History of the Football Club
The origins of Whitburn Juniors can be traced back to the late 1920's when Whitburn Amateurs were formed. This side wore blue jerseys with a broad white stripe, the kit having been donated at a cost of £10 by a local bookmaker Bob Gray. It appears that the claret and amber colours were adopted in the 1930's.
In January 1934 a meeting of the public and members of Whitburn Amateur F.C. was held in the Baillie Institute with Mr. Jamie Bowie presiding. It was agreed at this meeting to promote a junior club and to seek entry into the East of Scotland Junior League.
During the next six months numerous fund raising events were held, with the newly formed supporters club organizing many of them. The programme included a sports meeting, a fancy dress parade and a challenge match between the West End and the East End, which was won by the West End 2-0, D. Wood and P. Donald scoring. A five a side competition was also arranged with R. Toppings Five defeating S. Arnotts Five 3-0 in the final.
On Saturday 28th July, 1934 Whitburn played their first match in the Mid Lothian League when another new junior club, Musselburgh Athletic, visited Central Park. The Whitburn team, with their previous club in brackets was:
Reston (Livingston United), Kirk (Wallyford Bluebell), Dunsmore (Bellshill Athletic), Hare (Motherwell Juniors), Ford (Bo'ness Cadora), McKee (Linlithgow Rose), Williams (Linlithgow Rose), McNair (Longstone United), Gibb (Musselburgh Bruntonians), Lavin (Blackburn Athletic), Fairley (Lesmahagow).
The attendance was around 700 and Whitburn Public Band provided the pre-match and half time entertainment. Whitburn led 1-0 after 45 minutes through Gibb, with the final score being 2-2, Lavin scoring the second.
The following Wednesday, again at home, Whitburn registered their first win when they defeated Ormiston Primrose 2-1, McKee scoring both goals. On 4th August in their third successive home match Whitburn were hosts to the previous seasons' League Champions, Blackburn Athletic. A crowd of 1500 saw the visitors win 4-1, McNair netting for Whitburn.
Whitburn`s first away game was at Mains Park, Linlithgow. They drew 3-3 with the Rose after leading 1-0 at half time, Fairley, Douglas and Gibb scoring.
The goalkeeper at this time was Harry Reston who went on to play for Motherwell and of course is well known as a bowler, having represented Scotland over 100 times and won many other honours in that sport.
Other players signed during this first season included McCluskie, Tennant, McKinven, Douglas, Montgomery, Muldownie, Luke Stewart, Mathieson, Davidson, Sneddon, Fulton, Easton, H. McKennan, Whiteford, P. McKennan and Whigham. Peter McKennan went on to become a big personality in the game with Partick Thistle, whilst Sneddon, Dunsmore and Whiteford all played senior with Queen Of The South, Hibs and Ayr United respectively. Incidentally, Dunsmore had the dubious distinction of being the first Whitburn player to be sent off (v Newtongrange). Whitburn`s first venture into cup football was a Musselburgh Cup Tie at home to Blackburn, which was won 2-0 in front of 1500 spectators, who paid £50 at the gate.
The first season saw Whitburn drawn away to Bo'ness Cadora in the Scottish Junior Cup 1st Round. The Cadora had been quarter finalists in the two previous seasons. Two thousand spectators at Drum Park saw Whitburn gain a surprise 2-1 win with Lavin and H. McKennan scoring.
At this time the draw was regionalised; Mid Lothian league teams for the first round, Midlothian and Fife Regions for the second and third rounds.
In the second round Whitburn won 3-0 away to Musselburgh. Their first home draw was to prove their undoing when they lost 1-0 to Lochgelly Albert in the third round.
This season also saw the introduction of a new cup competition, the Fife and Lothians Cup, and Whitburn featured in the first ever tie played in this competition, travelling to Methil to play Wellesley at Bayview and winning 4-2.
Whitburn reached the semi-finals of the East of Scotland Cup, eventually losing 1-0 to Thorntree United from Prestonpans.
Other long lost names in the league at this time included Leith Renton, Rosewell Renton, Edina, Niddrie Thistle and Wallyford Bluebell.
At the end of the season Whitburn finished in the top half of the league, which was won by Stoneyburn, and having also reached a cup semi-final were well satisfied.
The AGM was held on 10th May, 1935 when over 100 attended. A credit balance of £25 was reported. The officials elected were: President James Bowie, Secretary J. Ross, Treasurer R. Donald, Financial Secretary G. Gray. Committee: James McGowan, John Easton, H. Drummond, A. Baillie, J. Stevenson, W. Drummond, J. Ramsay, R. Sangster, J. Johnston, W. Johnstone, G. Franchitti, A. Campbell, John McGowan and John Duncan. Later in May the Supporters Club donated £100 to the funds.
For their second season Whitburn signed numerous new players in the close season: J. Murray (Blantyre Vics), John McNeill (Armadale Juveniles), J. McFadyean (Kilwinning Rangers), J. Hughes (Fauldhouse United), Douglas Hawthorn (Bellshill Juveniles), John Ferguson (Overton Athletic), Frank McEwan (Airdrie Amateurs), Frank McGee (Whitburn Juveniles), Lunn (Newtongrange Rangers), Gray and Gibson (Broxburn Shamrock), Lawrie (New Stevenston United) and Smith (Lanarkshire Schools).
Gray later signed for Bury and McEwan for Airdrie.
Armadale Thistle and Winchburgh Juniors joined the league in this season. Whitburn and Armadale met for the first time, at Volunteer Park on September 1st, 1935, the Dale winning 2-1 in front of 2000 spectators.
The first serious incidence of crowd violence appears to have occurred on Saturday 24th August, 1935 when the Whitburn treasurer was assaulted by a West Calder supporter. A series of petty quarrels and fights followed. It was believed that the West Calder fans became annoyed after losing bets. For the first time the police had to be called to restore order.
Whitburn ceased to operate during the war, but restarted in August 1945 with the following players: R. Craig, J. Mitchell, B. Inglis, J. Kerr, A. Crone, R. Stirling, A. Johnstone, J. Gallon, I. Taylor, W. McCutcheon, R. Smillie, J. Mooney, W. Topping, M. Russell, J. McQueen, J. Easton, R. Horsburgh and J. McCorkindale, Mason, Murphy, Hogg, Russell and Krauss. Felix Aloyzry who was the P.T. Instructor at the Polish base at Polkemmet, also signed. He was reputed to be a Polish international goalkeeper and he featured in a famous Scottish Cup Tie against Kelty Our Boys Juniors in which the Scots were outnumbered by the Poles. Kelty were unable to field a side so they recruited members of the Polish Forces Team.
In season 1946-47 Whitburn picked up their first silverware when they won the St. Michael's Cup. This was followed in the same season by the Edinburgh League Cup.
It was to be a long time before Whitburn repeated this trophy success, as it wasn't until season 1959-60 that the Brown Cup and the RL Rae Cup were added to the honours list.
The first 25 years had been sparse in terms of trophies, but this double success saw Whitburn gradually starting to emerge as one of the top teams in the East Region.
At that time, the east league was split into East and West sections, with the two winners meeting to decide the overall League Champions. Whitburn won the West section twice in the next 5 years only to lose out in the championship deciders.
Further success was only delayed however, as in season 1965-66 Whitburn enjoyed their best season since they were formed. They won the East of Scotland Cup, then reached the final of the ultimate Junior competition, the Scottish Cup, for the first time. This was an all East affair, with Whitburn and Bonnyrigg Rose drawing 1-1 in the first game, before Bonnyrigg demolished Whitburn with a 6-1 victory in the replay. This equalled the record score for the final, and still stands.
Between 1966 and 1974, Whitburn enjoyed a period of sustained success, winning 9 trophies, including another West section league title, and 3 East of Scotland Cups, the main East Region trophy after the League. The pinnacle was season 1969-70 when, under the captaincy of Andy Muir, Whitburn picked up 3 cups. The success during this 8 year period was also recognised nationally, with seven Whitburn players being selected to play for Scotland.
There then followed a period of decline, with Whitburn flirting between the first and second divisions, the only trophy success being the 2nd division championship won in season 78-79, before being relegated once again.
The start of the most successful period in Whitburn's history, taking us up to present day, can be traced back to a match played at Bonnyrigg at the end of season 1983-84. Sauchie were the visitors, and only required a draw to gain promotion to the First Division. However, they lost, Whitburn were promoted and haven't looked back.
The following season, Whitburn finished runners-up in the First Division, then in season 1985-86, went one better by winning the Championship for the first time. They also picked up their first silverware in 8 years, winning the Centenary Cup by beating Linlithgow in the final at Tynecastle.
The title was retained the following season, and would have been 3 in a row but for an administrative error by the Dalkeith Secretary which allowed Linlithgow to make an ultimately successful protest and clinch the title, off the park. Whitburn won the title again the following two seasons to make it four out of five.
The years since 1984 saw Whitburn add to their silverware tally, full details of which are listed below. It is worth highlighting however, season 1997-98, when under the management of Brian Fairley, Whitburn enjoyed their most prolific season yet, winning four trophies including the League Championship.
Whitburn also had a further 8 players capped for Scotland during this time.
The Scottish Cup is the premier competition for Junior football clubs, and it was a trophy that everyone connected with Whitburn was desperate to win.
In season 87-88 Whitburn reached the semi-final for the first time since 1966, and were unlucky to lose to the all-conquering Auchinleck Talbot. The first game at Rugby Park ended 1-1 with Auchinleck winning the replay 2-1.
At the end of season 88-89, Whitburn were forced to rebuild their team after losing no fewer than seven players to the Senior ranks. The team put together by George Fairley exceeded most people's expectations by reaching the semi-final where they lost to Lesmahgow at Brockville by 3 goals to 2 after extra time. Two seasons later they reached the semis again, the 3rd time in five seasons, only to lose 1-0 to Auchinleck at Fir Park.
In season 1994-95, under the management of Brian McNaughton and Keith Burgess, Whitburn at last got past the penultimate hurdle and met East Region rivals Camelon at Fir Park.
This was a strange affair, with a strong Whitburn connection in the Camelon ranks. They were managed by the previously mentioned George Fairley, who had spent 14 years at Whitburn as player, captain and manager before joining up at Camelon with brother Brian, another former Whitburn player, who was to take over as Whitburn manager a couple of years later. They also had in their team, Derek Haston, who had been at Whitburn for 13 years as player then assistant manager. There was to be no 'old pals act' however with Camelon running out 2-0 victors.
This was a hard defeat for Whitburn followers to take, and it wasn't helped by early exits from the competition over the next few years, albeit to some good teams such as Arthurlie, Pollok and Kilwinning, with Pollok and Kilwinning lifting the trophy the same season, and Arthurlie winning it a couple of seasons later. The other team to eliminate Whitburn were local rivals Linlithgow Rose, who gained revenge for their defeat by Whitburn in season 94-95.
However, all this was forgotten in season 1999-2000, when Sunday 28th May 2000 was marked down as the greatest day in Whitburn's history. That was the day when Whitburn (managed again by McNaughton and Burgess following a couple of seasons away from the club) finally got their hands on the Scottish Cup, beating Johnstone Burgh in the final at Firhill. It was an exciting match, which went all the way to a penalty kick decider, with a fairytale ending when club captain Stevie Prior converted the kick that won the cup.
The two seasons following this Scottish Cup win saw Whitburn pick up another 3 trophies, the League Championship and Brown Cup in 2000-01, and the East of Scotland cup in 2001-02.
However, as the Scottish Cup winning team gradually broke up, Whitburn were unable to sustain the level of success they had been enjoying and fortunes on the park declined.
In season 2002-03 major reconstruction of the Junior Leagues took place when the East Superleague was formed, bringing together the best of the Lothian, Fife and Tayside leagues.
Whitburn declined to join this new league, opting to remain in the East League, which consisted of only Lothian teams, but
eventually took their place in the Superleague in season 2005-06 after winning the East League the previous season.
In season 2007-08 Whitburn did manage to finish runners-up in the East Superleague, the top division of the new league setup, but that didn’t bring about the resurgence that everyone at the club was hoping for and Whitburn were relegated at the end of season 2009-10. Whitburn were relegated again the following season to drop into the lowest league.
At the end of season 2015-16 Whitburn won promotion to the East Premier League, but by the end of season 2017-18 were once again destined for relegation only to be saved by league re-organisation. There was an exodus of Junior clubs to the East of Scotland senior league and instead of being relegated, Whitburn and other remaining junior clubs moved up to the top league to fill the spaces that had been created.
The following season, 2018-2019 Whitburn won their first trophy for 14 seasons, the Consolation League Cup, an end of season competition for teams that had been elimanted from the League Cup competition at the group stage. They beat Dundee North End 4-2 in the final at Central Park, the venue having been decided by a coin toss.
Seasons 2019-20 and 2020-21 were curtailed due to the covid pandemic, but the writing was on the wall for the junior grade, and at the start of season 2021-22 Whitburn joined the East of Scotland Senior League, starting in the bottom tier along with the remaining Junior clubs who had resisted the exodus, and Junior football was no more, although Whitburn and many other clubs retained the reference in the Club name.
Early in that season manager Jamie Sandilands departed, and was replaced by Darren Wilson who was assisted by Scott Woodhouse, both former Whitburn players. Along with coaches Robert Lee and Martin Hubbocks, they built on what Sandilands had started and in a thrilling end to the season, with four teams challenging for the two promotion spots, Whitburn clinched promotion with a game to spare to move up to the East of Scotland second division which is tier 8 of the Scottish Football league structure.
With Syngenta also now promoted, it went to the final game to see who would be Champions. Both teams were level on points, with Syngenta having a 1 goal better goal difference. Syngenta finished their league campaign by beating Pumpherston 7-0, but Whitburn won 12-0 away to Fauldhouse United to win the league.
The following season 2022-23, Whitburn made it two League Championships in a row by winning the Second Division title.
While it was not as close as the previous season, it was still an excellent achievement by the coaching staff and players, a newly promoted team winning the title by 9 points.
Promotion was achieved in a midweek game at Hawick with 7 games remaining and the title was clinched with 3 games remaining at Ormiston, again in midweek. The Club took the decision to delay the trophy presentation until the Saturday when they had their final home game of the season, against Edinburgh United.
There was a party atmosphere as all the Whitburn FC youth teams lined the park for the players coming out at the start of the game, and cheering throughout as Whitburn ended up winning by 6 goals to 1.
This was the first season Whitburn had run an under 20 team, with several of the under 20 players playing their part in the championship win with appearances in the senior team.
