The Official Cowdenbeath 2024-25 Season Thread - Scottish Lowland Football League

[cup of tea]

Yes, it is the thread you have all been waiting for. The mighty COO go once again in 2024/2025 and I am going to stick my neck out and say that the COO will walk the league this season and win it by a record margin with a record points haul.

After some consolidation in recent seasons the whispers coming out from the staff, players, manager, executives and fans is one of absolute confidence which is refreshing to see and hear.

Nothing will stop us this season, and I don’t even want to hear about the scum from Kelty Hearts, they mean NOTHING to us.

MON THE COO’

2024–25 Lowland Football League

The 2024–25 Scottish Lowland Football League will be the 12th season of the Lowland Football League, part of the fifth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system.

East Kilbride are the reigning champions. They remained in the league having been unable to gain promotion via the League Two play-off for the third time.

East of Scotland League champions Broxburn Athletic were promoted from tier 6, replacing Edinburgh University who had spent 10 seasons in the league.

Teams

Albion Rovers
Berwick Rangers
Bo'ness
Broxburn
Caledonian Braves
Celtic B
CS Strollers
Cowdenbeath
Cumbernauld
East Kilbride
East Stirlingshire
Gala Fairydean Rovers
Gretna 2008
Hearts B
Linlithgow
Broomhill
Tranent
University of Stirling

Notes

Broomhill are ground-sharing with Dumbarton.
Celtic B are ground-sharing with Airdrieonians.
East Stirlingshire are ground-sharing with Falkirk.
Heart of Midlothian B are ground-sharing with The Spartans.
University of Stirling are ground-sharing with Stirling Albion.
All grounds are equipped with floodlights.

Season Ticket & Admission Details 2024/2025

Cowdenbeath FC are pleased to now confirm arrangements for admission and Season tickets for Central Park for Season 2024/25. We can only emphasise how important season ticket sales are now for the club – particularly given the extended close season and the fact that the club will no longer receive any SPFL Parachute payments or Viaplay Cup income. So, we urge fans to help and please support the club by purchasing a Season ticket for the season ahead.

Purchases can initially be made during the following Office hours (below) at Central Park from Tuesday 28th May 2024. In addition, online purchases can now be made via Fanbase - where you have the choice of a traditional season ticket or alternatively take the option of an e-version. Prices for 2024/25 Season Tickets are as follows:

Adult Season Ticket - £160 - Offers a discount of £27 on normal admission price for all 17 games.

Concession (65 and over/disabled) - £90 - Offers a discount of £29 on normal admission price for all
17 games.

Concession (age 80 and over) – A concession season ticket will be issued on application to all fans aged 80 and over free of charge.

Juvenile (age 13 to 16) - £35

Youths (age 12 and under) - No Season Tickets on sale as we are pleased to confirm that our Kids Go Free initiative will continue to apply for all our League Matches. Thus, anyone aged 12 or under can gain free admittance in season 2024/25 to league games at Central Park.

Cowdenbeath Adult/Concessions Season Ticket Benefits 2024/25

Key Benefits of buying a season ticket are as follows:

Discounted admission to every League game

Priority for any all ticket matches at Central Park or all-ticket away matches;

£10 discount on the Club’s Step sponsorship scheme;

All Season Ticket holders vote each year to decide the Club’s Player of the Year;

You are assisting the club’s cash flow and budgeting arrangements

Admission Prices 2024/25

The following Standard pricing will apply for League matches at Central Park in 2024/25. Online - Adults £11. Pay at the Gate price is £1 more. Concession price (online and pay at the gate) is £7. Cup ties are subject to individual pricing arrangements which will be publicised before the match via the club website and social media outlets. If you have a disability and require an attendant, the attendant will be admitted to games for free.

Initial Office Opening Hours for season ticket sales:

Tuesday 28th May & 4th June – 10am to 2.30pm
Thursday 30th May – 10am to 4pm
Friday 31st May & 7th June – 11am to 1pm
Sunday 2nd June – 12pm to 2pm

Season Tickets can also be purchased at our unit at the Cowdenbeath Gala Day on Sunday 9th June plus on the evening of Friday 14th June between 5pm and 7pm before the Germany v Scotland game in the Euros which will be shown live in the Andy Matthew Lounge at Central Park.

[Leonard Hatred]

The draw for the Third Round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup takes place at 8pm this evening. You can watch the draw live on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@ScottishCupOfficial 14 is the number to look out for!

[WHU(Exeter)]

I’m going to the pub to watch the draw.

[cup of tea]

Scottish Cup Third Round Draw

The draw for the third round of the Scottish Cup - which includes teams from League One and the Championship - will take place at 8pm on Sunday, live on the competition’s YouTube channel.

[Iron Duke]

Actual scene from yesterday’s match

[WHU(Exeter)]

“SMASHED IT”

[WHU(Exeter)]

It’s hard to put a perspective on this result today.

Magnificent would probably come closest.

[cup of tea]

What a result,  I'm buzzing.

Bring on CELTIC or RANGERS AWAY!

 

[Iron Duke]

What a win against the giants of League Two.

Fingers crossed for a glamour tie in the next round

[Leonard Hatred]

The Spartans 1-2 Cowdenbeath A goal in each half saw Cowdenbeath go into the hat for the Third Round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup. Rhys Walker's 6th goal of the season gave the visitors a narrow half lead. The on loan midfielder ran onto Greg MacPherson's through ball and his shot cut across Blair Carswell into the far corner. Ruaridh Lynch produced a fantastic save to deny Blair Henderson an equaliser in the 50th minute but The Spartans did get a leveller in the 68th minute through Brogan Walls. Dougie Hill's side weren't to be denied though and Gregor Jordan nipped in behind the home defence to finish Jamie Docherty's free kick in the 83rd minute. The reward for The Blue Brazil is a place in Sunday evening's Third Round draw.  TEAM : Lynch, G MacPherson, Newman, Denham (Docherty), McLean, Jordan, Swanson (Burke), Whyte, Walker (Sutherland), McDonald, McNab SUBS NOT USED : Hill, Blair, Haston, Kerr, Healy NEXT UP : We welcome Celtic B to Central Park on Saturday 2nd November as we return to Lowland League action.

[Mike Oxsaw]

Fucking GET IN!!!>!

Modern shirt sponsorship is fucking diamond.

[WHU(Exeter)]

Fucking GET IN!!!>!

[WHU(Exeter)]

I had to go and put the kibosh on it.

[WHU(Exeter)]

This could be one for the annals 

[WHU(Exeter)]

I’ve just noticed that.

And, it’s on the vidi~printer!!!!!

heady days

[cup of tea]

Here we go.

3 points today to put the season back on track…

It's a CUP match!

[WHU(Exeter)]

Here we go.

3 points today to put the season back on track…

[Mike Oxsaw]

Now I know what a busman's holiday is...

[Leonard Hatred]

Cowdenbeath 1-2 Bo'ness United Bo'ness United came from behind to take the three points as Cowdenbeath dropped to 15th place in the Lowland League. Matty McDonald had given The Blue Brazil a half time lead with his 34th minute goal but the visitors drew level on the hour through Ryan Porteous' near post header. The BUs got the winner in the 70th minute with substitute Louis Kennedy netting.  TEAM : Lynch, G MacPherson, Newman, McLean, Jordan, Denham (Healy), Whyte, McNab, Sutherland (Docherty), McDonald (Haston), Walker SUBS NOT USED : Burke, Hill, Trialist, Blair NEXT UP : We're in Scottish Cup action as we travel to Ainslie Park to take on The Spartans on Saturday 23rd October.

[cup of tea]

1-2

[Leonard Hatred]

GAME DAY   Bo'ness United Park's Motor Group Lowland League Adults £11/£12 | Concessions £7 | 12 and under FREE Tickets can be purchased in advance at https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets ... ureId=7950. Pay at the gate is also available with an additional £1 charge for adults.  The Andy Matthew Lounge in the stand will be open from 2pm. Both sets of fans are welcome. Match Preview http://cowdenbeathfc.com/index.php?act=viewNews&id=3753

[WHU(Exeter)]

Also, I saw on the pie and bovril site, that earlier this month, it had been 50 years ago that the COO played in a Cup SEMI FINAL against Heart of Midlothian.

Was anyone at that game?

[cup of tea]

Jimmy 'Gunner' Liddle

It was not a good day yesterday for Cowden and its fans and today we have news that will sadden the hearts of everyone connected with the club as we learned of the passing of ex-Cowden hero Jim ‘Gunner’ Liddle. Our condolences go to all of Jim’s friends and family and we warmly remember the days when Gunner led our front line.

Born in 1958, Jim was signed from Whitehill Welfare in 1978. The Penicuik based striker gradually established himself in the Cowden line up in the centre-forward jersey. We had a front line at that time that had no problem scoring goals – Geordie Hunter, Ian Harley, Gunner, Jimmy Marshall and Billy Steele. He got better and better as the seasons went by and started his second season with an opening day hat-trick v Montrose. He was absolutely tremendous in the ill-fated 1980/81 season.

He went on the rampage in many games in that campaign and opponents found him unstoppable. Coincidentally, our programme for this Saturday recalls one of Jimmy’s finest performances thus, ‘A Scottish Cup run and dreadful winter weather left Cowden with a schedule of 16 league games to be played in 52 days – that was 3 matches a week for 7 weeks for a part-time outfit. No other team in Britain faced such a demanding match schedule. That they came so close is actually a tribute to Andy Rolland’s fine team. On March 14th 1981 Cowden were 12th in the 14-team league with 27 points from 25 games. Alloa and Queen’s Park were 1st and 2nd with 39 and 38 points respectively from 32 games. The match on 21 March v Alloa at Central Park was therefore a vital one. It was an epic encounter. Billy Steele was at his impish best and he put Cowden ahead. Alan Holt though equalised – the same two players repeated their previous feats to make it 2-2. The game entered its final 10 minutes when Jim Liddle went into the phone box and re-emerged as Superman. In one of the most remarkable performances I ever witnessed Gunner scored a hat trick in 9 minutes as well as having a goal disallowed and another effort hitting the bar. No wonder that Jim and his teammates danced in the rain on the tarmac in front of the stand when he made it 5-2’.

Jimmy scored 22 goals in that season which should have culminated in promotion but the prize was lost on the last day of the season despite Jim’s prodigious efforts. Big, strong and good in the air, Gunner also had a lethal shot and was an ideal centre. Arsenal came up to watch him. In January 1983, an offer from Hibs was turned down – Pat Stanton had had him training at Easter Road for 3 months. A bid from Queen of the South had also been knocked back. But then Forfar secured his services for a £15,000 fee. The key to this move was that the Loons were able to fix up Jim, who was unemployed, with a job. Jimmy had played 184 games for Cowden and scored 64 goals.

Jim became a hero too at Station Park where he banged in the goals with aplomb – and Forfar have also paid him a fulsome tribute this week. In 1984, Forfar won the 2nd Division with Liddle scoring 22 League goals and being named Player of the Year in Division 2. Then when with Forfar in the 1st Division, he was selected to represent Scotland in the semi-professional tournament in Holland which included the host nation, England and Italy. Scotland, managed by Terry Christie, were the tournament winners.

He later played for Hamilton in the Premier League where he scored a creditable 3 goals in just 6 games and then Meadowbank for a club record fee. His attention though was diverted to his business interests as a hotelier in Penicuik. After a 2 game loan spell at Cowdenbeath, he then played in the Belgian lower leagues for Lorrain Alton. In his Forfar days he had interested a side in the Belgian 1st division – Kortrijk – and a deal involving a record fee for Forfar was concluded. It all ended in tears though as Kortrijk failed to come up with the cash.

In more recent years Jimmy had had health worries. Jim though was a big personality and he loved to recall the escapades of his playing days and to regale listeners with tales of his glory days in football. Jim leaves us at the age of just 66 but leaves us with some indelible memories. Thanks for all of those memories Gunner and Rest in Peace. 

[Leonard Hatred]

𝐉𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐲 '𝐆𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫' 𝐋𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 It was not a good day yesterday for Cowden and its fans and today we have news that will sadden the hearts of everyone connected with the club as we learned of the passing of ex-Cowden hero Jim ‘Gunner’ Liddle. Our condolences go to all of Jim’s friends and family and we warmly remember the days when Gunner led our front line. Born in 1958, Jim was signed from Whitehill Welfare in 1978. The Penicuik based striker gradually established himself in the Cowden line up in the centre-forward jersey. We had a front line at that time that had no problem scoring goals – Geordie Hunter, Ian Harley, Gunner, Jimmy Marshall and Billy Steele. He got better and better as the seasons went by and started his second season with an opening day hat-trick v Montrose. He was absolutely tremendous in the ill-fated 1980/81 season. He went on the rampage in many games in that campaign and opponents found him unstoppable. Coincidentally, our programme for this Saturday recalls one of Jimmy’s finest performances thus, ‘A Scottish Cup run and dreadful winter weather left Cowden with a schedule of 16 league games to be played in 52 days – that was 3 matches a week for 7 weeks for a part-time outfit. No other team in Britain faced such a demanding match schedule. That they came so close is actually a tribute to Andy Rolland’s fine team. On March 14th 1981 Cowden were 12th in the 14-team league with 27 points from 25 games. Alloa and Queen’s Park were 1st and 2nd with 39 and 38 points respectively from 32 games. The match on 21 March v Alloa at Central Park was therefore a vital one. It was an epic encounter. Billy Steele was at his impish best and he put Cowden ahead. Alan Holt though equalised – the same two players repeated their previous feats to make it 2-2. The game entered its final 10 minutes when Jim Liddle went into the phone box and re-emerged as Superman. In one of the most remarkable performances I ever witnessed Gunner scored a hat trick in 9 minutes as well as having a goal disallowed and another effort hitting the bar. No wonder that Jim and his teammates danced in the rain on the tarmac in front of the stand when he made it 5-2’. Jimmy scored 22 goals in that season which should have culminated in promotion but the prize was lost on the last day of the season despite Jim’s prodigious efforts. Big, strong and good in the air, Gunner also had a lethal shot and was an ideal centre. Arsenal came up to watch him. In January 1983, an offer from Hibs was turned down – Pat Stanton had had him training at Easter Road for 3 months. A bid from Queen of the South had also been knocked back. But then Forfar secured his services for a £15,000 fee. The key to this move was that the Loons were able to fix up Jim, who was unemployed, with a job. Jimmy had played 184 games for Cowden and scored 64 goals. Jim became a hero too at Station Park where he banged in the goals with aplomb – and Forfar have also paid him a fulsome tribute this week. In 1984, Forfar won the 2nd Division with Liddle scoring 22 League goals and being named Player of the Year in Division 2. Then when with Forfar in the 1st Division, he was selected to represent Scotland in the semi-professional tournament in Holland which included the host nation, England and Italy. Scotland, managed by Terry Christie, were the tournament winners. He later played for Hamilton in the Premier League where he scored a creditable 3 goals in just 6 games and then Meadowbank for a club record fee. His attention though was diverted to his business interests as a hotelier in Penicuik. After a 2 game loan spell at Cowdenbeath, he then played in the Belgian lower leagues for Lorrain Alton. In his Forfar days he had interested a side in the Belgian 1st division – Kortrijk – and a deal involving a record fee for Forfar was concluded. It all ended in tears though as Kortrijk failed to come up with the cash. In more recent years Jimmy had had health worries. Jim though was a big personality and he loved to recall the escapades of his playing days and to regale listeners with tales of his glory days in football. Jim leaves us at the age of just 66 but leaves us with some indelible memories. Thanks for all of those memories Gunner and Rest in Peace.

[Leonard Hatred]

East Kilbride 8-3 Cowdenbeath An embarrassing away defeat saw Cowdenbeath concede eight as East Kilbride continue to push Caledonian Braves as the top of the Lowland League.  Kilby took the lead in the 22nd minute through Jack Leitch and found themselves 3-0 up at the break with John Robertson (28) and Cami Elliott (37) getting on the scoresheet. John Robertson got his second of the game from the spot just after half time before Greg MacPherson pulled one back with his first Blue Brazil goal on the hour mark. Goals from Reegan Mimnaugh (67), Steven Boyd (76) and a Nathan Flanagan double (80 and 83) made it 8-1. Rhys Walker and Jake Sutherland got late consolations for the visitors. Dougie Hill's side now find themselves in 14th place in the fifth tier.  TEAM : Blair, G MacPherson, Jordan, McLean, Hill (Denham), Burke (Trialist), McDonald, Whyte, Healy (Sutherland), Docherty (Newman), Walker SUBS NOT USED : Haston, Lynch NEXT UP : We welcome Bo'ness United to Central Park on Saturday 19th October.

[WHU(Exeter)]

It’s one of those tricky periods in the season, when it’s time to sit down and take stock.