Elgin City
Full nameElgin City Football Club
Nickname(s)City or The Black and Whites
Founded1893 (1893)
GroundBorough Briggs, Elgin
Capacity4,520 (478 seated)[1]
ChairmanVacant
ManagerAllan Hale
LeagueScottish League Two
2022–23Scottish League Two, 9th of 10
WebsiteClub website

Elgin City Football Club (also known as City or The Black and Whites) is a professional senior football club based in Elgin, Moray.

Elgin was founded in 1893 and originally played their football in the Highland Football League. The club was granted league status in 2000. They currently compete in the Scottish Professional Football League in Scottish League Two.

History

The present Elgin City club was formed on 10 August 1893 by the amalgamation of two Elgin sides, Rovers (Formed 1887) and Vale of Lossie (Founded 1888). However the name Elgin City was used by two clubs prior to this. The first was formed in October 1879, but lasted for only a short time. The second Elgin City was formed in October 1884 and lasted until early 1887.

The present club's first major honour came in the 1898–99 season when they became the first team outside Inverness to win the North of Scotland Cup, beating Clachnacuddin 2–1. However, they failed to record any more success aside from the Elgin District Cup until 1924 when they again won the North of Scotland Cup a second time. Since then they have won honours with relative frequency.

In 1968 the club reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup, the furthest into the tournament that a Highland League club has ever progressed.

The club was granted league status in 2000 when the SPL was expanded to twelve clubs leaving two places to be filled. Peterhead joined them in the Third Division from the Highland League.[2] Since joining the SFL, Elgin have struggled with consistency, and to this date have neither been promoted or relegated, but in season 2003–04 they recaptured the North of Scotland Cup.

In December 2005, assistant manager Kenny Black saw a takeover bid thwarted at the eleventh hour. Many fans saw his bid as the best chance to move upward through the leagues, but a controversial sale of shares in the club meant Black's bid was defeated. David Robertson, manager at the time, also chose to leave the club. Former Lossiemouth manager Graham Tatters was subsequently named as Elgin's new chairman.[3] Club captain at the time Jamie McKenzie was appointed caretaker manager and a run of good results was rewarded with the Manager of the Month award for December 2005; at the time he was the youngest serving manager in the UK. [4]

Early in 2006, former Aberdeen, Ross County and Scotland international, Brian Irvine was appointed manager.[5] However, following a very poor start to the 2006–07 season, he left the club despite having forged a good relationship with the fans.[6]

After a brief spell under interim manager Graham Tatters (during which they lost to Highland League Deveronvale in the Scottish Cup Third round), former Clachnacuddin manager Robbie Williamson was appointed in January 2007.[7] Williamson quit on 20 December 2008, before a game with Berwick Rangers. He left the team bottom of the Third Division after just two wins from 15 matches.[8]

On 23 January 2009, former player of Everton, Norwich City, Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic and Kilmarnock, Ross Jack was named as the club's new manager, signing a three-and-a-half-year-contract.[9][10] He was a former player-manager of Montrose and former assistant coach at Ross County.[11] On 5 January 2013, Elgin City became the first club to take a point from Rangers at Ibrox in the season, with the game finishing 1–1.[12] Ross Jack left the club on 22 January 2014 after five years in charge, with the club lying in second bottom position of the division.[13] In his time at the club, the high point was reaching the divisional play-offs at the end of season 2011–12.[14]

Former player and assistant manager Barry Wilson was appointed as manager on 28 January 2014 and announced his intention to have a squad of north-based players.[15] Barry Wilson resigned as manager on 17 November 2014[16] and was replaced by Jim Weir 10 days later.[17][18] On 30 April 2016, they sealed the runners up spot in Scottish League Two and entered the promotion Play-offs. However, they lost 5–1 on aggregate to Clyde and remained in League Two. The club finished fifth in 2017, missing out on a play off spot by one point.[19] 2018 saw another mid-table finish, as the club ended the campaign in sixth place on 49 points.[20] In 2019, the club finished in eighth place, 24 points clear of the playoff spot.[21]

Ground

Elgin City have played at Borough Briggs since 1921 when it replaced Cooper Park. The ground currently has a capacity of 4,520 (478 seated)[1] and is the most northerly football league ground in the United Kingdom.

Kit history

Years Kit Manufacturer Kit Sponsor
1895–1986 Unknown None
1986–1988 England Umbro Scotland Bitoben
1989–1990 Scotland William Wilson Plumbing
1990–1991 Unknown
1991–1992 GO Wear Norco
1992–1993 Unknown Sportscoup
1993–1994 Unknown None
1994–1998 No Records
1998–1999 Germany Uhlsport Scotland Gordon Williamson
1999–2000 Prostar
2000–2003 Italy Erreà
2003–2005 Scotland John Fleming
2005–2006 Scotland Robertson Homes
2006–2007 Italy Diadora
2007–2008 Denmark Hummel Scotland GSH
2008–2009 Scotland H&R Insurance
2009–2010 Unknown
2010–2011 Scotland Edgar Road Properties
2011–2012 Scotland Clark Thomson Insurance
2012–2013 Scotland Robertson Homes
2013–2018 Scotland EC 1893 (own brand) Scotland McDonald & Munro Ltd
2018–2020 England EV2 Sportswear
2020– Spain Joma

First-team squad

As of 5 January 2024[22]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Scotland SCO Kyle King
2 DF Scotland SCO Matthew Cooper (captain)
3 DF Scotland SCO Lyall Booth
4 DF Scotland SCO Nathan Cooney
5 DF Scotland SCO Jake Dolzanski
6 MF Scotland SCO Rory MacEwan
7 MF Scotland SCO Russell Dingwall
8 MF Scotland SCO Brian Cameron
9 FW Scotland SCO Ben Barron
10 FW Scotland SCO Robert Jones
11 FW England ENG Dayshonne Golding (on loan from Cove Rangers)
12 DF Scotland SCO Owen Cairns
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 DF Scotland SCO Blair MacKenzie (on loan from Aberdeen)
15 MF Scotland SCO Fin Allen
17 MF Scotland SCO Mitchell Taylor
18 FW Scotland SCO Dylan Lawrence
19 MF Scotland SCO Matthew Jamieson
20 MF Scotland SCO Kenny MacInnes
21 GK Scotland SCO Oliver Kelly
22 MF Scotland SCO Ryan MacLeman (on loan from Ross County)
23 MF England ENG Ross Draper
24 DF Scotland SCO Connall Ewan (on loan from Ross County)
27 FW Scotland SCO Michael Dangana
28 GK England ENG Thomas McHale

On loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF Scotland SCO Ben Cormack (on loan at Clachnacuddin)
— MF Scotland SCO Brodie Mitchell (on loan at Lossiemouth)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW Scotland SCO Aidan Cruickshank (on loan at Forres Mechanics)

Club officials

Board

  • Chairman: Vacant
  • Vice-chairman: Isla Benzie
  • Directors: Chris Foot, Stephen Hopes, Cecil Jack, Sean Phillips, Grant Shewan, Kenny Stewart
  • General manager: Mark Cooper

Coaching staff

  • Manager: Allan Hale
  • Assistant manager: Stefan Laird
  • Goalkeeping coach: Stevie Dunn
  • Sports analyst: Gordon Nicolson
  • Club doctor: James Jack
  • Physiotherapists: Andrew Jones, Catherine Graham
  • Community & academy operations manager: Craigh Stewart

Honours

  • Highland League
    • Champions: 1931–32, 1934–35, 1952–53, 1955–56 (After Play-off), 1959–60, 1960–61 (After Play-off), 1962–63, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1989–90 (14)

Elgin City had won the 1992–93 but were stripped of title for bringing forward their final match of the season, so that two players due to serve a suspension could play.

  • Highland League Cup
    • Winners: 1959–60, 1966–67, 1982–83, 1990–91, 1997–98 (5)
  • Scottish Qualifying Cup (North)
    • Winners: 1935–36, 1937–38, 1959–60, 1964–65, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1989–90 (7)
  • North of Scotland Cup
    • Winners: 1898–99, 1923–24, 1936–37, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1982–83, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2003–04 (18)

Club records

Win: 18–1 v Brora Rangers on 6 February 1960 (North of Scotland Cup)

Defeat: 1–14 v Heart of Midlothian on 4 February 1939 (1938–39 Scottish Cup)

Home attendance: 12,608 v Arbroath on 17 February 1968 (1967–68 Scottish Cup)

Away attendance: 46,406 v Rangers on 5 January 2013 (Scottish League, Third Division)

Most Scottish League Appearances: Brian Cameron 342 (39) (2008–)

Most Individual Goals in a Scottish League Match: 4 by Craig Gunn v. Berwick Rangers, 6 August 2011 at Borough Briggs (Won 4–1)

Most Individual Goals in a Scottish Cup Match: 4 by Shane Sutherland v Hawick Royal Albert, 26 November 2016 at Borough Briggs (Won 8–1)

Most Scottish League Goals in a Season: Craig Gunn 21 (2015–16)

Most Scottish League Goals: Craig Gunn 114 (2009–2017)

Most Highland League Appearances: Neil MacLennan 438 (1979–1980, 1983–2000)

Most Individual Goals in a Highland League Match: 8 by Charlie Cormack v Nairn County, 29 August 1936 at Borough Briggs (Won 12–2)

Most Highland League Goals in a Season: Matt Armstrong 52 From 30 Appearances (1947–48)

Most Highland League Goals: Gerry Graham 259 From 257 Appearances (1965–1974)

Most Goals in a Season: 66 by Willie Grant From 40 Appearances (1960–61)

Record Goalscorer: Gerry Graham (371) (1965–1974)

Managers since entry to the SFL

References

  1. 1 2 "Elgin City Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Highland delight as Elgin get the vote". BBC Sport. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  3. 1 2 "Robertson & Black resign at Elgin". BBC Sport. 2 December 2005. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
  4. ↑ "McKenzie wins monthly award". BBC Sport. 14 January 2006. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  5. 1 2 "Irvine takes over as Elgin boss". BBC Sport. 26 January 2006. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Irvine set to step down at Elgin". BBC Sport. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  7. 1 2 "Williamson becomes Elgin manager". BBC Sport. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  8. 1 2 "Elgin manager quits before match". BBC Sport. 20 December 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
  9. 1 2 "New Elgin boss has heady ambition". BBC Sport. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  10. ↑ "Ross Jack". Flown From the Nest. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  11. ↑ "Jack leaves County coaching staff". BBC Sport. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  12. ↑ "Rangers 1–1 Elgin City". BBC Sport. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  13. 1 2 "Exit for manager Ross Jack at Elgin City". BBC Sport. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  14. ↑ "Albion Rovers 2–0 Elgin City (agg: 2–1)". BBC Sport. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "Wilson raring to go with a Highland-based squad". Elgin City FC. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  16. 1 2 Dowden, Martin (17 November 2014). "Elgin City: Cup exit a major factor in Barry Wilson's decision to quit". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  17. ↑ "Elgin City: Jim Weir named new boss at Borough Briggs". BBC Sport. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  18. 1 2 "Elgin name Weir as new manager". spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  19. ↑ "Scottish League 2 Table 2016/17". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  20. ↑ "Scottish League Two Table 2017/18". Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  21. ↑ "Scottish League Two- 2018/2019 Season". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  22. ↑ "Players". Elgin City FC. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  23. 1 2 "Caldwell quits Elgin". BBC Sport. 9 December 2002. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  24. ↑ "Elgin City: Barry Wilson appointed new boss at Borough Briggs". BBC Sport. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  25. ↑ "Directors announcement". Elgin CIty FC. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
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