Bonnyrigg Rose Football Club is a Scottish football club from the town of Bonnyrigg. Formed in 1881 and nicknamed the Rose, the team plays in Scottish League Two, having been promoted after winning the Lowland Football League in 2021–22.

Bonnyrigg Rose
Full nameBonnyrigg Rose Football Club
Nickname(s)The Rose
Founded1881
GroundNew Dundas Park
Bonnyrigg
Capacity3,000
ChairmanVacant
ManagerCalum Elliot
LeagueScottish League Two
2023–24Scottish League Two, 8th of 10
Websitehttps://www.bonnyriggrosefc.co.uk

Their home ground is New Dundas Park, and they have traditionally played in red and white hoops. They have won the Scottish Junior Cup twice, in 1966 and in 1978, as well as finishing runners-up in 1972. Their 6–1 defeat of Whitburn in 1966 holds a joint record for the margin of victory in a Scottish Junior Cup final.[1] Bonnyrigg won the East Region Super League championship four times during their membership, making them the league's most successful side.

At a special general meeting held in March 2018, the club's members voted in favour of applying to join the senior East of Scotland Football League.[2] Bonnyrigg were part of a larger movement of eastern junior clubs to the East of Scotland League that year.[3] In 2019, they won promotion to the Lowland League and successfully applied for Scottish Football Association membership. In 2022, they won promotion to Scottish League Two, thus entering the Scottish Professional Football League for the first time, and after doing so, changed their name from Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic to the more streamlined Bonnyrigg Rose.

Scottish Cup

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Bonnyrigg host Brechin City in 2012–13's third round

Prior to becoming an SFA member in 2019, Bonnyrigg qualified to enter the senior Scottish Cup by winning the East Superleague on four occasions.

In their first campaign in 2009–10, Bonnyrigg lost in their opening tie to Highland League club Fraserburgh. Better results were achieved in 2012–13, losing to SFL Second Division side Brechin City in a third round replay after wins over Girvan and Stirling University.

The third Scottish Cup adventure in 2016–17 was their most successful. The Rose easily saw off Glasgow University and then defeated Burntisland Shipyard 14–0, the biggest win in the competition since 1984.[4] This was followed by wins over Highland sides Turriff United and Cove Rangers. In an upset, Bonnyrigg then eliminated Dumbarton of the Scottish Championship after a replay to progress to the Fourth Round. They were drawn at home against the cup holders Hibernian, with the match moved to Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh to accommodate the expected number of spectators and the basic facilities at New Dundas Park.[5] The result, an 8–1 defeat, was a disappointing end to the run for the team and the 5,000 fans who had travelled from Midlothian to give their support.[6]

The club qualified again for the Scottish Cup in 2018–19, having won the East Superleague for a record fourth time. Now playing in the senior pyramid, this campaign ultimately ended in disappointment for the club, losing 2–1 to Deveronvale in the first round. 2018 also saw them take part in the inaugural Shaun Woodburn Memorial Cup, established in memory of former player Woodburn, who had been killed on the previous Hogmanay.[7]

In June 2019, the club announced it had been accepted as a member of the Scottish Football Association, which would allow them to automatically qualify for the Scottish Cup annually.[8] In their first Scottish Cup as a licensed team, Bonnyrigg would once again go on an impressive run, defeating Highland League sides Fraserburgh[9] and Buckie Thistle[10] before dispatching Scottish League One side Montrose 2–1 at New Dundas Park, despite being a man down.[11] In the Fourth round, Bonnyrigg would again valiantly fight against a League One team, but could not repeat their heroics and lost 0–1 late on to Clyde.[12]

Entering in the Second round in 2020–21, Bonnyrigg would defeat fellow Lowland Leaguers Bo'ness United 5–2, with Lee Currie scoring a hat-trick of penalties within 10 minutes of each other.[13] In the next round, the Rosey Posey would nearly have a cup upset for the ages, with another Currie penalty and a strong performance from keeper Mark Weir nearly knocking out Scottish Championship side Dundee before a late equaliser sent the game to extra time. Currie again put Bonnyrigg ahead from the spot, but two goals by Dundee in the second half of extra time ended the club's dream.[14][15]

Lowland League

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Rose were promoted to the Lowland League in 2019 after winning the East of Scotland Football League and gaining SFA membership.[16][17] They took the place of relegated Whitehill Welfare, based only two miles from Bonnyrigg in the village of Rosewell, Midlothian. After finishing second and third in their first two seasons, both curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the following season they went on to win the league title in 2021–22.

Current squad

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As of 30 August 2024[18]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   SCO Paddy Martin
2 DF   SCO Angus Mailer
3 DF   SCO Neil Martyniuk
4 DF   SCO Kerr Young (captain)
6 MF   SCO Sean Murphy
8 FW   ENG Kallum Higginbotham
9 FW   SCO Keiran McGachie
10 MF   SCO Lee Currie
11 MF   SCO Bradley Barrett
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 FW   SCO Mark Ferrie (on loan from Motherwell)
15 MF   SCO Lewis Lorimer (on loan from Dundee)
16 MF   SCO Aaron Arnott
18 DF   SCO Callum Gardiner
19 FW   SCO Cameron Ross
20 DF   SCO Greig Allen (on loan from Rangers)
22 MF   SCO Callum Connolly
24 FW   SCO Ben Scarborough
25 GK   SCO Tom Ritchie (on loan from Aberdeen)

On loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   SCO Cameron Forbes (on loan at Dunbar United)
MF   SCO Owen Wardell (on loan at Broxburn Athletic)
FW   SCO Riley Haston (on loan at Cowdenbeath)

Coaching staff

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  • Manager: Calum Elliot
  • Assistant manager: Kevin Smith
  • First team coach: Calum Smith
  • Goalkeeping coach: Michael Andrews
  • Sports Therapist: Danielle McNaught

Managers

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The team was managed from June 2015 until August 2017 by former Berwick Rangers player and assistant manager, Robbie Horn.[19] Horn resigned in August 2017 to take over the vacant managerial position at Berwick.[20] He later returned as manager in November 2018.[21]

Season-by-season record

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Senior

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Season Division Tier Pos. Pld. W D L GD Pts Scottish Cup
Bonnyrigg Rose
2018–19 East of Scotland League Conference B 6 1st 24 22 1 1 88 67 First round, losing to Deveronvale
2019–20 Lowland League 5 2nd† 24 20 2 2 48 62 Fourth round, losing to Clyde
2020–21 Lowland League 5 3rd† 12 9 2 1 23 29 Second round, losing to Dundee
2021–22 Lowland League 5 1st 34 28 3 3 64 87 Third round, losing to Alloa Athletic
2022–23 Scottish League Two 4 8th 36 11 9 16 –11 42 Second round, losing to Sauchie Juniors

† Season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Honours

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Major honours

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Other honours

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  • Edinburgh & District League: 1937–38, 1963–64
  • East Region Division One: 1975–76, 1976–77, 1984–85
  • East of Scotland Junior Cup: 1897–98, 1962–63, 1985–86, 1986–87, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2012–13
  • Fife & Lothians Cup: 1981–82, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2017–18
  • Lanark & Lothians Cup: 1963–64, 1965–66
  • National Dryburgh Cup: 1985–86
  • East Region Division Two: 1983–84
  • East Junior League Cup: 1975–76, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1987–88, 2000–01
  • Brown Cup: 1933–34, 1963–64, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1985–86, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07
  • St. Michaels Cup: 1965–66, 1970–71, 1974–75
  • RL Rae Cup: 1974–75
  • Peter Craigie Cup: 1992–93
  • Thornton Shield: 1955–56, 1956–57
  • Dalmeny Cup: 1922–23
  • Marshall Cup: 1913–14
  • Musselburgh Cup: 1909–10, 1924–25
  • Roseberry Charity Cup: 1937–38
  • Simpson Shield: 1905–06
  • Andy Kelly Memorial Cup: 2006

Notable former players

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References

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  1. ^ McGlone, David; McLure, Bill (1987). The Juniors – 100 Years. It was after a 1-1 draw at Hampden Park on the Saturday that they went on to win 6-1 on the Wednesday evening replay. A Centenary History of Scottish Junior Football. Mainstream. p. 80. ISBN 1-85158-060-3.
  2. ^ Parkinson, Brendan (19 April 2018). "Club Update". www.bonnyriggrosefc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  3. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (7 June 2018). "East of Scotland League vote signals exodus of 25 junior clubs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  4. ^ Thomson, Scott (4 September 2016). "Bonnyrigg 14, Burntisland 0: Biggest Scottish Cup win since 1984". Edinburgh Evening News.
  5. ^ "Fourth Round venues confirmed". scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish FA. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Bonnyrigg Rose 1-8 Hibernian". BBC. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Shaun Woodburn Memorial Cup: Fitting tribute to much loved footballer". midlothianadvertiser.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  8. ^ Parkinson, Brendan (14 June 2019). "Club announcement - Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic granted SFA membership". bonnyriggrosefc.co.uk. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Scottish Cup matches". scottishfa.co.uk. 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Scottish Cup matches". scottishfa.co.uk. 18 October 2019. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  11. ^ McGlade, Neil (23 November 2019). "Bonnyrigg Rose 2–1 Montrose: Ten-man Rose stun League One side in Scottish Cup thriller". edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  12. ^ Smith, Aidan (18 January 2020). "Bonnyrigg Rose 0–1 Clyde: All about Love in Bonny and Clyde romance". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Scottish Cup matches". scottishfa.co.uk. 1 January 2021. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Dundee v Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic". BBC. 9 January 2021. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  15. ^ Pattullo, Alan (9 January 2021). "How Bonnyrigg Rose almost staged one of the biggest-ever Scottish Cup shocks". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  16. ^ "CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT - Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic granted SFA membership - News - Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic - Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic FC". www.bonnyriggrosefc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2019. [verification needed]
  17. ^ "Statement - Promotion and Relegation". Scottish Lowland League. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019. [verification needed]
  18. ^ "The Team - Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic - Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic FC". www.bonnyriggrosefc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  19. ^ Parkinson, Brendan. "Manager Announcement". www.bonnyriggrosefc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  20. ^ Thomson, Scott (30 August 2017). "Robbie Horn leaves Bonnyrigg Rose to join Berwick Rangers". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  21. ^ Parkinson, Brendan. "Managerial Announcement". www.bonnyriggrosefc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  22. ^ "Scottish Junior Football History Sean Connery". Mud & Glory. April 2005. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  23. ^ Crawford, Kenny (7 December 2016). "Bonnyrigg Rose: Four things you might not know about the Rosey Posey". BBC. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Billy Neil". Barry Hugman's Footballers.
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55°52′29″N 3°06′12″W / 55.8747°N 3.1034°W / 55.8747; -3.1034