View source for Cove Rangers F.C.

{{short description|Association football club in Aberdeen, Scotland}}
{{distinguish|Cove F.C.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Cove Rangers
| image = Cove Rangers FC logo.svg
| image_size = 175px
| fullname = Cove Rangers Football Club
| nickname = ''The Toonsers''
| founded = {{start date and years ago|1922|df=yes}}
| ground = [[Balmoral Stadium]], [[Altens]], [[Aberdeen]]
| capacity = 2,602 (410 seated)
| chairman = Keith Moorhouse
| manager = [[Paul Hartley]]
| league = {{Scottish football updater|CoveRang}}
| season = {{Scottish football updater|CoveRang2}}
| position = {{Scottish football updater|CoveRang3}}
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'''Cove Rangers Football Club''' is a senior [[Scotland|Scottish]] [[Association football|football]] club currently playing in {{Scottish football updater|CoveRang}}. They are based in the [[Altens]] area of [[Aberdeen]] and play their football at [[Balmoral Stadium]], having left their former home at Allan Park, [[Cove Bay]] in April 2015.

==History==
{{See also|List of Cove Rangers F.C. seasons}}
Cove were formed in 1922 and played in the local amateur leagues until 1985, when they became a [[Scottish Junior Football Association|junior]] team. However, the club applied and were accepted to the [[association football|senior]] [[Highland Football League]] in [[1986–87 Highland Football League|1986]], where they played for 33 seasons. They have also racked up a formidable reputation in the lower rounds of the [[Scottish Cup]], reaching the 3rd round three times. In 2001 they won their first Highland League championship&nbsp;– but even more impressively won the 'treble' of Highland League, [[Aberdeenshire Shield]] and [[Scottish Qualifying Cup]].

In the 2007–08 season, Cove reached round four of the Scottish Cup for the first time, beating [[Brora Rangers]] away 5–0, [[Keith F.C.|Keith]] 3–0 and [[Edinburgh University F.C.|Edinburgh University]] 1–0 on the way, before losing 4–2 to [[Ross County F.C.|Ross County]].

However, the south [[Aberdeen]] side claimed their second ever [[Highland Football League|Highland League]] Championship with a 3–0 home win against [[Lossiemouth F.C.|Lossiemouth]] on 3 May 2008.

Cove Rangers were one of the clubs who prepared an application for entry into the [[Scottish Football League]] following [[Gretna F.C.|Gretna]] relinquishing their league status on 3 June 2008. The other clubs were [[Annan Athletic F.C.|Annan Athletic]], [[Preston Athletic F.C.|Preston Athletic]] and [[Spartans F.C.|Spartans]].<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gretna/7433470.stm Gretna relinquish league status] , ''BBC Sports''. Retrieved on 3 June 2008</ref> Annan Athletic were eventually awarded the place, due to their superior facilities.

One of the club's most famous players is the young Scottish midfielder [[Paul Coutts]] who joined English [[Football League One|League One]] club [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] during the summer of 2008 for a nominal fee. Coutts won the club's ''Young Player of the Year'' award for the 2008–09 season<ref>
[http://www.theposh.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10427~1442029,00.html Coutts wins Player of the Moth] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106053128/http://www.theposh.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10427~1442029%2C00.html |date=6 November 2008 }}, ''Peterborough United FC''. Retrieved on 3 November 2008</ref> and won eight caps for the [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland under-21]] squad, after being touted for a call up by his former manager [[Darren Ferguson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/Posh-boss-receives-a-pep.4579744.jp |title=Posh boss receives a pep talk from Sir Alex, ''Peterborough Evening Telegraph''. Retrieved on 3 November 2008 |publisher=Peterboroughtoday.co.uk |access-date=2009-04-22 |archive-date=11 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011094134/http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/Posh-boss-receives-a-pep.4579744.jp |url-status=live }}</ref>

In [[2015–16 Highland Football League|2016]] the club regained their [[Highland Football League|Highland League]] crown. Due to the introduction of the 'pyramid system' in Scottish football, Cove elected to say goodbye to their [[Allan Park, Aberdeen|Allan Park home]] due to the stadium not meeting [[Scottish Professional Football League|SPFL]] minimum stadia requirements. This in turn meant the club played all of their games at an away ground with [[Inverurie Loco Works F.C.|Inverurie Locos]], [[Formartine United F.C.|Formartine United]] and [[Banks O'Dee F.C.|Banks O'Dee]] offering the use of their facilities so the club could compete. Cove went on to win the league and advance to the first play-off game against the winner of the [[Lowland Football League|Lowland League]], [[Edinburgh City F.C.|Edinburgh City]]. The tie was won by City 4–1 on aggregate who subsequently progressed to [[Scottish League Two]] after beating [[East Stirlingshire F.C.|East Stirlingshire]] in the second playoff tie.

===Back to back promotions and rise to League One===
In the [[2018–19 in Scottish football|2018–19 season]] they were promoted to [[Scottish League Two|SPFL League Two]] for the first time in their history after defeating [[Berwick Rangers F.C.|Berwick Rangers]] 7–0 on aggregate in the League Two play-off.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Edwards|first=Dave|title=Cove Rangers winning on and off the pitch at Highland League awards|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/1757284/cove-rangers-winning-on-and-off-the-pitch-at-highland-league-awards/|access-date=2020-11-02|website=Press and Journal|date=25 May 2019 |language=en-US|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303180116/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/1757284/cove-rangers-winning-on-and-off-the-pitch-at-highland-league-awards/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In their first season in the [[Scottish Professional Football League|SPFL]], they won League Two after the season was terminated early due to the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|Coronavirus pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/spfl-resolution-approved-by-clubs-in-all-four-di|title=SPFL resolution approved by club in all four divisions|date=15 April 2020|access-date=15 April 2020|publisher=SPFL|archive-date=8 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108123544/https://spfl.co.uk/news/spfl-resolution-approved-by-clubs-in-all-four-di|url-status=live}}</ref> This resulted in back-to-back promotions for Cove, with the club gaining promotion to [[Scottish League One|SPFL League One]] for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Durent|first=Jamie|title=How Cove Rangers went from SPFL new boys to League 2 champions|url=https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/sport/football/scottish-football/cove-rangers-fc/how-cove-rangers-went-from-spfl-new-boys-to-league-2-champions/|access-date=2020-11-02|website=Evening Express|date=16 November 2016 |language=en-US|archive-date=19 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419162240/https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/sport/football/scottish-football/cove-rangers-fc/how-cove-rangers-went-from-spfl-new-boys-to-league-2-champions/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Promotion to the Championship ===
In their first League One campaign, Cove narrowly lost out on promotion by 4 points to eventual winners [[Partick Thistle F.C.|Partick Thistle]], finishing 3rd in the League and losing 4–3 on aggregate to [[Airdrieonians F.C.|Airdrieonians]] in the Play-offs.

In the 2021–22 season, Cove won the League One title by 7 points, only losing 3 league games all season, securing promotion to the [[Scottish Championship]] for the first time in their history. This meant that Cove Rangers achieved three promotions in four seasons: from the [[Highland Football League|Highland League]] in [[2018–19 Highland Football League|2019]], [[Scottish League Two|League Two]] in [[2019–20 Scottish League Two|2020]], and [[Scottish League One|League One]] in [[2021–22 Scottish League One|2022]].

The 2022–23 Championship season saw Cove go into their final match against [[Greenock Morton F.C.|Greenock Morton]] one point ahead of [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]] at the bottom, however a 1–2 defeat at a foggy Balmoral Stadium coupled with a goalless draw for Hamilton at [[Arbroath F.C.|Arbroath]] meant that both Cove and Hamilton finished level on points but Cove were relegated to League One after just one season due to an inferior goal difference.

== Stadium ==

From 1948 to 2015, Cove played at Allan Park, which was located in [[Cove, Aberdeen|Cove]]. The ground had a capacity of 2300 spectators, with 200 on seats or benches. Its largest attendance was 2,100, in the league playoff in 2008–09 vs [[Deveronvale F.C.|Deveronvale]] which they won 3–1 to lift the league title for the third year running. Allan Park was named after a local farmer, who sold the club the land on which they built the ground in 1948.<ref name = "deal">{{cite news|url=http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1849756|title=Cove Rangers and Dons strike deal|work=Press and Journal|publisher=Aberdeen Journals|first=Ryan|last=Crighton|date=30 July 2010|access-date=5 November 2011|archive-date=12 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612075646/http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1849756|url-status=live}}</ref>

On Friday, 30 July 2010, an article was placed in the local Aberdeen paper, the [[Evening Express (Scotland)|''Evening Express'']] that [[Stewart Milne]], the chairman of [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]], had bought Allan Park.<ref name = "deal"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/sport/spl/aberdeen/aberdeen-ignominy-now-par-for-the-course-1.1125210 |first=Frank |last=Gilfeather|title=Aberdeen ignominy now par for the course|work=The Herald|date=22 September 2011|access-date=5 November 2011}} From the money that Cove received they could finally build their proposed project in the Calder Park area. The proposed new stadium would maximise their chances of getting into the [[Scottish League Two|League Two]] after getting rejected on 3 June 2008 because they didn't have a compliant stadium.

By September 2011, Cove Rangers were planning to share in part of the [[New Aberdeen Stadium]] project with Aberdeen F.C.</ref> This scheme was thrown into doubt, however, when [[Aberdeen City Council]] rejected an application by the two clubs to build a new ground for Cove Rangers that Aberdeen would also have used as a training ground.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-19396170|title=New Aberdeen FC stadium sites 'offered by landowners'|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=28 August 2012|access-date=29 August 2012|archive-date=31 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831050709/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-19396170|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-19342785|title=New Aberdeen FC park 'killed off', says Stewart Milne|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=23 August 2012|access-date=29 August 2012|archive-date=23 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823194117/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-19342785|url-status=live}}</ref> Nevertheless, on 18 April 2015, Cove Rangers played their final game at Allan Park following progress being made with Aberdeen City Council in terms of planning permission. In this game Cove marked their departure with a 4–0 victory over [[Fort William F.C.|Fort William]]. Allan Park had been bought by housing developers for a figure believed to be around the £3m mark. The sale also included a social club, also owned by the football club, which closed its doors the following day.

Cove then began construction of their revised new stadium. The new facility, known as [[Balmoral Stadium]], is located in Altens, next to a new secondary school, with the merging of [[Kincorth Academy|Kincorth]] and [[Torry Academy|Torry Academies]] into one larger school. In a clause made by Aberdeen City Council, this new school will have access to the new stadium's artificial pitch.

In July 2018, Cove moved into the Balmoral Stadium, having played home games at [[Inverurie Loco Works F.C.|Inverurie Loco Works]]' ground in the intervening period. The first match at the Balmoral Stadium took place on 16 July 2018, but had to be abandoned after a Cove player was seriously injured.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/1521464/first-ever-match-at-new-balmoral-stadium-abandoned-after-cove-player-suffers-serious-injury/|title=First ever match at new Balmoral Stadium abandoned after Cove player suffers serious injury|first=Chris|last=Jaffray|website=pressandjournal.co.uk|date=16 July 2018 |access-date=29 April 2019|archive-date=9 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909205310/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/1521464/first-ever-match-at-new-balmoral-stadium-abandoned-after-cove-player-suffers-serious-injury/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Honours==
*'''[[Scottish League One]]'''
**'''Winners:''' [[2021–22 Scottish League One|2021–22]]
*'''[[Scottish League Two]]'''
**'''Winners:''' [[2019–20 Scottish League Two|2019–20]]
*'''[[Highland Football League]]'''
**'''Winners (7):''' [[2000–01 Highland Football League|2000–01]], [[2007–08 Highland Football League|2007–08]], [[2008–09 Highland Football League|2008–09]], [[2012–13 Highland Football League|2012–13]], [[2015–16 Highland Football League|2015–16]], [[2017–18 Highland Football League|2017–18]], [[2018–19 Highland Football League|2018–19]]
*'''[[Highland League Cup]]'''
**'''Winners (6):''' 1994–95, 1999–00, 2004–05, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2018–19
*'''[[Aberdeenshire Cup]]'''
**'''Winners (3):''' 2001–02, 2010–11, 2018–19
*'''[[Aberdeenshire Shield]]'''
**'''Winners (4):''' 1990–91, 2000–01, 2008–09, 2017–18
*'''[[Scottish Qualifying Cup|Scottish Qualifying Cup (North)]]'''
**'''Winners (2):''' 1990–91, 2000–01
*'''[[Aberdeenshire and District League|Aberdeenshire League]]'''
**'''Winners (6):''' 2000–01, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15
*'''Inter-League Trophy'''
**'''Winners:''' 2001–02
*'''North Junior League First Division'''
**'''Winners:''' 1985–86

==Current squad==
{{updated|18 October 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://coverangersfc.com/team/ |title=Squad |website=Cove Rangers |access-date=1 July 2020 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926152322/https://coverangersfc.com/team/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1 |nat=SCO|pos=GK|name=[[Robbie Mutch]]}}
{{Fs player|no=2 |nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=Layton Bisland}}
{{Fs player|no=3 |nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=[[Michael Doyle (footballer, born 1991)|Michael Doyle]]}}
{{Fs player|no=4 |nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=Mackenzie Strachan}}
{{Fs player|no=6 |nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=Justin Eguaibor}}
{{Fs player|no=7 |nat=WAL|pos=DF|name=Ryan Harrington}}
{{Fs player|no=8 |nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=Blair Yule}}
{{Fs player|no=9 |nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=[[Mitch Megginson]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=[[Declan Glass]]}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=Jackson Mylchreest|other=co-operation loan with [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=15|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=Arron Darge}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=[[Reuben McAllister]]}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=Adam Emslie|other=on loan from [[Ross County F.C.|Ross County]]}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=Cole Donaldson}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=David Eguaibor}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=HUN|pos=GK|name=Balint Demus}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=Lewis O'Donnell|other=on loan from [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]]}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=[[Fraser Fyvie]]}}
{{Fs player|no=25|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=Mikey Milnes}}
{{Fs player|no=32|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=Liam Parker}}
{{Fs end}}

===On loan===
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=Grady McGrath|other=on loan at [[Brechin City F.C.|Brechin City]]}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=SCO|pos=GK|name=Jack Robertson|other=on loan at [[Rothes F.C.|Rothes]]}}
{{Fs end}}

==Club officials==
{{updated|1 January 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Team |url=https://coverangersfc.com/team/#Staff |website=Cove Rangers FC |access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref>
===Technical staff===
*Football manager: [[Paul Hartley]]
*Coach: Gary Hake
*Goalkeeping coach: [[Derek Soutar]]
*Performance analyst: Rhys Sutcliffe
*Sports scientist: Fraser Bennie
*Physiotherapist: Joe Dawson
*Kit manager: Ian Sellar

===Management===
*Honorary president: Alan McRae
*Chairman: Keith Moorhouse
*Vice-chairman/finance director: Graeme Reid
*Director: Darren Anderson
*Director: Alastair Donald
*Director: Grant Moorhouse
*Director: Willie Young
*Head of media & communications: [[Richard Gordon (broadcaster)|Richard Gordon]]
*Director of football: [[John Sheran]]

The club's honorary president Alan McRae served as [[Scottish Football Association|SFA]] president from 2015 to 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1961&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=14902 |title=Record Turnover announced at Scottish FA AGM |work=www.scottishfa.co.uk |publisher=Scottish Football Association |date=9 June 2015 |access-date=9 June 2015 |archive-date=27 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627132758/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1961 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.coverangersfc.com Official website]

{{Scottish Professional Football League}}
{{Highland Football League}}
{{Aberdeen}}
{{Football in Aberdeen|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Cove Rangers F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Scottish Professional Football League teams]]
[[Category:Former Highland Football League teams]]
[[Category:Scottish Junior Football Association clubs]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Aberdeen]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1922]]
[[Category:1922 establishments in Scotland]]