Arniston Rangers Football Club

Season started with Arniston winning five games on a row, starting with a 2 - 1 win over Loanhead Mayflower at Arniston, then a 2 - 1 over Easthouses Lily again at Arniston. December 24th, Arniston visited Grangemouth and won a 2 - 0 victory over Forth Rangers, and on moving into January, 1954 Arniston played a Brown Cup tie against Ormiston Primrose and won 4 - 2. Arniston scorers: Neilson, O'Neill, Rankin and Brown.

November, 1953 saw a great performance in the Scottish Junior Cup before an attendance of 5,500 at Arniston. Result: Arniston 2 - Boness United 1

The end of January, 1954 saw Bo'ness United gaining revenge over Arniston, beating the Arniston men at Arniston by 3 - 1 in the Thornton Shield.

1.2.1954 saw a titanic battle at Newbyres Park between Tranent Juniors and Arniston Rangers. Attendance - 4,483. £200 gate receipts. Highlights of the game - Result; Arniston Rangers 2 - Tranent Juniors 3. Bad start for Arniston, Mitchell a Bo'ness recruit was brought in to replace the injured Pottinger. Arniston went on the dominate the first half, but due to bad finishing, and Tranent taking their chances, Arniston found themselves 2 - 0 down at half-time. The second half resumption was sensational, Rankine conceded a penalty and Heron of Tranent converted it to put Tranent 3 up. At this stage more drama, Stirton Smith was sent off and P.A. Brown missed a penalty. The referee, R.C. Deans had to call in the police to quell touchline disturbances. Billy Cranston scored twice for Arniston in the second half but Arniston were out of the Cup, due as much to themselves as to their opponents, Tranent.

April, saw Arniston move on in the Brown Cup competition beating Bathgate Thistle 1 - 0 in the 3rd round, only to lose out in the semi-final 2 - 1 to Armadale Thistle at Pilton Park, Edinburgh.

Summing up of season. Satisfactory for Arniston. The A.G.M. of 1954 showed that Arniston had played 21 league games, won 14, lost 5 and drawn 2, with a pointage of 30 points.

Final assessment 24.6.1954. Arniston won the Evening News Trophy and League Championship Flag, beating Bo'ness United after a hard struggle by 2 - 1. Arniston scorers: Cranston, Bain.

ARNISTON STILL HAVE LEAGUE HOPE

At the annual general meeting of Arniston Rangers F.C. held last Thursday evening, Mr. Beaton Hamilton, president of the Club, occupied the chair. There was an attendance of approximately 100.

The chairman gave a lengthy account of the past year's progress in ground improvements, which included the erection of a covered enclosure.

In a playing sense, the Club had not been as successful as had been hoped for, but they were still interested in the Brown Cup, having qualified for the semi-final against Armadale Thistle at Pilton Park, Edinburgh.

With their win against Dunbar on Saturday last, the Club have an outside chance of the Mid & East Section League Championship.

In his secretarial report, Mr. J. Marshall reported that they had played 21 league games, won 14, lost 5 and drawn 2, with a pointage of 30.

They had 21 players on their staff, including juveniles and players presently on National Service. During the season, Neilson and King had been signed by Heart of Midlothian, and D. Fraser for Hull City.

Top goalscorers were Brown 23, Kaney 17, Cranston 14 and Neilson 13.

A satisfactory financial statement was submitted by Mr. Edward Williamson, treasurer.

The reports, which were considered highly satisfactory, were unanimously adopted.

The officials were re-elected as follows:- President, Mr. Beaton Hamilton; vice-president, Mr. Jas. Blyth; treasurer, Mr. Edward Williamson; secretary, Mr. John Marshall, Burnside Road, Gorebridge; match secretary, Mr. David Tait; Association representative, Mr. James Winning.