Arniston Rangers have made a flying start towards the raising of that £4,000 required for their new pitch. As intimated earlier, this newspaper will publish, starting now, a periodic "barometer" showing just how the Field Fund is progressing.

As will be seen, the sum of £561.13.7.1/2 has so far been raised, and it is expected that this sum will be considerable increased as the result of a dramatic evening to be given by the Stobhill Dramatic Club in Dundas Hall on two evenings next week.

Here is the list of donations:

Collection v Bo'ness £9 0s 0d
Prize Draw £6 0s 0d
Dance £7 14s 0d
Mr. Alexander, Newlandburn, Gorebridge £2 2s 0d
Post Office employees, Gorebridge £1 2s 6d
Mr. A. Juners, Arniston, Gorebridge £0 5s 0d
Mr. D. Weir, Arniston, Gorebridge £0 15s 0d
Mr. Angus, Newtongrange £2 0s 0d
Miners' Federation, Local Branch £100 0s 0d
Mr. Brunton, Gorebridge £5 0s 0d
Mr. W. Boland, 8 St. James Sq., Edinburgh £10 0s 0d
Mr. P. McIntosh, Gorebridge £1 0s 0d
Mr. G. Muirhead, Arniston £1 0s 0d
Mr. Wm. Hay, Main Street, Gorebridge £5 0s 0d
Mr. R. Irvine, Easthouses £0 10s 0d
Mr. John Weir, Arniston £1 0s 0d
Mr. E. McKenzie, Arniston £1 0s 0d
Mr. J. Watson, Abbeygrange, Newtongrange £0 5s 0d
Mr. McAlpine, 21 Park Road, Bonnyrigg £0 5s 0d
Mr. D. Young, Arniston £0 10s 0d
Prize Draw £91 0s 8d
Dance in Craigesk £16 14s 11.1/2d
Donation from Supporters Club £300 0s 0d

Total £561 15s 7.1/2d

When the Arniston team for this East of Scotland Cup final was chosen, there was some very heated controversy among not only the supporters, but the committee, too.

There will probably still be disagreement, but there can be little doubt that the eleven men chosen put up a grand display, and fully deserved to bring the cup to Gorebridge.

Young started the game at inside right, but was injured early on, and after being off for 15 minutes, finished the game limping on the right wing. Cranston went to inside right, and for the rest of the game Arniston held their own, despite the fact that they had virtually only ten men.

The Rangers' half back line, which has been the cause of many an Arniston victory, was superb. Clarkson was like a stone wall in the middle, and Rutherford and Pryde gave perfect exhibitions of wing half play.

SPIRITED PLAY

Weston played the game of his life; he stopped shots which seemed certain goals, and any that eluded him, Clarkson or one of the backs was there to clear. The Rangers' front line was always dangerous, expecially in the first half, and had a pair of grand schemers in Cranston and Hamilton. Cranston's play was a revelation. Usually the bustling type of centre forward ready to snap up any chance, however slight, he proved in this game that he has the brains and football to be a good inside man too.

Hamilton scored the goal which won the cup, although many thought it was Smellie. When Cranston's cross came over, however, Smellie and Hamilton had switched positions, and it was the latter player who whipped the ball first-time into the net.

Haddington had by far the bulk of the pressure in the second half; in fact, Skinner was very seldom troubled, but the Rangers; defence was in top form. There was no doubt that they had the assistance of plenty of luck too, but luck alone did not account for the fact that Clarkson and Co. were always in the right place to stop scoring shots.

Most of the Athletic team were up in the other half striving for that equaliser, but Arniston held out well.

If Arniston Rangers and Newtongrange Star had not drawn on Monday they would have met Musselburgh Athletic and Stoneyburn Juniors at Gorebridge and Stoneyburn respectively, both in cup ties.

....

Trainers were very busy at the Arniston-Auchinleck match, and Rangers players were most often injured. But there were no cases of deliberate fouling.

....

Biggest sight of relief from Arniston supporters on Monday - and there were quite a few - was in the first ten minutes. The Talbot left-winger slipped past Miller and sent a low shot into the corner of the net. But the referee blew for off-side.

....

In an effort to snatch a winning goal, Arniston Rangers switched Cranston, on the right wing, to centre-forward, when there were only three minutes to go. It might be a very interesting experiment to keep Cranston there, and try the polished Thomson on the right wing.

1948 SOCCER REVIEW

BEST MATCH - This is a puzzler, but after a good deal of thought I would plump for the League Cup semi-final between Bo'ness United and Arniston Rangers at Armadale. The weather was bad, yet these lads served up one of the most exciting displays ever seen at the Armadale ground. This match had everything.

MOST CONTROVERSIAL GOAL - That which brought the League Cup to Gorebridge. It was scored by Billy Cranston, Arniston Rangers' centre, in the cup final at Easter Road against Loanhead Mayflower. They are still arguing about it.

BEST CLUB PLAYER - I think this honour should be divided between two full-backs - Hamilton (Dalkeith Thistle) and Miller (Arniston Rangers). Both whole-hearted players, neither have ever let their side down.

OPEN LETTER TO ALL SUPPORTERS OF
ARNISTON RANGERS F.C.

As you are all aware, Arniston Rangers Football Club is faced with the prospect of providing a new ground for the start of the season 1949 - 50.

The ground itself has been purchased, and the special Field Fund now stands at just over £1,000.

The Club has issued an appeal for its supporters to buy shares (from 10/- to £50), and while this may receive a favourable response, the need for money is urgent.

The construction of the new ground could start now, if the contractors had our assurance that our finances were adequate for the job.

We require approximately another £1,000 to ensure that a playing pitch at least is ready for the new season starting at the end of July of this year.

We appeal, therefore, to 200 loyal supporters who have the future of this old club at heart, to purchase a season ticket for the next ten years.

Each junior club is allowed 200 such members by law, and at £5 each, our target would thus be achieved.

The Club would have its £1,000 without need of repayment or interest due, and the members would actually make a saving of 50% on "gate money".

The £5 membership fee can be paid to suit the convenience of the buyer, either outright or by five payments of £1, ten of 10/-, or twenty of 5/-, which would take up to the start of season 1949 - 50.

I have been asked to take charge of this special appeal. I shall be very pleased to answer all enquiries, either personally or by phone (Gorebridge 64).

Yours, etc., R.Y. Davidson.

24 The Avenue, Gorebridge.

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF ARNISTON RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB, HELD IN THE INSTITUTE LAST WEEK, WAS NOT A CHEERFUL ONE. TO CROWN THE NEWS THAT A GREAT DEAL MORE MONEY WAS NEEDED FOR THE FIELD FUND SOON, CAME THE REPORT FROM TREASURER, EDDIE WILLIAMSON THAT THE CLUB HAD LOST OVER £250 ON THE SEASON'S WORKINGS.

The Rangers have not had a good season compared with last year, and this has been principally responsible for the loss. President William Weir struck a dismal note at the start of the meeting . "Not so favourable," was his description of the club's position.

This proved no understatement, although Mr. Weir tried to be as optimistic as possible. Foremost, of course, in the mind of every Arniston supporter present was the Field Fund. How was it progressing? When was the new park going to be started? The president intimated that the site had been bought, and that a further £450 had been paid so that the contractors could start to work.

"And that ran away with £900" he added. The contractors were to start work "any day now," but Mr. Weir made a special appeal to everyone in the hall to do their utmost to help the Fund. For much more money was needed.

About £2,500 was required for levelling, turfing and draining the new ground, and if this could be managed, then the club could go ahead with their League games next season. "Although," said Mr. Weir, "this would not meet the requirements of the Scottish Junior Football Association."

Making his appeal, Mr. Weir stressed that if the club went down, it would not matter so much to him or the officials as it would do the young players in the district. These youngsters would not get the chance they deserved without a local junior club.

Regarding scheme to have the miners pay 6d. per week towards the Field Fund, Mr.Weir said dthat negotiations were still going on to this end with the National Coal Board.

Mr. D. Tait gave the secretary's report. This also showed a vast difference from last year. The club had played 16 cup ties, won 9, lost 4 and drawn 3, scoring 41 goals and conceding 28 in the process.

Mr. Weir made some comments on this too. There was the difficulty which the club had experienced with injuries, he said, but he was still sanguine about the team's prospects. They were still interested in two trophies.

Another point which Mr. Weir raised was that the club would have to bring in young players in these end-of-the-season matches. There was no alternative.

It was certainly not a cheerful meeting, but the Arniston followers showed that they did not lack confidence in those who were steering the club,by re-electing the office-bearers almost en bloc.

Mr. Weir said that he would have liked to retire in favour of a younger man - though he did not want to lose his connection with the club. But the meeting would have none of this. The list of office-bearers would look queer without "Wull" Weir's name at the head of it, and there was clapping when he was unanimously re-elected for another year.

As Archie Scott had intimated that he did not wish to take the post of vice-president, Mr. R. Marshall was elected to this position. Eddie Williamson again became treasurer, and Davie Tait secretary. Minute secretary will again be R. Miller, while "Jimmy" Winning will still represent Arniston at East of Scotland F.A. meetings.

Most of the interest came from the election of the new committee. T. Jones, J. Sharpe and John Marshall went on first. James Blyth was nominated as usual, but another member of the old committee raised an objection. He thought that Mr. Blyth did not take enough turns at the "gate" during matches. He was supported by another member of the audience, and Mr. Blyth promptly withdrew his name. It looked as if the club was going to lose one of its best servants but yet another member stood up and voiced the feelings of nearly everyone in the hall. He thought that it was hard that the opinion of two people, as against what was obviously everyone in the hall, was to be responsible for Mr. Blyth's leaving. He asked him to reconsider his decision. Mr. Blyth did so, and the clapping showed that the decision was a popular one.

There was some difficulty experienced in making up the committee to the required strength, but eventually enough names were put forward.

Other committee members were: C. Brown, A. Nicol, G. Herbert, A. Scott, R. McKenzie, H. Kerr, R. Dinwoodie, B. Hamilton, R. Burnett, G. Miller and C. Russell

Peter Waugh and Alec Dick were again appointed auditors, and it was decided to give the customary honorarium to the appropriate officials.