick fans will likely be buoyed by the fact that two of their four wins this season have come in the last four matches, but there is little doubt that ‘bottom half’ wasn’t in the gameplay for Kevin Haynes’ side this season. Rangers have one of the better goal differences in the lower half of the division but winning games will be vital if they’re to climb up towards mid-table. 

Albion Rovers (Current Position: 13th) 

Sandy Clark’s side have fallen off a little since we last caught up with them. Four losses, bookended by two wins in their last six matches, have been less than ideal but given many would have expected Rovers to struggle at the foot of the table at the beginning of the season, things aren’t half bad. A resounding win last time out against Berwick Rangers will give a bit of impetus going into an important run of fixtures over the winter, including some fixtures against sides pushing for the top 4.

Civil Service Strollers (Current Position: 12th) 

Just as predicted, Gary Jardine’s team are starting to move up the league with three victories in a row before a defeat away to Broxburn Athletic. I’d expect to see Civil Service Strollers fluctuate around the very middle of mid-table this season. Christie Gillies Park remains a tough away day for any side, as is playing against experienced Lowland League operators like Alieu Faye who has netted five times for Strollers this season.

Cowdenbeath (Current Position: 11th) 

Another side in a similar boat to Strollers are Cowdenbeath whose form might not be spectacular but statistically it’ll keep them in mid-table as we move through the season. The biggest problem for the Blue Brazil is goals, with them being the lowest scoring team in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League so far this season with just seventeen. Their defence is holding at around the average goals against for sides in the division which says to me that they won’t be moving far from their current position unless they can start finding the back of the net more often.

University of Stirling (Current Position: 10th)

Me previously: “It looks to be a season of inconsistency for University of Stirling this season as the students are pretty much registering a W-D-L every three games. There is no immediate cause for alarm for Chris Geddes’ side who have a unique opportunity to build upon an incredible 15-1 victory over Mid Annandale in the South Challenge Cup. A scoreline such as that is a rare occurrence and it will be fascinating to see what it does for Uni’s team cohesion as they move into a tough run of fixtures.”

Me today, looking at Uni in 10th with three wins in their last five: “THEY DID IT!”

Cumbernauld Colts (Current Position: 9th)

Another side who had suffered a bit of a dip in form when we last caught up with them, Colts have rallied a little with two wins and a draw in their last four to take them back up to 9th. Josh Jack has found his scoring boots with seven goals in the league this season. Colts will probably be relatively happy to find themselves here, but they’ll have designs on moving up the division with some fairly winnable games coming up in their next run of fixtures.

Celtic B (Current Position: 8th)

As I mentioned last time out, I would expect Celtic B to be higher up the league, but they are where they are on merit after some underwhelming performances from the SPFL Premiership B Team.

Caledonian Braves (Current Position: 7th) 

I can’t shake the feeling that Braves will be disappointed with their season so far. After mounting a title challenge last season and building the squad up over the summer, Ricky Waddell’s side will have been hoping for more of the same but find themselves adrift by twelve points from the top of the table. Three wins in six does not title form make and they’ll be hoping that the sides above them hit their own patches of rocky form if they’re to put this season back on track in their pursuit of SPFL football.

Bo’ness United (Current Position: 6th)

Tom Grant’s eight goals for the season have propelled Bo’ness United into 6th place in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League. They’ve suffered a bit in recent weeks but the BUs are one of the league’s feel-good stories this season. They might be ten points off the top, but I imagine that the hierarchy at Newtown Park will be happy with the progress they’ve made this season.

Bonnyrigg Rose (Current Position: 5th) 

Bonnyrigg Rose are home! The big news for Rose recently is their return to New Dundas Park after extensive works were completed. Their temporary home at Ferguson Park wasn’t a particularly happy hunting ground and, having involved the community extensively in the stadium renovation with 1,100 spectators (including a strong contingent of visiting fans) turning out for their homecoming. They’ll be hoping that they can turn NDP into a fortress for the rest of the season and push on in pursuit of a top four finish.

Tranent (Current Position: 4th) 

Five wins in the last six from the Big T. You absolutely love to see it because they’ve got form for going on a mid-season charge. Robbie Horn’s charges. Harry Girdwood and Cammy McKinley lead Tranent’s league scoring charts with eight and five goals respectively, and they’ll be hoping to add more in the coming weeks.

It’s time for the top 3!

Last time out I said that with “…7 points between second and third place in the league, it’s getting harder and harder to look beyond one of Rose or Clydebank as potential champions … but it’s going to be a fantastic battle between these two teams, with several sides poised to strike if they begin to experience a slump.”

Linlithgow Rose (Current Position: 3rd)

It’s telling in the story of this season’s Park’s Motor Group Lowland League that two losses in six matches could be considered a slump. Linlithgow Rose have lost two matches that – with all due respect – they would have expected to win against Hearts B and University of Stirling who managed to beat Rose 5-4. There’s a need for Gordon Herd’s side to arrest this as they go into a mixed run of matches over the next few weeks.

Broxburn Athletic (Current Position: 2nd)

Wait, what? Broxburn Athletic might have played more matches than their nearest rivals but their run of SIX WINS IN SIX MATCHES has to be applauded as they have smashed my ‘it’s between Linlithgow Rose and Clydebank prediction’ to put themselves in contention for the Lowland League title. Errol Douglas continues to smash them in while Jamie Docherty has been keeping pace with seven goals for the season. Keep your eyes on Broxburn over the next few weeks – there are a few big tests in there that will put their ambitions through their paces.

Clydebank (Current Position: 1st)

Four wins, one draw, one loss in their last six matches. Bonnyrigg Rose inflicted Clydebank’s first defeat of the season last time out and it will be interesting to see how they bounce back from that going into a run of five matches in which they’ll play most of their title rivals. 

Whatever happens over the next few weeks, the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League is shaping up for another exciting season.

With nine matches gone of the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League season, it’s time to check in on each team and see how they’re getting on. We started at the bottom last time out, so let’s go from the top shall we?

Linlithgow Rose (Current Position: 1st)

Six wins from the last six, one loss all season and the most goals scored in the league. With nine matches played in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League season, it would be safe to say that Linlithgow Rose will be delighted with how things have gone so far.

To call Gordon Herd’s side dark horses going into the season would be unfair, they were widely tipped to do well but this is a two-segundo-volantes-and-double-inside-forwards start to a season (iykyk). 

Dylan Patterson has bagged ten goals already this season, with Alan Sneddon their next most prolific scorer with five. They’ll be conscious of their 1-1 draw with fellow league high-flyers Clydebank in the South Challenge Cup last weekend, but will feel confident ahead of their trip to second bottom East Stirlingshire on Friday night.

Clydebank (Current Position: 2nd)

Keir Samson and Nicky Little are politely sharing the top goalscorer stakes between them for the Bankies. They’re both sitting on six goals each, having fired Gordon Moffat’s side into second place with four wins from their last five matches. Things are going pretty well for the newly-promoted side as they look to secure back-to-back promotions, and they’ll be confident of another three points this weekend as they welcome stop-start Hearts B to Holm Park. 

With nearly a third of the season gone (already?! Where does the time go?!) and 7 points between second and third place in the league, it’s getting harder and harder to look beyond one of Rose or Clydebank as potential champions so the story of their last few matches focuses on that 1-1 draw between the two in the cup. Linlithgow Rose took that the tie 5-3 on penalties, but it’s going to be a fantastic battle between these two teams, with several sides poised to strike if they begin to experience a slump.

Caledonian Braves (Current Position: 3rd)

One of those teams is last season’s title challenger Caledonian Braves. Ricky Waddell’s side had a fairly underwhelming start to the season, sitting all the way down in 11th when we last caught up with them, but they have smashed their way back into the reckoning with big wins against Cumbernauld Colts and Gretna 2008. 

Ross McNeil and Lennon Walker are leading the scoring charts for Braves with three goals each, and they’ll be looking forward to a trip to the Excelsior to take on Celtic B, their sparring partners from last season who are struggling this season by comparison.

Bo’ness United (Current Position: 4th)

It’s worth stating at this point that Bo’ness United’s upcoming home match against Broxburn Athletic is our Neutral’s Pick for the weekend. Bo’ness lost those two important matches that I mentioned against Clydebank and Linlithgow Rose, but they have so much potential in their squad and there is a lot of football to be played this season. 

Kieran Mitchell has bagged five goals so far this season and Tom Grant has four. Bo’ness aren’t scoring loads of goals, but over the last few seasons they’ve focused far more on picking up the points than winning by a margin.

Broxburn Athletic (Current Position: 5th)

Not quite so for Broxburn who, apart from Linlithgow Rose, are the league’s top scorers with 25 goals so far this season. Who’s their top goalscorer? Why, it’s Errol Douglas of course! Errol got a few mentions as a potential Lowland League GOAT when we tweeted about it the other week, and it’s not hard to see why. The prolific striker is always a threat and stifling him will be vital for the Bo’ness defence on Saturday.

However, there are goals elsewhere in the Broxburn team with Jamie Docherty and Jon Robertson both on three goals each. 4th vs 5th is always a good fixture and this one will be no different. 

Gala Fairydean Rovers (Current Position: 6th)

They’re still there! Last time out I needed to clean my glasses, but this time I just need to hold my hands in the air and give praise to Borders fitba. Gala Fairydean Rovers have confounded expectations and have pushed their way into the top six despite a staggering 3-6 collapse at East Stirlingshire at the end of August.

There are a few signs of wheels maybe not coming off entirely, but loosening slightly, with a 2-1 loss to WOSFL side Knightswood in the South Challenge Cup doubtless a concern for Martin Scott’s side. The next three matches in the Lowland League are challenges they’ll relish though – Tranent, then Linlithgow Rose, then Clydebank. 

Who knows where GFR might be when we reconvene in a couple of weeks?

Bonnyrigg Rose (Current Position: 7th)

What we said last time about Bonnyrigg Rose’s start to the season not really pulling up trees continues to apply, as their matches against Albion Rovers, Celtic B and Tranent ended in a draw, a win and a loss. They’ve struggled for consistency so far, but an impending return home to New Dundas Park and the roar of their faithful supporters might just be enough to fire the Rose up the table.

Tranent (Current Position: 8th)

Robbie Horn’s return to the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League hasn’t gone as smoothly as he might have dreamed, with his Tranent side sitting on the same points as his former charges Bonnyrigg. Two wins and two defeats in the last five with some winnable matches coming up should give the ‘Big T’ supporters some cause for optimism.

Cowdenbeath (Current Position: 9th)

Cowdenbeath are another side for whom two wins and two defeats in the last five have rather cemented their mid-table aspirations for the season. As I mentioned last time out, we’re going to see a lot of ups and downs for a young Cowdenbeath side. With three matches upcoming against sides around them in the division, the Blue Brazil might have a rollercoaster few weeks ahead.

Albion Rovers (Current Position: 10th)

Can I copy-paste Cowdenbeath’s entry? Albion Rovers have the benefit of a game in hand over the team above them, but Sandy Clark’s side will probably be happy to be sitting in mid-table at this point in the season, given that they were a lot of people’s picks (including quite a few Rovers fans) to finish bottom of the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League this season.

A few tasty fixtures ahead offer Rovers the opportunity to bag some good points and Tony Garth will be looking to add to his tally of three goals so far this season which makes him Rovers’ top scorer.

Celtic B (Current Position: 11th)

Is this because I said ‘of course they are’ when they were sitting in fourth last time out? Two uninspiring draws and a loss in their last three matches have seen the usually consistent B team of the SPFL Premiership champions struggling a little for form.

Cumbernauld Colts (Current Position: 12th)

Three defeats in their last three matches have left Colts struggling a little in the bottom half of the Lowland League. They were sitting in fifth at our last catch up but those three defeats have left John Doyle’s side in a bit of a dip. That being said, few would have been expecting Colts to challenge at the sharp end this season, but they have played a match more than the teams around them. It will be interesting to see how they pick things up from here.

Berwick Rangers (Current Position: 13th)

Berwick Rangers were in 13th place last time we spoke, and are still in 13th place now. The ‘Dream Team’ are still a bit starved of wins but picking up a couple of draws has kept them in touch with the teams around them. Kevin Haynes’ side have a game in hand over Cumbernauld Colts above them but face another challenging run of fixtures. 

Their next match against Bonnyrigg Rose will be a fascinating test of where the Wee Rangers are at at this point in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League season.

University of Stirling (Current Position: 14th)

It looks to be a season of inconsistency for University of Stirling this season as the students are pretty much registering a W-D-L every three games. There is no immediate cause for alarm for Chris Geddes’ side who have a unique opportunity to build upon an incredible 15-1 victory over Mid Annandale in the South Challenge Cup. A scoreline such as that is a rare occurrence and it will be fascinating to see what it does for Uni’s team cohesion as they move into a tough run of fixtures.

Civil Service Strollers (Current Position: 15th)

Things haven’t been quite so straightforward for Gary Jardine’s Civil Service Strollers this season. They were in 15th when we last spoke, and remain in 15th now. I said that they would likely start to pull themselves up the table and that hasn’t proved to be the case with two losses and two draws in their last five. A 2-1 win over Gretna gives them an indication that they can win against teams who are also in the bottom half, but they’ll want to show more against teams towards the top six.

Heart of Midlothian B (Current Position: 16th)

As predicted, Angus Beith’s team have found the going tough in the last few matches, punctuated by a collapse from two goals up against Civil Service Strollers in midweek. Hearts do treat their B team as a proving ground for the first team, and results will likely remain inconsistent as young players come in and out of the squad. However, one win from nine is less than the hierarchy at the SPFL Premiership club will have expected.

East Stirlingshire (Current Position: 17th) & Gretna 2008 (Current Position: 18th)

Okay, Shire and Gretna fans. Remember that there’s no relegation this season. So take a big deep breath before you read this. 

There’s too much football to be played but with one win, one draw and eight defeats apiece it’s hard not to put East Stirlingshire in 17th and Gretna 2008 in 18th together in this reckoning. Neither side have managed to show what they’re capable of so far this season and while relegation from the division isn’t a threat, nobody wants to finish last. 

The similarities between the two sides are so close, they are only separated by one goal (Gretna’s -16 is what puts them at the foot of the league). Callum Tapping has come in as Shire manager since our last catch up and is beginning to implement his plan for Shire, whereas Vinnie Parker is now in his second season as Gretna 2008 manager. Both will be buoyed by wins in the South Challenge Cup last weekend, and Parker will be looking to build on Sean McKenzie’s four goals in that match and bring those goals to the Lowland League where he currently has four for the season.

Well, well, well… you couldn’t leave well enough alone could you? Standing at your bathroom mirror saying ‘Admin, Admin, Admin’.

Here I am – you’ve summoned me!

We’re going to check in with our clubs every few games to tell the story of their season as we go! Let’s do this… and since our last update from the inimitable Chris Pow started at the top of the Park’s Motor Group Scottish Lowland League, we’ll start at the bottom today!

East Stirlingshire (Current Position: 18)

I’m glad I didn’t write this piece earlier in the week as East Stirlingshire’s nightmare start to the season took a new turn on Wednesday as it was announced that Pat Scullion had departed from his role as Shire manager. Midfielder and Lowland League stalwart Matty Flynn will lead the club into their match this weekend and will be looking to add a bit of steel to the side who have lost four of their last five matches.

Without the threat of relegation, you could argue that a season of sitting at the foot of the league and looking ahead to next season wouldn’t be an unreasonable thing to do, but the East Stirlingshire faithful will accept nothing less than maximum effort from their team. Whoever comes in will have a tough job to lift the club from the doldrums, and will have a big rebuilding project if they are to challenge going forward.

Gretna 2008 (Current Position: 17)

Gretna enjoyed a fairytale start to life under Vinnie Parker at the beginning of last season, and it looked like it might be another strong start when they beat Bonnyrigg Rose on the opening day. Since then results have been much harder to come by with five defeats on the spin for the Anvils. But there are reasons to be cheerful for their supporters. Iain Anderson is firing on all cylinders and is sharing goalscoring responsibilities with Sean McKenzie. The division is a much tougher nut to crack this season, but there is clearly a project underway at Gretna with long-term sustainability in mind. 

University of Stirling (Current Position: 16)

The last time we checked in with the teams in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League, University of Stirling were rooted to the bottom of the league. Both Chrises, our correspondent Pow and Uni manager Geddes, had stated that Uni would pick up results going forward and that has proved to be the case. Two draws and a win aren’t exactly thrilling results, but they’re a team with potential and are always good for goals.

Civil Service Strollers (Current Position: 15)

Civil Service Strollers are one of those teams who you can absolutely never rule out. A slow start won’t necessarily be indicative of how the rest of their season will go. A tough run of early fixtures will balance itself out in the next few weeks and you can expect Gary Jardine’s team to start picking up more points and pulling themselves up the table.

Heart of Midlothian B (Current Position: 14)

Hearts might like to be further up the table but, unlike their fellow B team Celtic, their form will go up and down over the course of the season as players come and go between their squads. They face a few stern tests over the next couple of weeks and I wouldn’t anticipate a massive leap forward for Angus Beith’s team.

Berwick Rangers (Current Position: 13)

Berwick are still sitting on one win from their opening six fixtures and things won’t get any easier over the next couple of match days. Three draws, while not necessarily thrilling for the Shielfield faithful, will have provided a bit of stability in matches which could have gone the other way last season. Berwick’s fans will be conscious that a decent set of results could see them on a launchpad to the top half, but they’re struggling for goals, their seven scored this season being the lowest of any team in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League so far this season.

Tranent (Current Position: 12)

Tranent were in second place when we last caught up, and now they are… not. Three defeats on the spin have left Tranent in 12th place in the league, and finding themselves on the end of a 5-0 hiding by fellow title-favourites Clydebank will have set alarm bells ringing at Forester’s. Their supporters will be expecting an uptick in form… and fast.

Caledonian Braves (Current Position: 11)

Braves and Tranent’s positions have confounded pre-season expectations, but not in a good way. Ricky Waddell’s team find themselves in 11th with three wins and three losses from their opening six matches. Losses to teams that they would be expecting to beat at the beginning of the season will give them pause, but as with most of the teams around mid-table, a couple of good results will bounce them right up to the sharp end.

Cowdenbeath (Current Position: 10)

Cowdenbeath will be feeling vindicated following a bit of a summer rebuild. The seeds are in place for the future and sitting in tenth place will feel like a win given their travails at the early stages of last season (albeit they’ve played one more game than the teams around them). This young Cowdenbeath team are still building into their season and Blue Brazil fans will know that their young side will have their ups and downs this season.

Albion Rovers (Current Position: 9)

More wins than losses and some pretty impressive performances have been the story of Albion Rovers’ season so far. Not bad for a side whose off-the-field question marks had suggested that they may struggle for results this season as the club look at funding sources to build a sustainable future.

Well, surprise! Rovers sit in 9th place with decent results against sides that – as it turns out – have had impressive starts to the season themselves. The next few games will be tough for Rovers, but their fans will be plenty happy with what their new-look side has been able to do so far this season.

Broxburn Athletic (Current Position: 8)

Three wins, a draw and three losses have seen Broxburn Athletic find their way into 8th place. However, it’s off the pitch that the big question marks are for the Brox. Manager Steve Pittman has stepped down this week and there will be a dash to find the right man to take them forward ahead of the league splitting next season. Derek McWilliams will take the club into the next few matches, and will likely be a realistic candidate for the job himself.

Gala Fairydean Rovers (Current Position: 7)

Wait, let me just clean my glasses. SEVENTH?! Gala Fairydean Rovers have confounded the early season predictions (in a good way) and the team who narrowly escaped relegation last season, just pipping the now defunct Broomhill to survival, have used that to spark a revival in their on-field fortunes.

Martin Scott’s side have won three out of their six opening games and are once again creating a situation where I’m too afraid to make any predictions about them. So… Gala Fairydean Rovers… regard them and draw your own conclusions.

Bonnyrigg Rose (Current Position: 6)

Bonnyrigg Rose’s return to the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League hasn’t been quite as smooth as they might have liked, with the relegated side having struggled with consistency and injuries in the opening games of the season. Their temporary home at Ferguson Park hasn’t exactly been a fortress but the results are slowly beginning to come. A 5-1 win over bottom side East Stirlingshire would have been a real shot in the arm for them, going into a run of fixtures that includes Tranent, Celtic B and Albion Rovers.

Cumbernauld Colts (Current Position: 5)

I might need to clean my glasses again as it appears that Cumbernauld Colts are sitting in 5th place in the Park’s Motor Group Lowland League. John Doyle and his dream backroom team of former Broomhill managers David Gormley and Zander Diamond have overseen a mini-revolution at Colts and have started the season incredibly strongly. Three wins, two draws and two defeats is nothing to sniff at and even if they slip back, they’ll still be having a fairly successful season.

Doyle has strengthened in positions where Colts were too often picked open last season, and they’ll be hoping for more exciting results in the next few weeks.

Celtic B (Current Position: 4)

Yep, of course they are.

Bo’ness United (Current Position: 3)

Bo’ness were consistently decent last season but never looked like pulling up many trees. You could argue that their opening six fixtures haven’t been the toughest tests, but you can only beat what’s put in front of you and for the most part, Bo’ness United have. Tom Grant and Kieran Mitchell look dangerous in attack, but the BUs fans will know that upcoming matches against the likes of Clydebank and Linlithgow Rose will provide a clearer perspective of where they are in the league running. 

Clydebank (Current Position: 2)

Clydebank were the early pace-setters in the division, but a 1-1 draw against Cowdenbeath gave Gordon Moffat’s side the closest thing they’ve had to a reality check so far. The Bankies still have to be counted among the favourites for the league, and five home games in their next six upcoming fixtures will give them a solid platform to build into their challenge. For their visitors, it’ll be up to them to find a way to stop them…

Linlithgow Rose (Current Position: 1)

Linlithgow Rose are rampant this season. One loss to Gala Fairydean Rovers on the opening day of the season shook the cobwebs away and since then Gordon Herd’s side have won all five matches, scoring 26 goals in the process. Dylan Patterson is on 8 league goals for the season already, but upcoming games against Bo’ness United and Cumbernauld Colts could prove slippery prospects. There is a palpable sense of excitement among the Rose faithful at the moment, and they’ll be hoping that the good times continue to roll.

by Chris Pow from Official Catchup

I think the majority of us expected a very competitive Lowland League this season, however, after the first three league games, we might not have expected the teams to be this competitive. Only one club remains with a perfect record and only three clubs overall remain undefeated. 

Clydebank sit top of the league, winning all three of their fixtures. Admittedly, the Bankies weren’t at their best in the opener against East Stirlingshire at Holm Park, winning 2-0. An even closer affair with Cumbernauld Colts followed midweek at Broadwood, ending with a 2-1 Bankies victory. On Saturday, Clydebank travelled to Christie Gillies Park, which arguably could have been seen as their toughest test yet. A close game ensued for the majority of the 90 minutes with the Bankies leading 1-0 through a Nicky Little penalty within the first half hour. With twenty minutes to go, Clydebank ran away with the game with a flurry of goals from Keir Samson, an Aaron Black brace and a Stuart McCann strike in stoppage time to round off an impressive 5-0 away victory against Civil Service Strollers.

Tranent, sitting in 2nd, kicked off their campaign against Hearts B at Ainslie Park. Belters forward Harry Girdwood was the star of the show scoring four in what would be a 5-1 win for Tranent. The Belters welcomed Berwick Rangers to Foresters Park midweek for their first home game in the new league campaign. Unfortunately, a serious head injury to Berwick keeper Liam Campbell delayed the game and likely had an impact on the momentum for both sides, with the fixture ending 0-0. Tranent were back at home yesterday afternoon, with Albion Rovers, the visiting team. Girdwood would open the scoring, a Cammy McKinley brace, and a Dean Brett penalty would lead to a 4-0 victory.

Linlithgow Rose are 3rd. A surprise 2-1 home defeat to 10 men Gala Fairydean Rovers at Prestonfield wasn’t the start that many were anticipating for Rose. Linlithgow would go on to pick up their first three points at Forthbank against the University of Stirling on Wednesday, with a 4-1 away win. Before the game, Rose would announce their “excitement” of signing former Bo’ness United favourite Lucas Stenhouse after the expiry of his contract with Livingston. Not quite on the same levels of Luis Figo to Real Madrid, but it certainly might add a little extra needle to the first Flints Derby of the new campaign in September at Prestonfield. Rose travelled to Gretna 2008 on Saturday. Rose won 6-0. Gretna going down to 10 men after only four minutes, likely helped Rose on their way, but they did look dangerous every time they went forward, and in truth, it could have been more. Alan Sneddon scored a hattrick and Olly Hamilton scored a brace in a lethal Linlithgow display.

Speaking of Bo’ness United, they are currently just behind their rivals, occupying 4th spot. A Tom Grant hat-trick got the BUs season off to a flyer against Civil Service Strollers with a 3-0 nil victory at Newtown. A tough 1-0 away loss to Cowdenbeath at Central Park on Tuesday would follow, before a 10 men Bo’ness side defeated East Stirlingshire 3-1 on Friday night at Ochilview, with Ryan Stevenson scoring two of the three goals.

The Caledonian Braves are 5th. Two wins from the opening fixtures with a 3-0 victory over Stirling Uni and 2-0 away win over Broxburn Athletic. Braves travelled to Netherdale on Saturday likely expecting another three points but Gala Fairydean Rovers would upset the momentum with a 2-0 win of their own. Braves are always well drilled when you watch them but weren’t at the races yesterday afternoon and Gala took full advantage, to their credit. There’s no panic buttons being pressed after only three games but it could be seen as a slight warning against complacency for Ricky Waddell’s side.

Anyone can beat anyone is a popular phrase used by managers in the Lowland League and Gala Fairydean Rovers are proving that early doors, sitting 6th. Upsetting the odds with 10 men away to Linlithgow, and beating the Braves at home on Saturday, their only loss this far was midweek to Bonnyrigg Rose, losing 3-0 at the Netherdale. Martin Scott’s side play good football and they can score goals, defending was the issue last year but if they can manage a few clean sheets over the course of this season, we might see the expectations rise from a bottom half finish to pushing top half. A lot of football still to be played though.

In a similar way to Gala, Cowdenbeath has perhaps surprised a few people with their start, in 7th place. Losing to rivals Berwick 2-0 down at Shielfield Park on opening day, the Blue Brazil have followed up with two home wins against Bo’ness United (1-0) and Bonnyrigg Rose (2-1). The word “potential” was used in describing a much younger Cowdenbeath side for this campaign, this could quickly turn into “exciting” if Cowden can make Central Park into a fortress. The away form wasn’t great last year either but if a few of the home draws can be turned into three points, we could see a decent campaign for the Fife side, especially given the work rate the Cowden players have given manager Paul McLean over the last few games. Max Williamson, formerly of Spartans, already looks to be an inspired addition, scoring the winners against the BUs and the Rosey Posey.

Celtic B and Hearts B occupy 8th and 9th spot, completing the top half. Celtic B edged out Broxburn 3-2 in their opening league fixture, before 3-3 draws with Civil Service Strollers and Cumbernauld Colts. Along with Clydebank and Tranent, Celtic B remain undefeated, however, Celtic have begun the process of loaning out their more experienced talents, most notably Celtic B captain Mitchell Robertson, who recently joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Hearts B lost to Tranent, before a cracking 4-4 draw with Gretna 2008, and on Saturday edged out Stirling Uni 2-1 at Forthbank.

It’s been a positive start for Albion Rovers, currently in 10th. A 3-3 draw with Lanarkshire rivals Cumbernauld Colts might have felt like a win with Grant Marchant equalising in stoppage time on the opening day and a 2-1 victory over old SPFL rivals East Stirlingshire at Ochilview will have sent Rovers fans home happy. A big early season test was seeing how Rovers would do against a very strong Tranent side on Saturday and they ended up losing 4-0 at Foresters. But all in all, with Sandy Clark at the helm, there’s always a quiet optimism going into games.

Berwick Rangers are currently 11th. Fans of the “Dream Team” would have revelled in their 2-0 win over rivals Cowdenbeath on the opening day, however, the game at Tranent would have been disappointing, not only for the drab 0-0 scoreline, but the worry over the seriousness of goalkeeper Liam Campbell’s head injury. Luckily, it wasn’t as severe as it may have looked for spectators, with Liam only missing a few games through concussion protocol. Another away trip on Saturday to Broxburn would have seemed like a good chance for another three points with the Brox losing their opening two fixtures, however, the return of Broxburn forward Errol Douglas to the lineup and a Shaun Brown masterclass ensured a 5-0 win for the Brox and a first loss of the campaign for the Borderers. 

Gretna FC 2008 opened their league campaign with a 2-1 win over Bonnyrigg Rose. They had an absolute classic against Hearts B midweek with the game ending 4-4, with Sean McKenzie scoring a hattrick for the Anvils. Unfortunately, Gretna went down to 10 men and Hearts equalised in stoppage time after Gretna took the lead minutes earlier. It was another sending off against Linlithgow Rose that might have Anvils gaffer Vinnie Parker sweating over suspensions. Albeit, the red against Rose did seem slightly harsh given the player was deemed as last man and denying a goal scoring opportunity when Gretna did have other defenders back. The Anvils currently sit 12th in the league table.

Unlucky for some and it has been for Broxburn Athletic sitting in 13th. The Brox had one of the harder openings, losing 3-2 to a Celtic B side that was at full strength before they began loaning out some of their better players recently. Their second league game against a fellow challenger Caledonian Braves ended in a 2-0 home loss. Having Errol Douglas back for Berwick would have been a relief for everyone and Broxburn showed exactly what they were made of, bouncing back with an emphatic 5-0 win.

It’s not been the best of returns to the Lowland League for Bonnyrigg Rose, who currently occupy 14th. A somewhat surprising 2-1 home loss to Gretna on opening day, was followed up by a solid 3-0 away win over Gala Fairydean Rovers. Coming to Cowdenbeath on Saturday, Rose fans would have felt their team had a decent chance of another three points, however, a lacklustre performance and facing a hungry Cowdenbeath side meant it’s two losses from three league games after a 2-1 defeat at Central Park. Rose have a solid team and like I’ve said with other clubs, there’s no panic after three games, but if the goal is to challenge at the top and get back to the SPFL for Bonnyrigg, they can’t make a habit of losing to teams they should be beating on paper when comparing the strength of the two squads, with respect.

Cumbernauld Colts are one of four sides still looking for their first win of the new league campaign. Currently sitting 15th, Colts might be the team to go and watch if you want to see goals in this division. Drawing 3-3 with Albion Rovers, narrowing losing to Clydebank 2-1, and another 3-3 draw with Celtic B on Friday night. Goals don’t seem to be the issue for John Doyle’s side but defending might be in the early stages of the season. Like other teams, there’s definitely players that will need time to gel, but with the fixtures coming thick and fast early in the season, it’s tough for managers with less time for training sessions.

Civil Service Strollers are 16th. They lost their opening league fixture to Bo’ness United 3-0, drew 3-3 with Celtic B midweek, and lost 5-0 at home to Clydebank on Saturday. It’s not been the easiest of starts for Strollers, playing arguably three sides that you would expect to be pushing top half or further. Strollers are one of those sides too, so I wouldn’t imagine it will be too long for Gary Jardine’s men to pick up some points and push up the table. 

East Stirlingshire are one of two sides yet to register a point in the league so far. Sitting in 17th, they have lost all three of the opening fixtures – a 2-0 defeat to Clydebank, a 2-1 loss to Albion Rovers, and a 3-1 loss to Bo’ness United on Friday. It’s been a bit of a theme over the past few seasons for Shire manager Pat Scullion, one that has frustrated fans, players, and Pat himself, no doubt. Slow starts aren’t as much of a worry this season given there’s no relegation but it’s obvious no club wants to be near the bottom. Shire have turned things round before, however, with the league getting stronger, it will get more difficult to pull off a good run of form for most sides. The move to Ochilview certainly helps Shire off the park but it remains to be seen if it will help them on it.

University of Stirling have lost all three of their opening fixtures and find themselves bottom of the league (18th). It’s been a tough start playing against some of the sides you’d expect to be challenging. The opening league fixture against the Caledonian Braves, Uni lost 3-0. Uni for large parts of that game looked decent, they were behind going into half time but the heads seemed to drop with Braves scoring just after the break. Uni in their second league fixture lost to Linlithgow Rose losing 4-1 and on Saturday they were narrowly defeated by Hearts B. It’s easy to look at results sometimes and think teams are going to struggle but in reality, they’ve had harder fixtures than others. I would fully expect the University of Stirling to pick up from here.

by Chris Pow from Official Catchup

The 2025-26 Lowland League season is almost upon us and it will be the final Lowland League season before it splits into two divisions – Lowland League East & Lowland League West, ahead of 2026-27.

Due to the split, there will be no relegation this season, which creates an interesting dynamic, from top to bottom. With no fear of relegation, teams at the bottom have some breathing space, a chance to try out younger players, and possibly build, or perhaps save some finances. With the perceivable harder task it will become in the near future. the teams expected to challenge at the top, will be pushing for promotion to the SPFL, more now than ever.

Albion Rovers

It’s difficult to fully assess Rovers at the moment, as we anticipate more signing news ahead of the opening league fixture against Cumbernauld Colts.

As it stands, Rovers lost the majority of their squad that finished an impressive 6th last season, with only Rovers legend and club captain Alan Reid, Barry Duncan, and Nathan Brown, remaining at Cliftonhill. Conor Duffy, Devan McColl, and Tylar Denholm have returned to Rovers for this season, after previous spells, with young keeper Alfie Halliwell joining on loan from Rangers. Barry Campbell joins from Greenock Morton, and Chris Neeson joins from Hamilton Accies, respectively. Midfielder, Daniel Hunter, comes back to the Lowland League, after spells with Broomhill and Cumbernauld Colts, and Sonny Aluko, joins from fellow Lowland League side, Civil Service Strollers.

There was real worry for Rovers going into this season, with the club rumoured to be on the verge of financial collapse, and budgets severely restricted. Rovers manager Sandy Clark and assistant George Paterson deserve massive credit for the job they’ve done so far, as they approach 100 games in charge of the clubs. It’s not been an easy ride, with fans voicing their discontent at some of the shareholders, however, credit to the Rovers fans, who have continued to back the team, despite everything going on behind the scenes.

At the moment, the squad isn’t anything too impressive, mainly due to numbers, but if Sandy Clark managing in the Lowland League has taught us anything, he knows how to get the best out of his players, and push them higher than expected. Alan Reid’s experience and leadership will be pivotal this season, as he approaches the all time appearance record for Rovers, which currently stands at 493 games, set way back in 1936 by Murdy Walls.

Berwick Rangers

If the ‘Dream Team’ are going to be successful this season, there’s one thing they definitely need to improve on from last year, and that’s the amount of goals they score. They averaged less than 1 goal per game last season, scoring only 32 goals in 34 league games, the worst goals for margin of any team in the league, finishing 16th.

Wee Gers manager Kevin Haynes is likely highly aware of these issues and as a sign he’s keen to add more goals to the side, forwards, Greg Binnie and Mikey Mbewe come in from Penicuik Athletic, while Taylor Hendry transfers from former club Dunbar United, with midfielder Liam Gregory also linking up with his former gaffer at Dunbar. Strengthening in other areas, goalkeeper Liam Campbell moves from Bo’ness United to add competition for Calum Antell’s number 1 jersey. Mark McConnell and Ben McCrystal move permanently after successful loan spells last season, and defenders, Callum Pitt (Edinburgh City), and Struan Mair (Gala Fairydean Rovers) also sign on at Shielfield for the upcoming season.

The surprise retirement of Borderer’s favourite Lewy Barr recently is a massive loss, however, the return of Callum Mackay, who missed the whole of last season through injury, is a boost. It’s difficult to place Berwick, on paper, they have a solid squad, with proven Lowland League players like Calum Antell, Jamie Pyper, Alfie Robinson, Scott-Taylor Mackenzie, Mark McConnell, and Liam Buchanan, but the lack of goals last season, plus where the club finished, and knowing how much other clubs have improved ahead of this campaign, makes me come to the conclusion that Berwick may find themselves in the bottom half once again.

It’s been said before, but in hindsight, there was maybe an over reliance on Liam Buchanan to score goals in previous seasons, and now with Liam taking a step back into a player/coach role, Berwick desperately need someone to step up on the goals front. If they can crack that this season, they might surprise people. It wasn’t that long ago, Berwick were considered a dark horse in terms of challenging for the league title.

Bo’ness United

I think for most people, Bo’ness United had a disappointing season last time round, finishing 12th. When they finished 3rd, the season before last, some of us might have been thinking – we might have another team challenging here. But the BUs couldn’t repeat the feat. Consistency was a massive issue in the league, but having said that, they did make it to another Lowland League Cup Final, their third in four years, again losing to East Kilbride.

There’s been a bit of an overhaul by manager Stuart Hunter for the upcoming season, bringing in Ben Fry (Pollok), Aldin El-Zubaidi (Darvel), Mark McLuckie (St Cadoc’s), Roan Fitzpatrick (Rutherglen Glencairn), Cameron Mulvanny (Gretna FC 2008), Jack Hodge (Stirling Uni), Jamie Watson (Berwick Rangers), as well as Kodi McKinstray from Stirling Albion, and Jordan Armstrong from Peterhead, respectively.

Many of Hunter’s new signings, outwith those signing directly from Lowland League clubs obviously, have played in the Lowland League before, so there’s no question of whether they are ready for the step up to tier 5, but it’s still difficult to place the BUs, especially with the teams that will be challenging strengthening their playing squads heavily. I don’t personally put Bo’ness United in the bracket of challengers, however, I would anticipate a better finish than 12th, but midtable, pushing top half, is likely a fair assessment at the moment.

A lot depends on Kieran Mitchell, who will be the BUs key forward for me this season. Kieran is a solid player, and contributes to the team massively, whether it’s scoring goals or creating chances. Sadly, he’s had his fair share of injury woes during his time at Newtown Park and we can only hope he manages to stay fit for the majority of the campaign this time around and help Bo’ness United push on.

Bonnyrigg Rose

There’s a tendency to think the relegated SPFL team will not be up to much, and will fall away into midtable mediocrity, like we’ve seen in past seasons, however, the former Lowland League champions are different, they should still considered in the bracket of challengers, simply because of the strength of their current squad.

Rose have retained key players such as Kerr Young, Neil Martynuik, Callum Connolly, and Lee Currie, who have very little to prove at this level, having won the Lowland League previously. Add in players like Kieran Somerville and Cammie Ross too, and you already have a strong contender. Rose manager Jonny Stewart has also strengthened his team with goalkeeper Ross Connelly coming in from Albion Rovers, and Kallum Higginbotham returning to the club from East Fife. Billy King moves from Arbroath, and Kian Spiers joins from Caledonian Braves. Corrie Fellows and the highly rated Rudi Bryce join on loan from Kelty Hearts, while Josh Laing joins on loan from Spartans.

Sean Murphy, won’t play for the majority of the season, and might possibly miss the entirety of the campaign through a serious knee injury, picked up during preseason. It’s a bitter blow ahead of the campaign, knowing how good Sean is as a player at this level. There’s been other distractions too with Rose having to play their Premier Sports Cup home games at Whitehill Welfare’s Ferguson Park as work is carried out on the pitch at New Dundas Park.

It feels like Jonny Stewart has been managing for years, but in truth, he was only appointed in his first management role at Tranent last September, before returning to Bonnyrigg, as manager, in March. Can experience be the difference between success and failure? Absolutely, it can, and it’s not meant as a knock on Jonny, but it’s only his second season in management. That’s a minus for me in terms of Rose going from challengers to Lowland League champions again. Regardless, Rose should be fighting it out with rest of the top 6, at minimum, with the squad they have at their disposal.

Broxburn Athletic

Broxburn had a decent debut season in the Lowland League, finishing in 7th place. The Brox were aided massively by top scorer, Errol Douglas, making a fine return to tier 5, with 22 goals in 28 league appearances, and standout performances from midfielder, Kyle Bell. No doubts it helps having players like Greg Page, Andy Rodden, Alassan Jones, Scott McCrory-Irving, and Shaun Brown in your squad too.

You have to be excited about Broxburn’s chances for the upcoming season. The players the club have brought in suggest they are looking to challenge at the top. Experienced goalkeeper, Michael Andrews, moves from Bonnyrigg Rose, Chris O’Kane comes in from West of Scotland Premier side, Pollok and a host of moves from fellow Lowland League teams includes Marcus Lavery (Albion Rovers), Robbie McGale (Cumbernauld Colts), Louis Kennedy (Bo’ness United), plus Matty McDonald, Jamie Docherty, and Ewan MacPherson all moving from Cowdenbeath, and Sam Gormley, Jon Robertson, and Robbie Hamilton come in from Edinburgh City. All these moves plus the players the Brox have retained, and you have the makings of a top team.

There isn’t much difference in terms in quality or depth, between many of the contenders. The one disadvantage the Brox may have is they’ve made so many changes to the squad, they might need more time to gel, although many of their signings have been teammates at previous clubs, so it shouldn’t be of major concern for the management team.

One thing to consider, and it’s the same at a few clubs looking to win the league, a lot of moves were for previously established first team starters, and not squad players, so regular squad rotation will be needed to keep everyone happy, and the club that can do that, while keeping their best players throughout the piece, have the best chance of winning the league.

Caledonian Braves

For a team that finished 3rd last season, went on a 15 game unbeaten run, while dealing with a few injuries to some important players, Braves manager Ricky Waddell has bolstered his squad ahead of this campaign. I believe the Braves could go one or two places better this year, and if they do that, they have to be considered as potential Lowland League champions.

I think some people are forgetting that key midfielders Cammy Breadner and Zac Butterworth missed some games last year due to injury, and who knows what would have happened if they had them available. The Braves are always a well-drilled outfit, and If the full squad was settled and match fit, they might have given East Kilbride more of a challenge towards the end of the season. Lennon Walker and Ryan Walker did step up, it has to be said, and John Guthrie played in every league game. Braves had the best defensive record in the league too, with Dan Martin and Greig Stewart, Robbie Stewart, and Jack Brown all continuing to kick on and impress. Ross McNeil did exactly what everyone expected of him too – he scored goals.

It was somewhat surreal seeing the Braves play in Europe via the Fenix Trophy, which they went on to win, beating FC United of Manchester in the final in North Italy. I’m sure the experience was enjoyable for everyone at the club, however, I would like to see the Braves avoid any distractions this year and concentrate on winning the Lowland League, something which they are very capable of doing, especially with the returns of Jamie Walker and Marc Kelly to Alliance Park, and the signings of Dom McMahon and Bright Prince Okosun from Albion Rovers. No doubt one of the biggest tasks that Ricky Waddell will have this season is to keep everyone happy with playing time and that will be key to mount a serious title challenge.

Celtic B

It’s always difficult to place the B teams because we’re never quite sure if their best players will be playing at this level, the Bhoys often opting to loan them out, higher up the levels, to the SPFL. Celtic B have always competed at the top end of the league, finishing 2nd last season, and I don’t expect that to change, however, I do expect given how other top teams have strengthened, for Celtic B to maybe drop down a few places, but still remain pushing for the top 6, well within the top half.

Forward Daniel Cummings was a massive player for Celtic B over the past few seasons and they won’t have his goals to rely on anymore, after a much anticipated move to West Ham. We’re likely going to see a younger outfit this campaign with a few of the U18s coming up. I’m sure they’ll be a few gems in there, but lacking the experience of playing against senior sides, there’s a realistic possibility of a downturn in success.

Civil Service Strollers

How Strollers have consistently remained a top half side as the Lowland League has only gotten stronger over the years should be studied. Of course, Strollers manager Gary Jardine takes a lot of the credit, but the truth is, Civil has a solid group of players at this level. They have retained the vast majority of their squad from last season including mainstays Callum Yeats, Ross Clarke, Matthew Shaw, Euan Valentine, Marc Laird, and big Alieu Faye.

There’s not been too many transfers to talk about so far but that’s been the norm for Strollers over the past few seasons as Gary Jardine takes time to evaluate his squad. Forward Jamie Penker makes the move from East Stirlingshire, while defender Ross Pollock comes in from Heriot-Watt University. Strollers have a growing reputation as the ideal setting for young players to come in on loan and I’d expect some loan moves to happen in the near future.

On paper, Strollers should be safely midtable. I’d love to see them achieve top half again by the end of the season, it would be truly remarkable with the amount of teams challenging this year, but it’s going to be their toughest season to try and emulate that feat. I think if they have any chance to do that, they need to once again turn Christie Gillies Park into the fortress that we know it can be.

Clydebank

In many people’s eyes Clydebank are favourites for the title this season and it’s definitely warranted given they have the strongest squad to be promoted into the Lowland League for some time. However, it must be said there is a certain level of West of Scotland bias behind the belief that Clydebank will somehow walk the league. Losing only one league game in the West of Scotland Premier was some achievement last season but it took years to build. The Bankies come out of the regional bubble they’ve been accustomed to and travel to grounds they’ve never been to and play teams they aren’t used to. It’s a challenge that none of the other contenders need to worry about and it’s not going to be the walk in the park that some anticipate.

Regardless, the strength and depth of Clydebank’s squad can’t be denied. A majority of their players have played in the Lowland League or higher up the pyramid in previous seasons. Bankies manager Gordon Moffat has retained most of his title winning squad which includes the familiar names of Andy Leishman, David Syme, Matt Niven, Nicky Low, Dean Cairns, Nicky Little, and Keir Samson, to name a few. Coming in are goalkeeper Owen Stott from Beith Juniors, Arran Preston from Hamilton Accies, Neil McLaughlin from St Cadoc’s, Stuart McCann from Johnstone Burgh, and Billy Hutchison on loan from St Mirren, after a co-operative agreement was agreed with the Paisley club.

It’s definitely an exciting time for the Bankies, as they push to have the clubs name back in the SPFL and I don’t think the notion, taken to heart by some fans, of the Lowland League being easy is shared by the manager or the players. As professionals, the players will know how difficult challenging for a league title is and that’s genuinely where the Bankies should be – challenging for the Lowland League title this season.

Cowdenbeath

There’s not been a complete overhaul at Central Park coming into the new season but it’s close to it. Cowdenbeath manager Paul McLean has retained Sam Newman and Jack Denham from last season. Scott Cameron joins from Bo’ness Athletic, along with a host of other new arrivals coming in for the new campaign. Goalkeeper Dion Gear joins from fellow Fife club, Kirkcaldy & Dysart. Challenging Dion for the number 1 jersey will be Owen Hayward, who comes in on loan from Falkirk. Former Dunfermline Athletic U18s defender and Cowdenbeath fan, Conley Adamson joins his boyhood club for this season, with fellow defenders Harvie Petrie joining after a spell with Blantyre Victoria in the West of Scotland last season, and Jackson Innes makes the move from Bonnyrigg Rose. While Raymond Reddington joins from Kelty Hearts.

Two-time Midlands League champion, Jack Allan joins from Dundee North End, while 23 year old midfielder Finlay Ness makes the step up from the amateurs. Dylan Mauchin and Max Williamson come in from Livingston and Spartans respectively. Zack Tomany joins from Motherwell and Liam Watt and Stuart McDowell join from fellow Lowland League clubs Gala Fairydean Rovers and Linlithgow Rose, with Darren Downie joining from Broxburn Athletic. There’s also a return to Central Park for Blue Brazil favourite Nat Wedderburn, who transfers from Stenhousemuir.

We’ve seen a few of the players mentioned play in the Lowland or Lowland development previously, but it’s tough to judge Cowdenbeath at the moment, as some of the players are a unknown quantity, at this level. The club have tied down some of the younger talent to two year deals, hopefully building for the seasons ahead. Solely based on the strength of the other teams, Cowden are likely going to be in the bottom half but there’s definitely potential there. The Central Park pitch makes it difficult, especially in the winter months, to play decent football, so it’s always a challenge for managers to get round that obstacle.

Cumbernauld Colts

Every time I predict the Colts to do well, I seem to jinx them, so out of respect for Colts manager John Doyle and assistant David Gormley, I won’t be making any bold predictions. That being said, I do like what I’ve seen from Colts in the off-season. Billy Mortimer and Callum Home return to the club from Albion Rovers. In addition, defender Adam Fernie also makes the move from Cliftonhill. Liam Allison and Ji Stevenson are also back at Broadwood after loan spells last season from Linlithgow Rose and Annan Athletic. Josh Jack joins from Cumnock Juniors, while goalkeeper Harry Broun joins after playing in the Lowland League with Broomhill last season. Josh Farquhar and Lyle Hunter move on loan from St Mirren. Also, bolstering John Doyle’s backroom staff, is former Broomhill manager Zander Diamond, who comes in as a first team coach.

Colts lacked experience last season, having one of the youngest playing squads in the league. I still believe they shouldn’t have been in a relegation fight with the talent they had but it was difficult though with a few injuries to players like Cole McIntyre and Cameron Dickson during the season. John Doyle steadied the ship when he was appointed manager in January and I think Colts can go on a push this season. They have a luxury that some clubs don’t have in the shape of a decent development squad, that they can call on, if there were to be any injuries.

I said I wouldn’t make a prediction and I won’t, but it’s not out the realms of possibility that Colts can push top half. It’s not going to be easy but if Billy Mortimer can get back in amongst the goals, the defence settles, Colts will at minimum do better than last season, where they finished 14th.

East Stirlingshire

East Stirlingshire did well to finish 9th last year, after what can only be described as a truly awful start to the season and I’m sorry to disappoint the Shire fans reading this, but I think they’ll do well to finish 9th this season too, bad start or not. Simply based on the other squads, Shire won’t be a team pushing top half for me.

The Shire announced a co-operative club agreement with Ayr United, which sees Luca McRoberts return to the club for at least the start of the season. with Kenzie Mitchell and Jamie Hislop also joining from the Honest Men. Ben Hobbs joins on loan from Kelty Hearts, while Ben Lamont and Chris Inglis move permanently from Spartans after their loan spells last season.

Goalkeepers Jay Cantley and Neil Mitchell also return to the Shire after spells away. East Stirlingshire announced the signing of a well known name to Scottish fans, James McFadden, that would be junior though, not senior, signing from Partick Thistle. It’s a young team, boosted by the experience of players such as Mark Docherty, Morgaro Gomis, Stephen O’Neill and Matty Flynn, Is that enough for the Shire to be successful? We’ll find out.

More importantly, moving back to Ochilview does allow the club better sponsorship and revenue opportunities going forward, which is a good thing to ensure the clubs future, which has been in doubt for many of years, if not for the fantastic work of the club secretary Andy Williamson and club director Ian Fleming, and now chairman Simon Dickerson.

Gala Fairydean Rovers

Gala were fortunate to stay in the Lowland League last season and if Broomhill didn’t have such a depleted squad by the latter stages, Gala might have been playing their football in the East of Scotland Premier Division this year. 31 points in a season used to be enough for teams to be nowhere near a relegation fight, now it may become the norm and it will be a concern for clubs that are desperate to hold on to their status in tier 5. Luckily, it’s not something clubs like Gala have to worry about this season, with no relegation.

There’s actually a lot to like about Gala manager Martin Scott’s team. They try and play decent football, and there was never an issue of scoring goals, it was their defending that let them down and got them into trouble. Conceding 86 goals over 34 league games, meant Gala finished the season with the worst defensive record. It’s something that Scott will desperately need to address.

Key players, Danny Galbraith, Lewis Hall, Kieran Dolan, Keaghan Jacobs, and Jamie Semple have been retained. Che Reilly appears to be back at the Netherdale also, after his loan from Livingston last season. Defender Liam Fagan joins from Albion Rovers, while the versatile Gregor Lamb joins from Peebles Rovers. We’ve not seen the full picture of signings from Gala but I would expect another bottom half finish is the likely outcome this season.

Gretna FC 2008

Gretna 2008 finished 15th in the Lowland League and if it wasn’t for injuries to defender Jack Dickinson and forward Iain Anderson, they might have not fallen away towards the end of the season. 15th doesn’t sound too impressive but for a club whose days in the Lowland League seemed numbered going by previous seasons, it’s certainly progress.

Anvils manager Vinnie Parker has done a fine job, securing his first silverware by beating the Caledonian Braves in the Southern Counties Challenge Cup Final in May. The majority of last season’s squad was retained, which shows belief from the players in what Vinnie is trying to build at the club. Jack Dickinson and Jordan Wooding-Holt were surprise exits ahead of the new campaign, but the signing of forward Sean McKenzie from Nithsdale Wanderers, should add extra fire power this season.

The top half is going to be so difficult for some clubs to achieve, but Gretna should be there or there abouts, I certainly expect them to push higher than 15th, but like every season, injuries and transfers make a difference.

Heart of Midlothian B

Hearts B finished 11th last season and I would expect another bottom half finish for this campaign. There was certainly a few standouts in the team such as Gregor Crookston, Matthew Gillies, Gus Stevenson, and Mackenzie Ross, but with one or two seasons under their belt playing at this level, the club might want some players to get experience higher up in the SPFL.

That’s essentially what makes predicting anything for B teams more difficult, because you never know exactly what players will be involved or what the plans are. Unlike Celtic, for the most part, Hearts have also gave some of the B team players a chance to be involved in the first team, which I hope continues. You’ll also get the natural progression of the U18s stepping up to be more involved in the B team as older lads are loaned out.

I can’t personally see any of the two B teams making waves in terms of challenging at the top of the division this season.

Linlithgow Rose

Linlithgow finished 5th last season and I think they have an excellent chance to improve on that this year. I was really impressed by a lot of the Rose team. You’re always going to have your standouts in any top side but there was Rose players that really seemed to kick on. Louis Maguire never looked like he had a poor game, Dylan Paterson made the difference, and Greg Skinner was solid at the back. Of course it helps having Cammy Binnie between the sticks, and Connor McMullan and Gary Thom leading the team.

The majority of last season’s squad has been retained with only a few additions. Paul Kennedy, who had an excellent season, comes in from fellow Lowland League team, Albion Rovers, Ciaran Greene moves from Gala Fairydean Rovers. Reuben Lamont, previously at Stirling Albion, moves into the first team at Prestonfield, and Joseph Smith, who was on loan at Broxburn Athletic last season, joins from Queen’s Park.

Rose have a solid squad and this season they will be aiming for a high finish. I fully expect them to be challenging at the top end. Former Whitburn manager, Darren Wilson, coming in as Rose manager Gordon Herd’s assistant is a good move in the backroom. The top 6 is going to be tough, but Linlithgow should most definitely be in the mix.

Tranent

Tranent finished 4th last season and the Belters are always there or there abouts when it comes to challenging but the big difference for me going into this season is Robbie Horn coming in as manager. Robbie, having won the Lowland League previously with Bonnyrigg Rose, is a big coup for the club. Tranent have been frustrating in previous seasons, they’ve had good teams in past seasons but never really lived up to hype. Robbie’s appointment changes that, in my opinion.

Similiar to other top sides, most of the squad has been retained, with only a few additions. Sam Jones comes in from Edinburgh City, Cammy McKinley, who was on loan at East Kilbride last season, comes in from Stirling Albion, and it’s a return to Forester’s Park for Broque Watson as he makes the move from East Kilbride.

Tranent have struggled for goals from open play in the past and have made the most of their chances from set plays, if this is starting to sound familiar, it’s because Bonnyrigg Rose under Robbie Horn were not too dissimilar their first few seasons in the Lowland League. I’ve never been the biggest fan of Robbie’s style (and he knows it!), but I can’t argue with the results.

Hence, under Robbie (for me), Tranent go from potential challengers to potential champions this season.

University of Stirling

I think Stirling Uni might be the team that benefits most from no relegation this season, and it’s not because I think they would have finished bottom. The primary objective of the Uni is to develop players and with no fear of relegation, we might see some more players from the development side feature this year. It also perhaps gives the Uni the chance to focus on the BUCS competitions a little more.

Knowing Chris Geddes, he’ll still go out to try and win games, whoever the Uni plays, but there’s certainly less of a battle at the bottom half than the top, simply because there is no relegation. It’s a ideal opportunity to build for future seasons by giving some players experience a little bit earlier than they might have had it if there was added pressure.

Tomorrow marks the first leg in the marathon SPFL Pyramid Playoffs as our very own East Kilbride FC welcome Brora Rangers of the Highland League to K Park.

Of course, those of you who frequent these pages will have heard us banging on about the silky skills and goalscoring prowess of Michael Kennedy’s Kilby all season long, so instead of a boring ol’ preview, we thought we’d do something a little different.

We’ve enlisted everyone’s favourite Lowland League pundit, Chris Pow of the Official Catchup podcast, to bring you a scouting report on EK’s playoff opponents Brora Rangers…

by Chris Pow

Brora Rangers, as the name suggests, hail from the village of Brora, Sutherland. Nicknamed The Cattachs, the club was founded in 1879, and play their home games at Dudgeon Park.

The Highland League side won their first ever domestic treble this season under manager Steven Mackay, winning the Highland League, Highland League Cup, and the North of Scotland Cup.

Brora Rangers are a strong side for the level, with a formidable front four, who are interchangeable, when it comes to positions. Scoring 117 goals in the Highland League this season emphasises the threat they could pose to any team. Shane Sutherland and Tony Dingwall have an effective partnership upfront and Max Ewan and Connor Bunce have excellent technique, and are good dribblers of the ball.

Brora Rangers, similar to East Kilbride, aim to keep possession, and like to work the ball into the box, when on the attack, with a lot of their opportunities coming from the central areas of the pitch. Brora will press the opposition to claim possession back and create chances in the final third by closing down defenders, and sometimes the opposition goalkeeper, something which Kilby will need to be wary of, given their own style of play. 

The game will be an interesting tactical battle between two top sides. Both are somewhat similar in approaches, so it’s difficult to predict the outcome. We could see a very close encounter, with both teams cancelling each other out, or an absolute shootout, considering the goal scoring prowess of the respective forward lines.