Penicuik Athletic

Penicuik Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football club. They were formed in 1888 and are based at Penicuik Park, in the town of Penicuik. Penicuik Park is ten miles south west of Edinburgh on the A702 road. The team now plays in the East of Scotland Football League Premier Division, having moved from the junior leagues in 2018.

History

The Beginning

Penicuik turned Junior in 1951 with the supporter's club buying Eastfield Park from the National Coal Board and built a new pavilion. The new ground was opened with a match against a strong Hibernian side which the Athletic lost 5–0.

The chairman at the time, Mr David Masson and Jimmy Ketchen, were two prominent figures in the club. Their manager was Dick Walker and coach Harry Verth.

Penicuik won their first silverware in 1949–50 season (before turning Junior) winning the Border Cup.

In 1966 the Athletic reached the semi-final of the Scottish Junior Cup only to lose by the narrowest of margins to local rivals Bonnyrigg Rose.

Scottish Junior Cup Final Run 1969–70

Penicuik Athletic's biggest achievement is undoubtedly reaching the Scottish Junior Cup Final in 1970 at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Penicuik's opponents on Saturday 16 May 1970 was Blantyre Victoria who they drew with 1–1, only to be defeated in the replay the following Tuesday night 1–0. The crowd at the final was in excess of 30,000, with the replay attendance published at 14,225.

Penicuik beat seven Junior clubs based in the West of Scotland to arrive at the final. Here is how it was done in 1970:

• Round 1 v Tannochside Rec. (a) 3–1
• Round 2 v Wishaw Juniors (h) 4–1
• Round 3 v Renfrew Juniors (h) 4–1
• Round 4 v Cumnock (h) 3–1
• Round 5 v Carluke Rovers (h) 0–0, Carluke Rovers (a) 0–0, Carluke (Shotts) 2–1
• Round 6 v Vale of Leven (a) 3–1 – Attendance 5,034
• Semi-Final v Ashfield (Brockville Park, Falkirk) 1–0

The team