Whitburn quick off the mark to sign new players

Jul 2 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

IN the world of junior football transfers Whitburn have been quick off the mark with a couple of new faces in their squad already.

Keeper Ryan McGurk — the former Berwick Rangers player — has been signed along with striker Scott Gormley from Whitehill Welfare.

He was a former team mate of Whitburn’s Andy Doig and if he makes as much of an impression as Doig did last season then the supporters can look forward to a bumper season.

The draw for the League Cup sections was also made at the East Region Management meeting last week and came out as follows:

Section 1: Camelon, Bathgate, Sauchie, Livingston, Blackburn, Harthill, Stoneyburn.

Section 2: Bo'ness, Whitburn, Edinburgh, Dalkeith, Broxburn, Fauldhouse.

Section 3: Linlithgow, Newtongrange, Spartans, Armadale, West Calder, Pumpherston.

Section 4: Bonnyrigg, Musselburgh, Arniston, Tranent, Haddington, Dunbar, Penicuik.

The first scheduled games are due to take place on Wednesday, August 5.

The games are not played on a home and away basis but single games with the reverse fixture played next season with the same groups.

The East Region organisers are looking to have the League Cup finished before the league games start on Saturday, August 29.

Section One has some big games in prospect with Super League sides Camelon and Bathgate both involved.

They will start favourites for the title out of this section.

Section Two also has another two Super League sides in Bo'ness and Whitburn.

Again they will start favourites but the winners last season, Newtongrange, came from the Premier League so anything could happen once the campaign begins.

Linlithgow take their place in Section Three where they will face current holders Newtongrange who were recently promoted to the Super League along with newcomers Spartans who are joining the juniors for the first time.

They will continue to have a side in the East of Scotland Senior League but have for many years wished to have a presence in Junior football. They will play at their old City Ground until a brand new stadium is completed in September.

Section 4 doesn’t feature any West Lothian sides as the draw was kept to a local area basis and the rest of the sides come from Mid or East Lothian.