Broxburn Athletic F.C.

Broxburn Athletic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the town of Broxburn in West Lothian. They play their home games at Albyn Park. The team currently competes in the Lowland League, the fifth tier of Scottish football, having moved from the junior leagues in 2018.[1]

Broxburn Athletic
Full nameBroxburn Athletic Football Club
Nickname(s)The Brox, The Burn, The Badgers
Founded1947
GroundAlbyn Park
Greendykes Road
Broxburn
Capacity2,050
PresidentJimmy Porteous
ManagerSteve Pittman
LeagueLowland League
2023–24East of Scotland League Premier Division, 1st of 16 (promoted)
WebsiteClub website

History

Broxburn reached the Scottish Junior Cup semi-final on five occasions, the last time being in 1971 when they lost by a single goal to eventual cup winners Cambuslang Rangers.

The club won the East Region South Division in 2009–10 and then gained promotion to the East Superleague two years later. They spent six seasons in the Superleague, with a best finish of 5th in their final season.

After moving to the senior football pyramid for the 2018–19 season, Broxburn won the East of Scotland League Conference C. However they narrowly missed out on the title and promotion to the Lowland league in the round robin playoff against the winners of the other Conferences, Penicuik Athletic and Bonnyrigg Rose. Broxburn were champions in the 2023–24 season, finishing in front of title race rivals Musselburgh Athletic and once again earned a spot in the promotion playoffs where they faced South of Scotland Football League champions Dalbeattie Star F.C.. The first leg was played at Dalbeattie's Islecroft stadium, and the 2nd leg at Broxburn's Albyn park. Broxburn were victorious, securing a 12-2 aggregate victory and promotion to the Lowland Football League for the 2024-25 season.

The club became a full SFA member in 2019 which allowed them to enter the 2019–20 Scottish Cup. They reached the fourth round having won five matches (including victories over higher ranked East Stirlingshire, Cowdenbeath, and Inverurie Loco Works), before going out to Premiership side St. Mirren in Paisley. Broxburn were supported by 1,600 fans who made the trip along the M8, selling out the North Stand at St Mirren Park.[2] In the 2023–24 Scottish Cup Broxburn reached the third round after victories over Lochee United, Nairn County and Deveronvale before going out on penalties to Buckie Thistle at Albyn Park. The reported attendance of this match was 1175.[3]

Albyn Park

In 1946, Mr. G. W. Bartaby-Pearson, with the help of local businessmen, started the process of reforming Broxburn and secured Albyn Park from the Earl of Buchan. After help from supporters who made the ground improvements, the stadium opened in 1948 with a Heart of Midlothian v Rangers meeting which attracted a crowd of around 3,500.

Albyn Park was completely redeveloped in 200910 as part of the Broxburn United Sports Club project into a new community facility with a 3G artificial pitch (replaced 2020).[4]

It sits on the original Albion Park used by Broxburn F.C. in 1889. Athletic took over the lease in 1894 until both clubs amalgamated in 1912 and played at the sports park (now the Broxburn Sports Centre). Athletic then moved back in 1921 until going defunct in 1924. West Lothian Council now owns the land and Broxburn has a lease until 2036.

The facility is also used by Broxburn Athletic Colts and other clubs. New changing rooms, a social club and floodlights were also constructed. The ground includes a large enclosure on the same side as the changing rooms. The remainder of the ground consists of grass bankings and covered terracing.

Senior squad

As of 31 May 2024[5]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK  SCO Robert Watt
GK  SCO Shaun Donoghue
DF  SCO Jordan Wright
DF  SCO Greg Page
DF  SCO Steven Anderson
DF  SCO Marcus Millar
DF  SCO Marky Munro
DF  SCO Jack Sayers
MF  SCO Andy Rodden
MF  SCO Ben Davidson
MF  SCO Callum Bremner
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF  SCO Calum Heath
MF  SWE Alassan Jones
MF  SCO Ross Nimmo
MF  SCO Lewis Turner
MF  SCO Liam Campbell
MF  SCO Nick Locke (captain)
FW  SCO Gary Brass
FW  SCO Greg Binnie
FW  SCO Kai Wilson
FW  SCO Errol Douglas
FW  SCO Darren Downie

Club staff

Committee

Role Name
President Jimmy Porteous
Vice President John Hughes
Secretary Jim Provan
Treasurer Alan Cunningham
Club Photographer Andrew MacPherson
Chaplain Andrew MacPherson

Coaching staff

Role Name
Manager Chris Townsley
Assistant Manager Derek McWilliams
Coach Billy McPhee
Coach
Goalkeeper Coach Ian McLaren
Physio Mark Fountain
Physio John Porteous

Source

Managerial history

Name Nationality Years
John McGuigan 1949-?
Willie Peden 1954-1956
Jim McKinnon ?-1971
Peter Fortunate 1973-?
Bill Bruce ?-1975
Bill Baxter 1975-?
Peter Duncan ?-1989
Derek O'Connor ?-1989[6]
Bill Henderson 1989-1990[7][8]
Willie Verth 1991-1992
Jackie Smyth 1992-?
Willie Turley 1997-1998
Jamie Dolan 2004-2008
Steve Pittman 2009-2015
Max Christie 2014-2017
Brian McNaughton 2017-2020
Chris Townsley 2020-2023[9]
Scott McNaughtonc 2023
Steve Pittman 2023-[10]

c Caretaker manager

Season-by-season record

Senior

Season Division Tier Pos. Pld. W D L GD Pts Scottish Cup
Broxburn Athletic
2018–19East of Scotland League Conference C
6
1st
24
2202+6266
Did Not Participate
2019–20
6
3rd†
19
1153+1138Fourth round, losing to St Mirren
2020–21
6
null††
11
5 1 5 +1 16 First round, lost to Nairn County
2021–22
6
6th
34
15 4 15 +5 49 Preliminary round, lost to Dunbar United
2022–23
6
9th
30
11 10 9 +9 43 First round, lost to Dunipace
2023–24
6
1st
30
23 5 2 +46 74 Third round, lost to Buckie Thistle

† Season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic - Broxburn Athletic finished third, based on the 'points per game' measure.

†† Season declared null and void due to COVID-19 pandemic

Honours

Junior

Record attendances

Historic

  • 31,085 - 1950-51 Scottish Junior Cup Semi Final vs Irvine Meadow, Hampden Park, Glasgow
  • 11,400 - 1951-52 Scottish Junior Cup vs Kilsyth Rangers, Albyn Park, Broxburn

Recent

  • 1,172 - 2023-24 Scottish Cup 3rd Round vs Buckie Thistle, Albyn Park, Broxburn
  • 4,372 - 2019-20 Scottish Cup 4th Round vs St. Mirren, Simple Digital Arena, Paisley

References

55.93826°N 3.46825°W / 55.93826; -3.46825

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