Musselburgh Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Musselburgh, East Lothian. Formed in 1934, they have played under different names including Musselburgh Bruntonians, Musselburgh Juniors and Musselburgh Fern since 1898.
Nicknamed "the Burgh", they play their home games at the Olivebank Arena in the Fisherrow area of the town. The club's strips are the blue and white colours of Musselburgh with their town's badge displayed on their chests.
History
The majority of the club's history has been played in the Scottish Junior football leagues. In seasons 2010–11 and 2014–15 they reached the final of the Scottish Junior Cup, on both occasions losing 2–1 to Ayrshire team Auchinleck Talbot.
In 2019, Musselburgh won the South & East of Scotland Cup-Winners Shield which allowed them to take part in the Scottish Cup for the first time in 2020–21. They also obtained their SFA License at this time due to several improvements made to the clubs facilities to comply with SFA licensing criteria, this included the installation of floodlights.
On 30 October 2023, a Scottish Cup tie against three-time winners Clyde took place 'under the lights' at the Olivebank Arena. The game was broadcast live on television by BBC Scotland - the first time this has happened at the Arena. Clyde won the game 3–2, after extra time.
Junior Leagues (1889 - 2018)
The history of Musselburgh Athletic in the 'Honest Toun' can be traced as far back as 1889 due to its links to earlier clubs such as Musselburgh Fern, Musselburgh Juniors and Musselburgh Bruntonians. However, the official foundation of Musselburgh Athletic was in 1934.[4]
The club played at various levels throughout its time in the Junior Leagues and played in three Scottish Junior Cup finals during its time there. In May 1923 at Tynecastle Park, Musselburgh Bruntonians won the Junior Scottish Cup defeating Arniston Rangers 3-0, in front of a 20,000 strong crowd.
In more recent times, the club reached the Scottish Junior Cup final twice in 2011 and 2015. Musselburgh lost both finals to Ayrshire club Auchinleck Talbot, 2-1. Both games were played on neutral territory at Rugby Park, home of Kilmarnock F.C.
East of Scotland Football League (2018-present)
Before the start of the 2018-19 season, a host of Junior clubs, including Musselburgh, moved across to the East of Scotland Football League to join the recently established Scottish Football Pyramid. This presented clubs the opportunity to potentially gain promotion to the SPFL creating an increase from 13 teams to 39. The clubs who made the move would subsequently be split into three parallel conferences.[5]
Musselburgh finished 3rd in the 2018–19 season as part of 'Conference A' under the management of Calvin Shand until January 2019, and then Kevin McDonald for the duration of the campaign. As a result, the club qualified for the newly established East of Scotland Premier League for the 2019-20 season, one tier below the Lowland Football League.[6]
Due to the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019–20 season was suspended in March 2020 and then curtailed in April with a 'points per game' system adopted. This resulted in a 10th place finish for the Burgh. In 2020–21, the season was delayed until October with matches played behind closed doors and by January, the season was suspended. A vote was taken a few months later and in April the season was declared 'null and void', with Musselburgh in 4th place.[7]
Prior to the beginning of the 2021–22 Season, Musselburgh appointed Joe Hamill as manager from East Lothian rivals, Haddington Athletic, following the departure of Kevin McDonald to Kelty Hearts. The Burgh would finish in 8th place following a disappointing second half of the season and Hamill would resign the following September following a Scottish Cup defeat to Newtongrange Star.[8]
Liam Burns took the reigns for the 2022–23 season [9] and steered the club to a 3rd place finish in the East of Scotland Premier League. In the following campaign 2023–24, Burns would take the side one step further with a 2nd place finish behind eventual champions, Broxburn Athletic.
Captain, Declan O'Kane, lifts the EoS Premier League Trophy in May 2025
It would be third time lucky for the club as they won the 2024–25 East of Scotland Premier League, being crowned champions following a 4-0 away win at Sauchie in the penultimate game of the season, with all four goals being scored by forward Jordan Smith.[10]
Musselburgh would go on to complete the East of Scotland double by winning the League Cup, defeating Kirkcaldy & Dysart 2-0 in the final, with Jordan Smith again, bagging the goals.
In between these two trophy lifts, the club earned an opportunity at promotion to the Lowland League in a two-legged play-off against West of Scotland Football League champions, Clydebank. Musselburgh lost the tie 3-1 on aggregate, remaining in the East of Scotland Premier League the following season.
Scottish Cup (2020-present)
Following improvements to the club's facilities at the Olivebank Arena resulting in the reward of an SFA license, whilst also winning the South & East of Scotland Cup-Winners Shield in 2019, Musselburgh were eligible to participate in the Scottish Cup for the first time in the 2020–21 season.
On 28 November 2020 in the 1st Preliminary Round, Musselburgh won their first ever Scottish Cup tie 3-2 away to Penicuik Athletic after extra time. The club's first ever Scottish Cup goal was scored early on by Michael Moffat.
In the 2023–24 Scottish Cup, the Burgh defeated Coldstream 6-0 followed by a victory over Lowland League side Gretna F.C. 2008 on penalties, which set up a 2nd Round tie at home to three-time Scottish Cup winners, Clyde. The match was broadcast live on BBC Scotland to a sell out crowd, with Clyde running out 3-2 winners after extra-time.[11]
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