Musselburgh Athletic F.C.
| File:Musselburghathletic.png | |||
| Full name | Musselburgh Athletic Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Burgh | ||
| Founded | 1934 | ||
| Ground | Olivebank Arena Market Street Musselburgh | ||
| Capacity | 1,200[1][2] | ||
| President | Kevin Liston | ||
| Manager | Liam Burns | ||
| League | East of Scotland League Premier Division | ||
| 2024–25 | East of Scotland League Premier Division, 1st of 16 (champions) | ||
| Website | https://www.musselburghathletic.co.uk/ | ||
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Musselburgh Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Musselburgh, East Lothian. Formed in 1934, they have played under different names including Musselburgh Bruntonians, Musselburgh Juniors and Musselburgh Fern since 1898.
Nicknamed "the Burgh", they play their home games at the Olivebank Arena in the Fisherrow area of the town. The club's strips are the blue and white colours of Musselburgh with their town's badge displayed on their chests.
History
[edit | edit source]The majority of the club's history has been played in the Scottish Junior football leagues. In seasons 2010–11 and 2014–15 they reached the final of the Scottish Junior Cup, on both occasions losing 2–1 to Ayrshire team Auchinleck Talbot.
The team currently plays in the East of Scotland League Premier Division, having moved from the SJFA East Region Premier League in 2018 following the formation of a Scottish Football Pyramid.[3]
In 2019, Musselburgh won the South & East of Scotland Cup-Winners Shield which allowed them to take part in the Scottish Cup for the first time in 2020–21. They also obtained their SFA License at this time due to several improvements made to the clubs facilities to comply with SFA licensing criteria, this included the installation of floodlights.
On 30 October 2023, a Scottish Cup tie against three-time winners Clyde took place 'under the lights' at the Olivebank Arena. The game was broadcast live on television by BBC Scotland - the first time this has happened at the Arena. Clyde won the game 3–2, after extra time.
Junior Leagues (1889 - 2018)
[edit | edit source]The history of Musselburgh Athletic in the 'Honest Toun' can be traced as far back as 1889 due to its links to earlier clubs such as Musselburgh Fern, Musselburgh Juniors and Musselburgh Bruntonians. However, the official foundation of Musselburgh Athletic was in 1934.[4]
The club played at various levels throughout its time in the Junior Leagues and played in three Scottish Junior Cup finals whilst there. In May 1923 at Tynecastle Park, Musselburgh Bruntonians won the Junior Scottish Cup defeating Arniston Rangers 3-0, in front of a 20,000 strong crowd.
In more recent times, the club reached the Scottish Junior Cup final twice in 2011 and 2015. Musselburgh lost both finals to Ayrshire club Auchinleck Talbot, 2-1. Both games were played on neutral territory at Rugby Park, home of Kilmarnock F.C.
East of Scotland Football League (2018-present)
[edit | edit source]Before the start of the 2018-19 season, a host of Junior clubs, including Musselburgh, moved across to the East of Scotland Football League to join the recently established Scottish Football Pyramid. This presented clubs the opportunity to potentially gain promotion to the SPFL creating an increase from 13 teams to 39. The clubs who made the move would subsequently be split into three parallel conferences.[5]
Musselburgh finished 3rd in the 2018–19 season as part of 'Conference A' under the management of Calvin Shand until January 2019, and then Kevin McDonald for the duration of the campaign. As a result, the club qualified for the newly established East of Scotland Premier League for the 2019-20 season, one tier below the Lowland Football League.[6]
Due to the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019–20 season was suspended in March 2020 and then curtailed in April with a 'points per game' system adopted. This resulted in a 10th place finish for the Burgh. In 2020–21, the season was delayed until October with matches played behind closed doors and by January, the season was suspended. A vote was taken a few months later and in April the season was declared 'null and void', with Musselburgh in 4th place.[7]
Prior to the beginning of the 2021–22 season, Musselburgh appointed Joe Hamill as manager from East Lothian rivals, Haddington Athletic, following the departure of Kevin McDonald to Kelty Hearts. The Burgh would finish in 8th place following a disappointing second half of the season and Hamill would resign the following September following a Scottish Cup defeat to Newtongrange Star.[8]
Liam Burns took the reigns for the 2022–23 season [9] and steered the club to a 3rd place finish in the East of Scotland Premier League. In the following campaign 2023–24, the club would take one step further with a 2nd place finish behind eventual champions, Broxburn Athletic.
It would be third time lucky for Burns and the team as Musselburgh won the 2024–25 East of Scotland Premier League. They were crowned champions following a 4-0 away win at Sauchie Juniors in the penultimate game of the season, with all four goals being scored by forward Jordan Smith.[10]
Musselburgh would go on to complete the East of Scotland double by winning the League Cup. They defeated Kirkcaldy & Dysart 2-0 in the final with Jordan Smith scoring both goals.[11]
In between these two triumphs, the club earned an opportunity at promotion to the Lowland League in a two-legged play-off against West of Scotland Football League champions, Clydebank. Musselburgh fell short losing the tie 3-1 on aggregate remaining in the East of Scotland Premier League.
Scottish Cup (2020-present)
[edit | edit source]Following improvements to the club's facilities at the Olivebank Arena resulting in the reward of an SFA license, whilst also winning the South & East of Scotland Cup-Winners Shield in 2019, Musselburgh were eligible to participate in the Scottish Cup for the first time in the 2020–21 season.
On 28 November 2020 in the 1st Preliminary Round, Musselburgh won their first ever Scottish Cup tie 3-2 away to Penicuik Athletic after extra time. The club's first ever Scottish Cup goal was scored early on by Michael Moffat.
In the 2023–24 Scottish Cup, the Burgh defeated Coldstream 6-0 followed by a victory over Lowland League side Gretna F.C. 2008 on penalties, which set up a 2nd Round tie at home to three-time Scottish Cup winners, Clyde. The match was broadcast live on BBC Scotland to a sell out crowd, with Clyde running out 3-2 winners after extra-time.[12]
Musselburgh's furthest run in their short history in the competition came during 2024–25 Scottish Cup when they reached the fourth round. Along the way, they defeated Penicuik Athletic, Darvel, Caledonian Braves and Bo'ness United, before eventually losing to Scottish Championship side Hamilton Academical, 3-1 at New Douglas Park.[13]
In the 2025–26 competition Musselburgh defeated Vale of Leithen and Bonnyton Thistle before being drawn at home to SPFL League Two team, Forfar Athletic, in the second round. Despite holding their own during the 90-minutes, the Burgh would go down to a late free-kick as Forfar won 2-1.
Rivalries
[edit | edit source]Musselburgh Athletic competes in several local derbies across both its current county of East Lothian, and football clubs of its previous county, Midlothian. Their main rivals are Newtongrange Star (Midlothian) and Haddington Athletic (East Lothian).
Other fixtures considered derbies are matches against Dunbar United, Preston Athletic, Tranent and Dalkeith Thistle.
Current Squad
[edit | edit source]As of 28 September 2025[14]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
On loan
[edit | edit source]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Managers
[edit | edit source]Information only available post COVID-19 pandemic following the curtailed 'points per game' and 'null and void' seasons. Per official club website.
Key
- M = matches played; W = matches won; D = matches drawn; L = matches lost; Win % = percentage of total matches won
| Name | From | To | M | W | D | L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland Kevin Milne | June 2021 | July 2021 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Scotland Joe Hamill | July 2021 | Sept 2022 | 49 | 19 | 11 | 19 | 38.77 |
| Scotland Liam Burns | Sept 2022 | Present | 147 | 98 | 16 | 33 | 66.66 |
*As of 15/12/25
Appearances
[edit | edit source]Players who have made more than 200 appearances for the club per official website.
| Player | Appearances |
|---|---|
| Scotland Mathu King | 394 |
| Scotland Jackie Myles | 347 |
| Scotland Conor Thomson | 231 |
| Scotland Declan O'Kane | 225 |
| Scotland Nathan Evans | 201 |
- As of 25/11/2025
Centurion Goalscorers
[edit | edit source]Players who have scored more than 100 goals for the club per official website.
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Scotland Mathu King | 227 |
| Scotland Nathan Evans | 100 |
- As of 23/10/2025
Honours
[edit | edit source]Major Honours
[edit | edit source]East of Scotland Football League Premier Division
- Winners: 2024–25
East of Scotland Football League League Cup
- Winners: 2024-25
- Winners: 1922–23 (as Musselburgh Bruntonians)
- Runners-up: 2010–11, 2014–15
Scottish Junior East Region Premier League
- Winners: 2008–09, 2017–18
Other Honours
[edit | edit source]- South & East of Scotland Cup-Winners Shield: 2019–20
- Alex Jack Cup: 2019–20
- East Region League Division 1 Championship: 1970–71
- East Region League Division 2 Championship: 2000–01
- Dalmeny Cup: 1908–09, 1911–12
- East Lothian Cup: 1911–12
- Simpson Shield: 1911–12, 1914–15
- Marshall Cup: 1914–15
- Musselburgh Cup: 1935–36
- East of Scotland Cup: 1936–37
- St Michael Cup: 1936–37, 1937–38, 1966–67, 2007–08, 2008–09
- Thistle Cup: 1972–73
- Brown Cup: 2003–04, 2007–08, 2008–09
- Lothian League Cup: 2005–06
- East of Scotland Development League (Under 20's) 2024-25
Gallery
[edit | edit source]
References
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External links
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