When the coronavirus struck, the Seniors lost three home games and all of the associated matchday income, in addition our weekly bingo and lottery has had to be suspended until it was safe to resume these activities, and that may be some time away yet.

However, our ‘Donate A Ticket’ page has allowed fans to continue to support the club by donating the cost of a ticket for any or all of the games lost to the current lockdown – or just to make a donation – and we have been humbled by the support we have had so far. Thank you to all who have kindly donated.

In these difficult times not everyone will be in a position to do so, but if you can and wish to help then any purchase of a ‘virtual’ ticket would be greatly appreciated. Please click on the link below;

Blackburn United

The Seniors are delighted to announce the signing of Darren Dalrymple who can play as a striker or out wide. Darren started his career at Stirling Albion before moving onto Albion Rovers and has also spent time with Broxburn Athletic and in the Juniors with both Armadale Thistle and, most recently, Bathgate Thistle.

Welcome to the Purdie Worldwide Community Stadium Darren!

The players and management of both the Senior side and the U20s have been delighted to contribute to cancer research through the gofundme page of Olivia Devine. Olivia, who plays for the U13s in the Ladies and Girls section, is the sister of Laurie Devine, who was an integral part of the Senior and U20s squads last season, and sadly they recently lost their dad to this terrible disease.

Should you wish to join the guys in helping Olivia’s fundraising efforts then simply click on her cancer fundraising page at

https://uk.gofundme.com/f/olivias-cancer-research-campaign?fbclid=IwAR1_tGWhT7aMWD61NglOZIppgGD9bhwgr0v0Q7vmLGZpuymcuU1xLcTrB9E

The East of Scotland League 2019-20 season has formally ended after a resolution was passed by member clubs, it means that Blackburn United retain their Premier League status next season and Bo’ness United have been declared Champions. Details of the resolution were;

– Final EoSFL standings for season 2019/20 decided on Points Per Game (PPG)​

– Not to relegate any club from the Premier Division this season​

– Temporarily increase the Premier Division for one season to allow the two First Division Conference winners to be promoted​

– Should the Premier Division champion be promoted to the SLFL they will be replaced by the Conference runner-up club which has the highest PPG​

– At the end of season 2020/21 to promote each First Division Conference winner and relegate as many clubs as necessary to restore the Premier Division to 16 clubs.​

This means that Tynecastle and Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale will be promoted, and Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts will also be promoted should Bo’ness United be promoted to the Lowland League.

The Lowland League today confirmed, in light of the current situation, that the season was over for the U20’s, with both Conference winners decided on points per game basis.

Conference A winners were Edinburgh City and Conference B winners were University of Stirling. There will be no play-off to decide the overall Championship.

Despite incurring a three point deduction due to an administration error, we finished a creditable 8th on PPG, with 10 wins from 18 games. Laurie Devine ended the season with 16 goals, and we’ll see a number of the U20’s in the Senior squad next season.

Well done to all concerned for a successful debut season!

The league hope to start fixtures for the 2020-2021 season on Friday 21st August, but of course that’s very much dependent on the current pandemic. Meantime, stay safe, stay at home and stay healthy!

	Conference A
		PL	PTS	PPG
1	Edinburgh City	18	51	2.84
2	Lothian Thistle HV	18	37	2.06
3	Spartans	17	34	2.00
4	East Fife	19	31	1.64
5	Edinburgh United	19	31	1.64
6	Caledonian Braves	18	28	1.56
7	Blackburn United	18	27	1.50
8	Dundonald Bluebell	17	26	1.53
9	Bonnyrigg Rose	15	21	1.40
10	Dalkeith Thistle	19	19	1.00
11	Cumbernauld Colts	19	17	0.90
12	Edinburgh University	20	16	0.80
13	Hill of Beath Hawthorn	20	14	0.70
14	Upper Annnandale	17	13	0.77
	Conference B
		PL	PTS	PPG
1	BSC Glasgow	19	42	2.21
2	University of Stirling	17	38	2.24
3	Bonnyton Thistle	20	37	1.85
4	Musselburgh Athletic	22	36	1.64
5	Heriot Watt University	18	33	1.84
6	Kelty Hearts	19	31	1.64
7	Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts	19	29	1.53
8	Penicuik Athletic	17	28	1.65
9	Civil Service Strollers	16	23	1.44
10	Preston Athletic	19	23	1.21
11	Dunipace	17	22	1.30
12	Camelon	17	22	1.30
13	Mid Annandale	18	18	1.00
14	Broxburn Athletic	20	12	0.60
15	Newtongrange Star	18	0	0.00

First of all, like most of world football, the East of Scotland League and the Lowland U20 Development League season remains suspended. We hope to have further clarity on a way forward by the end of the month, but it looks increasingly likely that the 2019-20 season will not be completed.

Sadly, the Club has had to take the difficult decision to cancel the Wednesday Night Lottery draw and the monthly 50/50 ground improvment draws. As soon as practicable to do so we will reinstate both.

We’d like to thank all those participants who enter via standing order who have indicated they would like to continue to make payments towards club funds during this time, your generosity is very much appreciated by all.

Please keep an eye on our Facebook page for regular updates.

Please take care, look after yourselves and others.

In light of the recent SFA decision to suspend all football matches under their auspices until further notice, including the East of Scotland League and the Lowland U20 Development League, the board of the Blackburn United Community Sports Club have taken the decision to immediately suspend all training activities at the Purdie Worldwide Community Stadium for the period of one week. This decision will be reviewed in seven days.

We will provide further updates on the re-commencement or otherwise of the 2019-2020 season when we have it.

East of Scotland League Cup 2nd Round

Sauchie 2 (Cross (pen) 20mins, Bryson 47mins)

Blackburn United 1 (Queen 44mins)

After winning away to Premier Division opposition in the first round of the League Cup United’s reward was another away tie against another Premier Division side and with striker Danny Campbell out injured and young back-up Laurie Devine having had to play the full ninety minutes the previous evening in the Lowland Development League game against Spartans, captain Michael Browne was forced to become an auxiliary striker for the afternoon, although an injury to midfielder Marc Smith midway through the half forced a reshuffle that eventually saw Devine enter the fray to take up the striking duties and allow Browne to slot back into the middle of the park. However, moments before this change Blackburn had slipped behind to a penalty, Crawford skipping past one challenge after another before being brought to ground just inside the eighteen yard box and from the resultant penalty CROSS slammed the ball past Craig Saunders and into the bottom left hand corner. Sauchie then came close to adding a second but when Finlayson came in off the left his twenty five yarder was too high. Five minutes later James Mildren headed a Cross delivery clear but only as far as Finlayson whose curled effort flew over the top. Young was then brought into action in the home goal when Kyle McClung made ground on the right and cut inside before firing his shot from around twenty yards into the midriff of the ‘keeper. The equaliser, though, arrived just before the break when a sharp and incisive first time pass from Martin Lawrie sent Paddy QUEEN racing clear on the left and when he cut inside Houston he unleashed an unstoppable effort into the roof of Young’s net from twenty yards or more.

Parity only lasted a mere one hundred and twenty seconds of the second half however and when a long ball forward caught the United rearguard square BRYSON raced in behind amongst a howl of offside calls and retained his composure sufficiently to slot the ball past the advancing Saunders. Saunders was then called into action to save a McCaughie shot after Syme and Finlayson had combined to set him up but the action was being confined to the midfield areas of a heavy playing surface that was slowly beginning to cut-up and was offering up no real opportunities at either end, although the hosts long ball delivery was constantly a test for the Blackburn back four. Midway through the half John Drummond was first to reach a Darren McIntosh cross into the Sauchie box but although his effort ended up in the net he was adjudged to have bundled the keeper over in putting it there and the goal was disallowed. With no more chances forthcoming thereafter it was the Beechwood Park men who advanced to the third round draw.

Blackburn United line-up: Saunders, McIntosh (Welsh 82), Lawrie, Mildren, Drummond, Smith (L.Devine 23), McClung, Kane, Browne, McLeod, Queen (McDowall 66)  Subs (not used): Howe, Clements

Sauchie line-up: Young, Houston, Syme, Wright, Cross, Sharp, McCaughie, Donaldson, Crawford, Bryson, Finlayson  Subs: McTaggart, Dawson, Cummings, McKeown, Cameron, Maitland

Referee: Mr. Ryan Lee

Assistants: Mr. James Taylor & Mr. Cameron Doyle

Due to the forthcoming changes at the Mill Centre our lottery sales desk is moving – but don’t worry, you can still get your ticket ahead of each Wednesday nights draw by visiting the Partnership Centre every Tuesday morning from next week onwards where Jimmy will be waiting with his usual warm welcome!

Why not make a point of a weekly visit to buy a lottery ticket and support your local football club?

Blackburn United 1 (Mildren 19mins)

Camelon 1 (Boubekri 49mins)

United hosted top half of the table Camelon having already beaten them in the reverse fixture earlier in the season and came agonisingly close in the opening minutes when Danny Campbell made ground on the left and fired a delivery across the face of goal which found Stuart McLeod in glorious position only six yards out but he somehow managed to lift his effort over the crossbar. McLeod then worked his way in off the left hand side and onto a Richie Hutton pass but his angled shot was held at the second attempt by Shaw in the visiting goal. However, only two minutes later and Blackburn’s early pressure was eventually rewarded, Calum McDowall flighting in a corner from the left that arrived amongst a sea of bodies milling in and around the six yard area from where James MILDREN was able to turn it beyond a wrong footed Shaw to open the scoring. McKenzie then had a pop from distance for the Mariners that Craig Saunders held comfortably before Morrison hit a half volley from the right angle of the box that flew over. Right on half time United were forced into a change when Campbell hobbled off to be replaced by Laurie Devine, the youngster having scored twice the previous evening for the U20s in a Lowland League game at home to Bonnyrigg Rose that had had to be abandoned due to fog in the 70^th minute.

Four minutes after the resumption Camelon were level when McKenzie strode in from the left to hit a shot goalwards that BOUBEKRI may just have got the merest of touches to as it sneaked past Saunders on the way into the bottom corner of his net. Three minutes later Donald Morrison hit the byeline and picked out his namesake David but his side footed effort was too high. United too then came close when a David Howe free-kick from around twenty yards out was pushed away from his goal by Shaw who was then quick from his line not once but twice in the space of ten minutes to thwart a darting Devine whose pace had beaten the visitors offside trap. Offside was to thwart John Drummond though when he thought he had given United the lead again after a piece of fine chest control and a neat finish had beaten Shaw only for the referee’s whistle to silence the celebrations. Ten minutes from time McKenzie tried one from all of twenty five yards but Saunders tipped the shot over for a fruitless corner to ensure that the spoils were shared on a bitterly cold day.

Blackburn United line-up: Saunders, Welsh, Lawrie, Mildren, Drummond, McLeod (McClung 85), McDowall, Kane, Campbell (L.Devine 44), Howe, Hutton.  Subs: Gunn, Young, Mitchell, Clements

Camelon line-up: Shaw, Gillespie, B.Sneddon, Do.Morrison, Skinner, Kay, McMullan, Da.Morrison, A.Sneddon, Boubekri, McKenzie  Subs: Daramola, Langton, Kane, McCroary, McKay

Referee: Mr. Iain Snedden

Assistants: Mr. Konrad Spalony & Mr. Callum Wallace