# Bo'ness United F.C.

Bo'ness United Football Club is a Scottish football club, based in the town of Bo'ness. The team plays in the Lowland League after winning the East of Scotland League and gaining SFA membership in 2020. They presently play their home games at Newtown Park, which holds 2,500 spectators and has been used as a football ground since the 1880s. They play in blue.
Bo'ness like many other clubs moved from the junior leagues in 2018. The club won the Scottish Junior Cup on three occasions, in 1948, 1976 and 1984, and lifted the 2018–19 East of Scotland League Cup defeating Musselburgh Athletic 1–0.

## History

Nicknamed the B.U.'s, Bo'ness United were formed in 1945, at the end of the Second World War when Bo'ness, a club that had played in the senior ranks, being a member of the Scottish Football League from 1921 to 1932, merged with the Junior club Bo'ness Cadora.
The club won the Scottish Junior Cup on three occasions, in 1948, 1976 and 1984.
As a result of winning the 2009–10 East Region Super League, United competed in the Scottish Cup for the first time the following season. The club eventually reached the third round, defeating Scottish Football League Third Division side Queen's Park at home in round two. They also reached the third round the following year.
United moved to the East of Scotland Football League in 2018, along with many other East Region junior clubs.

## Lowland League

The club were promoted to the Lowland League after winning the East of Scotland League and gaining SFA membership in 2020.

## Rivalries

Bo'ness United have a healthy rivalry with Linlithgow Rose – the towns are about 3 miles (4.8 km) apart; they were among the most successful and well-supported clubs from the days of the East Juniors and both moved to the EoSFL at the same point in 2018.
Bo'ness Athletic joined the Junior leagues in 2019 as an informal partner to Bo'ness United, but switched to the East of Scotland leagues as a separate club two years later, causing concerns over there being a new competitor (with similar names, badges and kit) within the same system and community.

## Current squad

As of 13 February 2025
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | SCO | Liam Campbell |
| — | DF | SCO | Adam Masson |
| — | DF | SCO | Daniel Irving |
| — | DF | SCO | Lewis Hawkins |
| — | DF | SCO | Lewis Duffy |
| — | DF | SCO | Keir Macauley |
| — | DF | SCO | John Ward |
| — | DF | SCO | Shaun Rutherford |
| — | MF | SCO | Billy Hutchinson (on loan from St Mirren) |
| — | MF | SCO | Max Dowling (on loan from Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic) |
| — | MF | SCO | Michael Gemmell |
| — | MF | SCO | Tom Grant |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | SCO | Jamie Hamilton |
| — | MF | SCO | Ciaran Heeps |
| — | MF | SCO | Kyle Johnston |
| — | MF | SCO | Lennon Connelly (on loan from Queen's Park) |
| — | MF | SCO | Ryan Stevenson |
| — | FW | SCO | Kieran Mitchell |
| — | FW | SCO | Louis Kennedy |
| — | FW | NGA | Smart Osadolor |
| — | FW | SCO | Ryan Schiavone |
| — | FW | SCO | Theo McCormick (on loan from St Mirren) |
| — | MF | SCO | Keir Foster |

## Season-by-season record
### Junior

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
| Season | Division | Tier | Pos. | Pld. | W | D | L | GD | Pts | Scottish Junior Cup |
| 1945–46 | Junior Edinburgh & District League | Junior 1 | 2nd | 22 | 19 | 4 | 5 | +30 | 30 | Second round |
| 1946–47 | Junior Edinburgh & District League | Junior 1 | 1st | 34 | 27 | 4 | 3 | +96 | 58 | Runners-up |
| 1947–48 | Junior Edinburgh & District League | Junior 1 | 1st | 42 | 28 | 6 | 8 | +77 | 62 | Winners |
| 1948–49 | Junior Edinburgh & District League | Junior 1 | 1st | 44 | 32 | 5 | 7 | +73 | 69 | Fourth round |
| 1949–50 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | Fifth round |
| 1950–51 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1951–52 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1952–53 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1953–54 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | 1st | | | | | | | |
| 1953–54 | Junior East Play-off | Junior 1 | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | |
| 1954–55 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | 1st | | | | | | | |
| 1954–55 | Junior East Play-off | Junior 1 | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | |
| 1955–56 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1956–57 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1957–58 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1| | 1st | | | | | | |
| 1957–58 | Junior East Play-off | Junior 1| | Winners | Winners | Winners | Winners | Winners | Winners | Winners | |
| 1958–59 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | 1st | | | | | | | |
| 1958–59 | Junior East Play-off | Junior 1 | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | Runners-up | |
| 1959–60 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1960–61 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1961–62 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1962–63 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1963–64 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1964–65 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1965–66 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1966–67 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1967–68 | Junior Edinburgh & District West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1968–69 | Junior East West Division | Junior 1 | 1st | | | | | | | |
| 1968–69 | Junior East Play-off | Junior 1 | Winners | Winners | Winners | Winners | Winners | Winners | Winners | |
| 1969–70 | Junior East West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1970–71 | Junior East West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1971–72 | Junior East West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1972–73 | Junior East West Division | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1973–74 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 12th | 24 | 6 | 7 | 11 | −3 | 19 | |
| 1974–75 | Junior East Division B | Junior 2 | 4th | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | | 27 | |
| 1975–76 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 5th | 24 | 9 | 8 | 7 | +5 | 26 | Winners |
| 1976–77 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | | | | | | | | |
| 1977–78 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 9th | 24 | 11 | 2 | 11 | | 24 | |
| 1978–79 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 9th | 22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | | 21 | Runners-up |
| 1979–80 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 4th | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | | 26 | |
| 1980–81 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 6th | 22 | 6 | 11 | 5 | -4 | 23 | |
| 1981–82 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 3rd | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | +20 | 27 | |
| 1982–83 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | +3 | 24 | Runners-up |
| 1983–84 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 4th | 22 | 12 | 2 | 8 | +9 | 26 | Winners |
| 1984–85 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | +15 | 24 | |
| 1985–86 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | +10 | 25 | |
| 1986–87 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 8th | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | -7 | 23 | |
| 1987–88 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 9th | 26 | 7 | 8 | 11 | −15 | 22 | |
| 1988–89 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 8th | 26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | −9 | 23 | |
| 1989–90 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 2nd | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | +7 | 26 | |
| 1990–91 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 6th | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | +8 | 2 | |
| 1991–92 | Junior East Division A | Junior 1 | 2nd | 22 | 10 | 8 | 4 | +7 | 28 | |
| 1992–93 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | +6 | 26 | |
| 1993–94 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 9th | 22 | 5 | 6 | 11 | −6 | 16 | |
| 1994–95 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 24 | |
| 1995–96 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 8th | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | −1 | 25 | |
| 1996–97 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 3rd | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | +14 | 38 | |
| 1997–98 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 4th | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | +12 | 34 | |
| 1998–99 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 9th | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | −8 | 24 | |
| 1999–2000 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 4th | 22 | 12 | 3 | 7 | +15 | 39 | |
| 2000–01 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | +1 | 36 | |
| 2001–02 | Junior East Division 1 | Junior 1 | 7th | 22 | 9 | 3 | 10 | −3 | 30 | |
| 2002–03 | Junior East Lothian Division 1 | Junior 2 | 1st | 18 | 10 | 5 | 4 | +16 | 35 | |
| 2003–04 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 6th | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | +5 | 32 | |
| 2004–05 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 5th | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | +2 | 35 | |
| 2005–06 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 6th | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | +7 | 32 | |
| 2006–07 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 11th | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | −13 | 21 | |
| 2007–08 | Junior East Premier League | Junior 2 | 1st | 22 | 15 | 3 | 4 | +20 | 48 | |
| 2008–09 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 10th | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | −12 | 24 | |
| 2009–10 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 1st | 22 | 14 | 6 | 2 | +30 | 48 | |
| 2010–11 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 1st | 22 | 12 | 6 | 4 | +12 | 64 | Semi-final |
| 2011–12 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 4th | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 27 | Quarter-final |
| 2012–13 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 4th | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | +12 | 38 | Quarter-final |
| 2013–14 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 1st | 30 | 22 | 3 | 5 | +47 | 69 | Quarter-final |
| 2014–15 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 2nd | 28 | 18 | 5 | 5 | +34 | 59 | Fourth round |
| 2015–16 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 4th | 30 | 17 | 5 | 8 | +24 | 56 | Third round |
| 2016–17 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 3rd | 30 | 17 | 4 | 9 | +39 | 55 | Third round |
| 2017–18 | Junior East Super League | Junior 1 | 8th | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | +4 | 41 | Quarter-final |

### Senior

| Season | Division | Tier | Pos. | Pld. | W | D | L | GD | Pts | Scottish Cup |
| 2018–19 | East of Scotland League Conference B | 6 | 2nd | 24 | 18 | 4 | 2 | +54 | 58 | Did Not Participate |
| 2019–20 | East of Scotland Premier Division | 6 | 1st† | 21 | 14 | 5 | 2 | +20 | 47 | Did Not Participate |
| 2020–21 | Lowland League | 5 | 7th† | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | +9 | 18 | First round, losing to Bonnyrigg Rose |
| 2021–22 | Lowland League | 5 | 11th | 34 | 10 | 4 | 20 | -24 | 34 | Second round, losing to Edinburgh City |
| 2022–23 | Lowland League | 5 | 9th | 36 | 16 | 6 | 14 | +20 | 54 | Second round, losing to Auchinleck Talbot |
† Season curtailed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

## Honours

East of Scotland Football League Premier Division
* Winners : 2019–20
East of Scotland League Cup
* Winners: 2018–19
Scottish Junior Cup
* Winners: 1947–48, 1975–76, 1983–84
* Runners-up: 1946–47, 1978–79, 1982–83
Junior East Region Super League
* Winners: 2009–10, 2010–11, 2013–14
* Runners-up: 2014–15

### Other honours

* Fife & Lothians Cup winners: 1993–94, 1996–97
* Edinburgh & District League winners: 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1957–58
* East Region Division One winners: 1968–69
* Lothians District League Division One winners: 2002–03
* East of Scotland Junior Cup winners: 1951–52, 1954–55, 1984–85, 1998–99, 2015–16
* Brown Cup winners: 1978–79, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1987–88, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2006–07

## Notable former players

The following players all went on to be capped for the Scotland national football team after playing for Bo'ness United.
* Paddy Buckley – St Johnstone and Aberdeen. Played in United's 1947–48 Scottish Junior Cup winning team.
* Donald Ford – Hearts and Falkirk.
* Alex Scott – Rangers, Everton, Hibernian and Falkirk.
* Jim Scott – Hibernian, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Falkirk and Hamilton. Also a Junior international cap.