BROXBURN ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB HOLD A RECORD WHICH CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM!
IN THE EARLY 1970's THEY WON THE EAST REGION CHAMPIONSHIP IN CONSECUTIVE SEASONS, 1972-73 AND 1973-74. WHAT MAKES THIS DOUBLE UNIQUE IS THE FACT THAT IN SEASON 1972-73 THE LEAGUE SET UP CONSISTED OF TWO REGIONAL GROUPS, EAST AND WEST. THE WINNERS OF EACH SECTION PLAYED EACH OTHER ON A HOME AND AWAY BASIS TO DECIDE WHO BECAME THE E.R.S.J.F.A. CHAMPIONS.
IN SEASON 1973-74, THE FORMAT WAS CHANGED TO AN 'A' DIVISION CONSISTING OF THE TEAMS FINISHING IN THE TOP HALF OF BOTH THE EAST AND WEST SECTIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS SEASON, WITH THE REMAINING TEAMS MAKING UP THE 'B' DIVISION.
THUS BROXBURN ATHLETIC F.C. WERE THE LAST TEAM TO WIN THE "OLD LEAGUE" SET UP AND THE FIRST TEAM TO WIN THE "NEW LEAGUE" SET UP.
The first leg of the league decider brought together the two teams who clashed in the 1971 decider when the Burn suffered defeats both away and at home. The home game was marred by deplorable crowd trouble which resulted in Broxburn receiving a stern warning from the Eastern Region Junior F.A. Broxburn got off to a dream start when they scored after only 3 minutes. Frank Donachie shot in a 20 yarder from the left-wing through a crowded goalmouth and the ball finished in the back of the net despite an attempted clearance from left back, Wilkinson. Broxburn Athletic continued to have the better of the game in the first half with Cook almost netting with a header from a McCue corner and MacDonald heading narrowly over from a McOwat throw-in. In addition, two strong appeals for penalties were turned down when Ferrie was tripped by Ritchie when he was on the point of shooting and then Wight touched the ball with his arm when O'Donnell had directed a shot towards goal. Reynolds also had a good shot which carried over the bar and Sneddon was the much the busier goalkeeper during this stage of the game. Musselburgh Athletic had a good share of the midfield play but were seldom dangerous although Steven had to look sharp to stop a shot from Slater and centre forward Jones almost score with two half chances. Broxburn Athletic led 1-0 at the interval. In the early part of the second half Musselburgh Athletic continued to put in a battling performance but the quality football came more from the Broxburn Athletic side. Broxburn Athletic managed to handle the Musselburgh Athletic pressure comfortably with Tobin was playing outstanding at full back and Cook, Bannon and McOwat putting in solid performances. Broxburn Athletic brought on Donnelly for Ferrie after 60 minutes and Musselburgh Athletic brought on both of their substitutes. Steven had a few anxious moments with high balls but dealt with them comfortably. Mid way through the second half Steven pulled off the save of the match when he dived at Ritchie's feet to smother the ball after MacFarlane had put him through on goal with a defence splitting pass. Many of the Broxburn Athletic counter attacks were pulled up for offside, but with twelve minutes left on the clock O'Donnell managed to beat the offside trap at the halfway line and sprinted clear off the Musselburgh Athletic defence. The referee waved down the linesman's offside flag and O'Donnell headed towards the Musselburgh Athletic goal. The Broxburn Athletic winger was about to round the keeper when he was brought to the ground in the penalty area. O'Donnell took the spot kick and competently slotted the ball home. This goal seemed to spur Broxburn Athletic on and a few minutes later Reynolds latched on to a long ball and dragged it past the Musselburgh Athletic keeper before knocking the ball over the line for Broxburn Athletic's third goal. Broxburn Athletic were now leading 3-0 with less than 10 minutes of the game remaining. Musselburgh Athletic did not give up and continued to put in a strong performance as the Broxburn Athletic players began to show signs of tiredness. A lapse of concentration in the Broxburn Athletic defence allowed Scott to break free and hammer in a strong shot on target. The goalkeeper, Steven, managed to parry the shot but the rebound fell to Dobbie who easily stroked the ball home to make the score Broxburn Athletic 3 Musselburgh Athletic 1. this was the only disappointment in a great Broxburn Athletic performance where the team tried it's utmost to take as big a lead as possible into the second leg. This was Paddy Bannon's last game for Broxburn Athletic and he left on the following Monday for new life in Australia. Teams Musselburgh Athletic - Sneddon, Wood, Wilkinson, Johnstone, Ritchie, MacFarlane, Falconer, Wight, Jones, Scott, Slater - subs - Dobbie, Palmer Broxburn Athletic - Steven, Tobin, McOwat, MacDonald, Cook, Bannon, O'Donnell, Donachie, Reynolds, Ferrie, McCue - subs - Donnelly, Nisbet
BROXBURN ATHLETIC F.C. 0 MUSSELBURGH ATHLETIC F.C. 2
(AGGREGATE 3-3)
In the dying minutes of their East Regional League Championship battle, Broxbum Athletic lost the most crucial goal ever scored at the Albyn Park. A goal that might have denied them the title for the first time in 27 years. How the players must be kicking themselves when with only two minutes of the match remaining Musselburgh Athletic salvaged the game to live to fight another day. Not even the most ardent Mussellburgh fan could have given much for his team's chances after they were convincingly beaten 3-1 in the first leg on the previous Saturday. But the visitors with that never say die attitude proved again that they are a jinx team to the Broxburn team.
The second leg was played on a Tuesday evening and it was far from a classic match. There was a lot at stake for both teams and the high tension kept the interest of the crowd throughout the match. Broxburn Athletic definitely missed the services of their long serving player Paddy Bannon. Bannon left the team to start a new life in Australia. The big defender's presence was greatly missed in a lack luster performance by the Broxburn Athletic side.
MUSSELBURGH ATHLETIC stalwart centre half Willie Wight was on holiday but despite concern over an injury, Tom Downie put in a great performance at the back. It was a hard competitive match and two players were taken to hospital, both suffering from concussion after clash of heads and three players booked. BROXBURN ATHLETIC players Ferrie and McCue and Jones for Musselburgh Athletic had their names taken by the referee from Edinburgh.
Straight from kick off Dave Tobin came close with a superb bending shot which just slid past the post. MUSSELBURGH ATHLETIC always looked dangerous on the break and after 17 minutes Downie left four Broxburn Athletic defenders standing and chipped a great shot towards goal, narrowly missing the target. The Musselburgh Athletic team almost scored from a free kick but McOwat managed to head the ball clear to ease the pressure on the Broxburn Athletic defence. A few minutes later Ferrie was brought on to replace Reynolds, who came off with suspected concussion.
BROXBURN ATHLETIC started to pick themselves up and O'Donnell took the ball for a run, skipping past a handful of Musselburgh Athletic defenders but his weak shot was easily cleared off the goal-line. It was a hard fought first half but probably the most exciting incident was a goal-mouth skirmish at the Broxburn Athletic end just before half-time. Early in the second half Broxburn Athletic went into the attack and Musselburgh Athletic were only saved from losing the first goal by some excellent defensive play. BROXBURN ATHLETIC looked to have a good claim for a penalty when Donachie was brought down in the Musselburgh Athletic penalty area. The Broxburn Athletic players and their fans were stunned by the decision. The referee did not seem keen to give penalties as he waved away another Broxburn Athletic claim later in the match when Donachie was the victim of a knee high tackle in the box.
MUSSELBURGH ATHLETIC went ahead after 30 minutes into the second half when Johnston shot a well hit ball through a group of players and into the back of the net. BROXBURN ATHLETIC brought on Nisbet in place of right half McDonald. After holding their own in the first half and weathering the broxburn pressure in the early part of the second half Musselburgh Athletic came more into the game and for long periods late on they had the home side back on their heels desperately trying to hold on to their one goal aggregate advantage. The Broxburn Athletic forwards were having to be content with the quick breakaway down the middle to take the strain off the defence and bring the hope of a goal. With the minutes ticking away the inevitable happened when Musselburgh Athletic snatched their second goal and thus earned them a replay. A hotly disputed goal as the home players surrounded the referee, claiming for offside. It was a scrambled ball in the penalty area which eventually fell at the feet of Palmer and he stroked the ball low into the corner to earn Musselburgh the right to a replay to decide the E.R.S.J.F.A. league champions for the season 1972-73.
The Broxburn Athletic Team that day was - Steven, Tobin, McOwat, McDonald, Cook, Reynolds, Hunter, Donachie, O'Donnell, Donnelly, McCue. Subs - Nisbet, Ferrie.
This was the league decider to determine the winners of the Eastern Region Junior Football Association league for the 1972/73 season. Broxburn Athletic won the toss to choose the neutral venue for this important match and they opted for the closest Junior football ground to Broxburn, the Recreation Park in Pumpherston. In previous years Broxburn Athletic stumbled when it came to the play-off match to decide the overall league winner after they had won their own West Section of the league. This year they were up against Musselburgh Athletic and they looked strong favourites after winning 3-1 away from home. However, they were defeated 2-0 in the second leg at Albyn Park which meant that a third match was necessary to decide the overall league winner. The Broxburn Athletic showed right from the start that they were in the mood and could easily have had a penalty in the first couple of minutes when Donachie set up a chance for O'Donnell and his shot appeared to be punched away by Wilkinson. Donachie set up a good chance for Hunter but he sent his shot wide of the target. The early pressure was all Broxburn Athletic and Musselburgh Athletic resorted to playing the offside trap with great success. The Musselburgh Athletic defence was finding it difficult to cope with the constant onslaught from the Broxburn Athletic forward line. O'Donnell chipped a good ball over the keeper only to see it bounce off the top of crossbar and bounce over for a goal kick. Dave McCue and Hunter were also playing well up front and it was only a matter of time before Broxburn Athletic got their first goal. This came in the 37th minute when Donnelly crashed a great shot high into the net from 15 yards out. In the second half Broxburn Athletic continued to put in a comfortable performance. The defence was solid and the forwards made sure that the Musselburgh Athletic goalkeeper, Sneddon, was the busier of the two goalkeepers. MUSSELBURGH ATHLETIC did manage a couple of half chances but Steven was alert enough to deal with these easily. Broxburn Athletic suffered a setback when Tobin had to leave the park with an ankle injury and he was replaced by Nisbet. Broxburn Athletic went further ahead when a bad clearance in the Musselburgh Athletic defence allowed O'Donnell to slide the ball to Hunter who raised the net from only a few yards out. The game was wrapped up with two minutes still to play when Broxburn Athletic was awarded a penalty when O'Donnell was brought down in the box. O'Donnell took the spot kick and slotted home to make the final score Broxburn Athletic3 Musselburgh Athletic 0. Broxburn Athletic played a great game and outclassed Musselburgh Athletic from start to finish and were worthy winners of this league decider match. Broxburn Athletic- winners of the Eastern Region Junior Football Association league for the 1972/73 season. Teams - Musselburgh Athletic - Sneddon, Wood, Wilkinson, Johnstone, Pullen, MacFarlane, Falconer, Ritchie, Scott, Downie and Palmer - Subs - Dobbie, Jones Broxburn Athletic- Steven, Tobin, McCue, Ferrie, Cook, MacDonald, O'Donnell, Donachie, Hunter, Donnelly and McOwat, - Subs - Nisbet, Calderwood