The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Cove must keep pushing for promotion rewards
Scottish FA president McRae hopes former club can finally go up
Scottish FA president Alan McRae has not given up hope he will see his former club Cove Rangers break into the Scottish Professional Football League.
The Highland League champions missed out on promotion to Scotland’s senior leagues when they were beaten by Lowland League counterparts Edinburgh City 4-1 over two legs in the League 2 play-offs in April.
The Edinburgh side went on to defeat East Stirling to claim a spot in the fourth tier of Scottish football, but former Cove player and chairman McRae believes the Aberdeensidecanmake the step up. He said: “Cove have never had any doubt about their ambitions.
“They tried twice under the old system where clubs had to be accepted and go through the beauty parade at Hampden Park.
“But they failed twice and then they had the disappointments of the play-off last year. I expected Cove to do better, but it was just one time where they didn’t perform, especially at home. Edinburgh City had the experience of playing in the play-offs the previous yearandknewhowto handle the occasion. Cove didn’t handle it in the first game.
“Edinburgh City went on to beat East Stirlingandare now playing in League 2, they haven’t got a win yet but it will come. It won’t be easy for Cove or the other Highland League teams but this is the challenge of the pyramid system.
“Teams have got to have the sporting merit and the drive from everyone at the clubbecauseit isnoteasy to displace the bottom team in League 2 and then make progress when they get there.
“That has happened with Elgin City. Unfortunately they haven’t managed to get past the last division.”
Earlier this month, Cove’s directors received the green light to develop a 312-seat stadium with club and community facilities at Calder Park.
Cove are currently without a home having left Allan Park in April 2015 but McRae is pleased to see the club moving a step closer to a new ground: “The new stadium is progressing. It is obviously not progressing as quickly as one would like, but that is just the way it is.
“The planning permission went through a few weeks ago and the sale of Allan Park is almost finalised. There is still a bit to get done but it is getting there.”
“Cove have never had any doubt about their ambitions”
Forres Mechanics were on theirwayout of the Scottish Cup, losing 2-1 to Moray rivals Lossiemouth on Saturday, when four minutes into added time Can-Cans’ goalkeeper Stuart Knight earned them an unlikely replay with a glancing header from Simon Allan’s corner.
The former Elgin City and Deveronvale goalkeeper’s first goal in senior football had extra meaning and he said: “On the morning of the game my wife’s grandfather Roy Collie sadly passed away.
“Roy was a great Forres supporter but when Shawn Scott put Lossie 2-1 up, I remembered he was not one of Roy’s favourite players.
“Years ago I was sent off when we were going for the league title in a game against Buckie for clattering Shawn, but Roy never forgave Shawn for what happened.
“When Shawn beat me from 30 yards on Saturday I immediately thought, Roy would be raging up there and I would have to do something about it.
“When I scored with that late header I really did do it for Roy.
“We were down 2-1 deep into added time so I had nothing to lose.
“Roy would be raging up there and I would have to do something about it”