Bo'ness United F.C.

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Bo'ness United
Bonessunited.png
Full nameBo'ness United Football Club
Nickname(s)The B.U.'s
Founded1945;80 years ago (1945)
Ground Newtown Park, Bo'ness
Capacity2,500
ManagerStuart Hunter
League Lowland League
2024–25 Lowland League, 12th of 18
Website https://www.bonessunitedfc.co.uk/

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.

Contents

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

Nicknamed 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

The club were promoted to the Lowland League after winning the East of Scotland League and gaining SFA membership in 2020. [1] [2]

Rivalries

Bo'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

As of 15 August 2025 [12] [13]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
— GK Ulster Banner.svg  NIR Ben Fry
— GK Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Scott Ritchie
— DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Adam Masson
— DF Flag of Iraq.svg  IRQ Aldin El-Zubaidi
— DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Daniel Irving
— DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Lewis Duffy
— DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Keir Macauley
— DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Jordan Armstrong
— DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Shaun Rutherford
— DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Mark McLuckie
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Jack Hodge
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Michael Gemmell
No.Pos.NationPlayer
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Tom Grant
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Cameron Mulvanny
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Ciaran Heeps
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Conor Scullion
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Flynn McCafferty(on loan from Falkirk)
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Kyle Johnston
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Kodi McKinstray
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Roan Fitzpatrick
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Ryan Stevenson
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Shaun Brown
— FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Jamie Watson
— FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Kieran Mitchell
— FW Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Ryan Schiavone

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
— MF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Reece Murdoch(Harthill Royal)

Season-by-season record

Junior

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

SeasonDivisionTierPos.Pld.WDLGDPts Scottish Junior Cup
1945–46 Junior Edinburgh & District League Junior 12nd221945+3030Second round
1946–47Junior Edinburgh & District LeagueJunior 11st342743+9658Runners-up
1947–48Junior Edinburgh & District LeagueJunior 11st422868+7762Winners
1948–49Junior Edinburgh & District LeagueJunior 11st443257+7369Fourth round
1949–50Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1Fifth round
1950–51Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1951–52Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1952–53Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1953–54Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 11st
Junior East Play-offRunners-up
1954–55Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 11st
Junior East Play-offRunners-up
1955–56Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1956–57Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1957–58Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1|1st
Junior East Play-offWinners
1958–59Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 11st
Junior East Play-offRunners-up
1959–60Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1960–61Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1961–62Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1962–63Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1963–64Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1964–65Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1965–66Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1966–67Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1967–68Junior Edinburgh & District West DivisionJunior 1
1968–69Junior East West DivisionJunior 11st
Junior East Play-offWinners
1969–70Junior East West DivisionJunior 1
1970–71Junior East West DivisionJunior 1
1971–72Junior East West DivisionJunior 1
1972–73Junior East West DivisionJunior 1
1973–74Junior East Division AJunior 112th246711−319
1974–75Junior East Division BJunior 24th22107527
1975–76Junior East Division AJunior 15th24987+526Winners
1976–77Junior East Division AJunior 1
1977–78Junior East Division AJunior 19th241121124
1978–79Junior East Division AJunior 19th221011121Runners-up
1979–80Junior East Division AJunior 14th22107526
1980–81Junior East Division AJunior 16th226115-423
1981–82Junior East Division AJunior 13rd221237+2027
1982–83Junior East Division AJunior 15th22967+324Runners-up
1983–84Junior East Division AJunior 14th221228+926Winners
1984–85Junior East Division AJunior 15th22886+1524
1985–86Junior East Division AJunior 15th22976+1025
1986–87Junior East Division AJunior 18th267910-723
1987–88Junior East Division AJunior 19th267811−1522
1988–89Junior East Division AJunior 18th268711−923
1989–90Junior East Division AJunior 12nd22985+726
1990–91Junior East Division AJunior 16th22886+82
1991–92Junior East Division AJunior 12nd221084+728
1992–93Junior East Division 1Junior 15th221066+626
1993–94Junior East Division 1Junior 19th225611−616
1994–95Junior East Division 1Junior 15th22886+224
1995–96Junior East Division 1Junior 18th227411−125
1996–97Junior East Division 1Junior 13rd221156+1438
1997–98Junior East Division 1Junior 14th221237+1234
1998–99Junior East Division 1Junior 19th226610−824
1999–2000Junior East Division 1Junior 14th221237+1539
2000–01Junior East Division 1Junior 15th221066+136
2001–02Junior East Division 1Junior 17th229310−330
2002–03 Junior East Lothian Division 1 Junior 21st181054+1635
2003–04Junior East Super LeagueJunior 16th22886+532
2004–05Junior East Super LeagueJunior 15th221057+235
2005–06Junior East Super LeagueJunior 16th22886+732
2006–07Junior East Super LeagueJunior 111th226313−1321
2007–08Junior East Premier LeagueJunior 21st221534+2048
2008–09Junior East Super LeagueJunior 110th228410−1224
2009–10Junior East Super LeagueJunior 11st221462+3048
2010–11 Junior East Super LeagueJunior 11st221264+1264 Semi-final
2011–12 Junior East Super LeagueJunior 14th20767−127 Quarter-final
2012–13 Junior East Super LeagueJunior 14th221156+1238 Quarter-final
2013–14 Junior East Super LeagueJunior 11st302235+4769 Quarter-final
2014–15 Junior East Super LeagueJunior 12nd281855+3459 Fourth round
2015–16 Junior East Super LeagueJunior 14th301758+2456 Third round
2016–17 Junior East Super LeagueJunior 13rd301749+3955 Third round
2017–18 Junior East Super LeagueJunior 18th3012513+441 Quarter-final

Senior

SeasonDivisionTierPos.Pld.WDLGDPts Scottish Cup
2018–19 East of Scotland League Conference B
6
2nd
24
1842+5458Did Not Participate
2019–20
6
1st†
21
1452+2047Did Not Participate
2020–21
5
7th†
10
532+918 First round, losing to Bonnyrigg Rose
2021–22
Lowland League
5
11th
34
10420-2434 Second round, losing to Edinburgh City
2022–23
Lowland League
5
9th
36
16614+2054 Second round, losing to Auchinleck Talbot

† Season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Honours

East of Scotland Football League Premier Division

East of Scotland League Cup

Scottish Junior Cup

Junior East Region Super League

Other honours

Notable former players

The following players all went on to be capped for the Scotland national football team after playing for Bo'ness United. [14]

A match at Newtown Park in 2004 Newtown Park, Bo'ness.jpg
A match at Newtown Park in 2004

References

  1. 1 2 "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.
  2. 1 2 "Day of destiny as Bo'ness Utd set for Lowland League place". www.linlithgowgazette.co.uk. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 McLauchlin, Brian (7 June 2018). "East of Scotland League vote signals exodus of 25 junior clubs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Club History". Bo'ness United Football Club Website. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  5. ↑ Brian McColl. "Eastern Football League". Scottish Football Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  6. ↑ Kenny Macdonald (24 October 2010). "Bo'ness 2 Queen's Park 1". Daily Record . Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  7. ↑ "Bo'ness 0 Buckie Thistle 2". Daily Record . 21 November 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  8. ↑ Archie MacGregor (20 November 2011). "Blue Brazil get the rub of the green". Scotland on Sunday . Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  9. ↑ Kieran Westbrook (5 January 2012). "Linlithgow Rose boss prepares for Bo'ness battle". West Lothian Courier. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  10. ↑ Westbrook, Kieran (5 October 2011). "Linlithgow Rose set to face fiercest rivals Bo'ness in Scottish Junior Cup clash". dailyrecord. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ "Squad". www.bonessunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Squad List". Twitter. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  14. ↑ McGlone, David; McLure, Bill (1987). The Juniors – 100 Years. A Centenary History of Scottish Junior Football. Mainstream. p. 189. ISBN   1-85158-060-3.
  15. ↑ "Paddy Buckley". The Scotsman . 11 November 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  16. ↑ "Donald Ford: Ex-Hearts and Scotland". Daily Record . 30 January 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  17. ↑ "Alex Scott". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  18. ↑ McGlone, David; McLure, Bill (1987). The Juniors – 100 Years. A Centenary History of Scottish Junior Football. Mainstream. p. 170. ISBN   1-85158-060-3.
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