Over the next two pages we take a look back to how Linlithgow were faring at this time 50, 10, 5 and 1 year(s) ago
January 1964
Linlithgow kicked off 1964 with a trek to Kello Rovers for the 3rd round of the Junior Cup – taking advantage of the
New Year holiday to play the game on Thursday 2nd January rather than the Saturday. Kello were heavy favourites
for the tie – news that this Rose team might be among the best the club had produced at this point in their history
had not reached deepest Ayrshire. The home side started like favourites though and deservedly took the lead when
Kennedy smashed an unstoppable free kick into the roof of the net from 20 yards. That goal separated the teams at
half time in what quickly became a feisty encounter with no quarter asked or given. Whether it was the half time team
talk or the enthusiasm of two Linlithgow pipers helping to raise the spirits of the visiting crowd, Rose were a different
proposition in the second half. The tackles continued to fly but eventually Linlithgow hauled themselves level
through Fordyce – sparking a pitch invasion from the jubilant Rose support. Then with 9 minutes left Marshall scored
a superb solo effort to seal the victory despite a late rally from the home side. The Rose support were ecstatic as
they engulfed their heroes when the whistle went before heading to the local bookie to teach him a hard learned
lesson on when not to offer odds of 3/1 against the Gallant! More excitement was in store for Linlithgow fans when
their favourites were drawn away to Petershill in round 4.
Next up for Linlithgow was a replay against Fauldhouse in the East of Scotland Cup. Still basking in the glow of the
previous week’s performance, Rose swept the visitors aside with an injured Davy Marshall somehow remaining
sufficiently mobile to bag another treble and take his goals tally for the season to an incredible 42 by mid January.
Marshall fired the Rose ahead on 15 minutes before doubling his tally two minutes later. A Veitch penalty before half
time had the home side in easy street and Marshall added number four before an own goal completed the Rose goal
count in a game which Fauldhouse never got a sniff despite a consolation from Cruickshanks late on.
The weather intervened the following week and so Rose headed to Petershill for the battle of the Maroons on 25th
January 1964. Petershill Park was one of the biggest junior pitches and stadia of the day, even in 1964 Petershill
boasted a capacity of 20,000. In fact a crowd of over 3,000 turned out to witness a cracker of a match in which the
visitors counted themselves most unfortunate not to come away with their name in the hat for the 5th round. Once
again the town backed their boys in huge numbers and were in full voice as the teams took the field. Linlithgow
started like a train and could have been four up in the opening 20 minutes as they scorned three great chances and
slammed an effort against the post before having strong claims for a penalty waved away. The second half saw no
let up in visitor pressure but Bett in the Petershill goal kept Rose out with some fine saves. Linlithgow finally grabbed
the lead with 20 minutes to go when Marshall – who else – finally managed to beat the home keeper. The fans
celebrated with a rousing chorus of “Linlithgow yeah, yeah, yeah” in a reflection of the pop culture of the time.
Despite having struggled for most of the game though, Petershill secured an equaliser when McInally managed to
stab the ball home in the midst of a melee following a corner where most
of the Rose defence seemed to end up entangled in the goal nets. Even
then, Linlithgow strove for a winner and Marshall went close twice in the
closing moments of the game but in the end the boys had to settle for a
draw and a replay back at Prestonfield on the first Saturday of February.
January 2004
There were no games scheduled for the opening weekend of the year but
Rose were rocked on their heels when on loan keeper Stephen Pinkowski
was recalled by Partick Thistle and then Ian Gallacher announced that he
was giving up his fight to battle back from the serious knee injury he’d
suffered months earlier as the 2002/03 season drew to a close. In fact it
wasn’t the last we’d see of either of these boys but it was dispiriting news
at the time.
Stephen Pinkowski
Linlithgow started the year with a 7-3 win over Stoneyburn in a Brown Cup
tie which had been switched from up the county where the pitch was
unplayable. Mark Whyte grabbed a hat-trick in front of a sparse crowd
who watched the game played in a gale with rain sweeping horizontally
down the length of the pitch. The Rose were two up in six minutes
through Whyte before Stoneyburn replied with a strike from Reid. Roddy
Grant restored the two goal cushion on the half hour but Stoneyburn
belied their lowly league position when Reid again pulled the deficit back
just after the break. Whyte quickly made it 4-2 but McNicol again cut the
de